How to remove formulas in excel but keep the values

(Update: 2022-10-03

I have been getting a lot of hits on this particular article. So, I thought I would update it by adding some additional images and a bit more clarity to the subject. I hope you enjoy this article and can benefit from it. Continue reading the main article below and my other articles listed on the left side of this page. And leave a comment if you don’t mind. Thanks.)

 

If you have used Microsoft Excel, or even Open Office Calc (the free alternative to Microsoft Excel) you have most likely used or even created formulas to return a desired value. An example would be;
Column A contains a latitude, Column B contains a longitude and Column C has a formula that concatenates the two together. Here is a sample of that formula in column C:
=CONCATENATE(A2,”, “,B2)

In the formula above, notice the three commas and space between the two quotation marks following the middle comma. Anything you put between the quotes will be shown in Column C, but the quotation marks will not appear. See the sample below.

In this sample, we will put the word “Hello” within the quotes.

And here are the results of that same cell in the Excel sheet.

 

Now, getting back to our real-world example. 

Given the latitude of 34.6528144 and the longitude of -98.4146529 in columns A and B respectively, you get the following result displayed in column C.

As you can see, the results contain the comma and space (between the two numbers) that was specified in the formula between the quotation marks.

 

Okay, I know this article is supposed to be about how to remove the formulas from a calculated cell (or cells) while retaining the resulting data. Instead, all I have discussed so far is how to create a formula in a cell. True, but to remove a stain, you must first understand what the stain is and how it got there. The same theory holds true in a substantial number of aspects of life.

With that said, let’s remove those pesky formulas now that we are done with them. There are many ways you can accomplish this, and I have seen countless chapters in Excel books and dozens of web sites that have you find a specific tool on the toolbar and navigate through a dozen or more options to get your desired results. However, the simplest way is to just select the cell or cells that contain the formulas and press “Ctrl” + “C” to copy them. Next, with the cells selected, press “Ctrl” + “V” to paste the resulting values in the same cells.

Before you just hit the “Enter” key or move on to other things in your life, notice the little “clipboard” looking icon that popped up. It should look something like this: (I know the image is small, but that’s the way it is in Excel, so bare with me.)

Click on it and scroll down the menu to the “Paste Values” section of the list and choose the “Values (V)” option.

Hint, as you mouse over the options (represented by small icons), a tool tip will appear telling you what that function is called. Once you click the “Values (V)” icon, all formulas will be erased and replaced with only the results that it calculated. See the results in the two images below.

Image 1, Before

Image 2, After

Mystery solved! It really is a lot simpler than a lot of web pages make it out to be. As you can tell, I am a firm believer in the K. I. S. S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) method of thought.

 

Thank you for viewing my blog.

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com

What to ask repair centers when your PC crashes

Computer repair center cautions.

Who do you trust with your beloved computer and all the data residing on it? It’s a question most of us take for granted as we drop off our computer at the local repair shop. Photo’s, legal documents and passwords are just a few of the things that we store on our computer thinking it is safely tucked away. Once the computer leaves your possession and is placed in a shop, how do you know all is safe?

Below is a list of important questions along with the expected answers you should receive when shopping for a repair center. If you are not comfortable with the answers your getting from a local computer repair shop or individual, you should consider other places.

How much do you charge per hour or service?

Most respectable computer repair centers will charge either by the hour or by task, depending on the issue. The hourly rate should range between $50 – $75 ‘depending on where you live.’ Too high of a price may mean that you are being overcharged and too low may mean that the repairman may not know what he is doing or he may be planning on billing for an excessive amount of hours.

Some services will be billed by “bench hours,” meaning, how many hours the computer is actually on the work bench whether attended or unattended. Expect to pay for unattended hours when your computer is using electricity and bench space while a program is being installed or updated.

Other services will be billed by  “product,” meaning, they charge a flat fee for installing a new video card or power supply.

How many billable hours will this take to repair?

The last thing you want to do is pay $60 hour for nine hours of labor, totaling $540 to repair a computer that can be replaced for three or four hundred dollars. This is where cost vs. reward comes into play. Is it worth it to fix the computer or just purchase a new one?

You should expect to hear from the repairman, “I can’t be totally sure, but these types of repairs in the past have cost an average of (x) dollars to repair. We can certainly call you if we see the cost is going to exceed the value of the computer.”

Don’t be alarmed if the technician can’t give you an exact amount over the phone, some computer problems may seem similar but are very different in reality.

Do you have a minimum charge?

Not all computer problems require nine hours on the work bench. If your issue takes only 15 minutes to repair, you may be slapped with a minimum bench time.

You should expect to hear “yes, we have a one billable hour minimum.” On part replacements, it is also common to have a flat rate for installing new hardware.

Will there be any additional charges?

While some companies stifle you with hidden fees, this simple question should clear the air. No one wants to get a quote only to find out the actual cost is much higher.

What you should expect to hear; “No. If it looks like it is going to cost more than we quoted, you will receive a phone call notifying you of the added expense and an explanation as to why.” At this point you may choose to go forward with the extra repairs or simply pick up your computer as-is.

Do you guarantee your work?

Guarantee’s and warrantees are a given in today’s society, but are they worth anything? Ask the repairman the conditions of the guarantee, if they fix the problem and it returns, what will they offer? If their response is “uhm or I’m not sure,” then try another repairman. No one wants to pay for repairs and have the same issue again two weeks later. This does not apply to all issues, for example; viruses. You may have your computer completely cleaned of all viruses and three days later be infected again.

You should expect to hear; “Yes, for most repairs we guarantee our labor and/or parts for 30 to 90 days.” Most hardware comes with a one year warranty from the manufacturer in conjunction with the local shops warranty. When replacing or upgrading parts, make sure you get new, not used if you want a warranty.

Anytime you have hardware or software programs installed on your computer, make sure you get the box, CD and literature for the product when you pick up your computer. Usually software will have a CD Key that you may need to register the product later.

Will you save my files?

Your computer is an assembly of parts that in most cases can be easily replaced. The digital items such as photo’s of your dog, video’s of your child’s first steps, legal documents and spreadsheets with your usernames and passwords are what’s really important to most of us.

The answer you should expect is; “yes, if they are retrievable.”

This also happens to fall under one of those items that are listed as a flat rate in most cases. Expect to have to pay $x per gigabyte of data retrieved. Most places will charge a flat rate of about $85 for the first gigabyte and $20 for each additional gigabyte. If your primary goal is to retrieve data from a dead hard drive, expect to send the drive to a professional lab. Generally, local computer stores do not have the ability to do this level of work. Professionals can most often retrieve data even if the drive has been formatted two or three times.

Summary:

When shopping for a computer repair center, do not hesitate to ask questions. Ask about certifications, knowledge level of the technicians and years of service. This is your computer and your sensitive data. Most often, your best option is to take it to a shop as opposed to a local guru’s house. On the reverse of that, some techies that work from home after their day job, are real brainiac’s and some are want-to-be’s, so beware.

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com

Windows 10 Free upgrade ending soon

Windows 10 free upgrade ending July 29. Microsoft is engaged in a final push to get users to upgrade, pushing fresh new features and overhauls to its design. However, is Windows 10 right for you? Here are some arguments, both for and against the upgrade.

For the upgrade:

1. New Features

Not everyone agrees about the value of Windows 10’s new features, but most agree the new operating system (OS) offers more than previous versions of Windows. The introduction of Cortana, a new virtual assistant, who’s intentions are to provide you with traffic and weather reports for your day and answer simple questions. Cortana also helps with your scheduling and to-do lists.

Rendering 3D graphics in games and other applications is boosted with the new DirectX 12 including faster boot times than that of Windows 7 and 8.1 and more support for multi-monitor setups. Side note: DirectX 12 can also be installed on Windows 7 and 8.

Storage from and to multiple drives, both locally and online, can be pooled more easily.

2. Support and Upgrades

While Windows 7 and 8 still have some years left before Microsoft stops supporting them, Windows 10 is being promoted as the “last” OS your computer will need. However, they are reflecting in their lifecycle fact sheet that support will end Oct, 14. 2025.

Rumor has it that Microsoft will eventually move Windows and Office to become a service or subscription after the 2025 end date for Windows 10. There was some thought of this as early as Windows 7 when it was in production and known only by its codename Blackcomb.

3. The return of the desktop

Windows 10 brings back the familiar desktop and start menu – well kind of. The start menu looks similar to the Windows 7 version, but has the tiled start screen from Windows 8 tethered to the side.

Some nifty upgrades to the Windows desktop include better support for Virtual Desktops and an enhanced Task View. These allow the user to easily jump between open apps and virtual desktops.

4. Better data access

Windows 10 takes advantage of Internet connectivity in a way its predecessors don’t, plugging users into a wider range of information and automatically syncing information with cloud services.

Searching from the Windows 10 taskbar will search more than just files on the hard drive, it will also search Windows Store apps and Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Windows 10’s integration with cloud services such as OneDrive helps automatically sync files between PCs and Cortana can share your profile between devices.

Against the upgrade:

1. New Features

The new smart assistant Cortana is not actually that smart, according to most users I have talked with. Often responding to simple questions with a Bing search rather than a direct answer, I found it frustrating and had better results with a simple Google search done by myself. The new Edge browser should have been a good idea, but with most new web browsers, it needs a lot of work. It lacks key features that are common-place in other browsers such as Firefox.

2. Privacy

Windows 10 collects more data than I am comfortable with. I am okay sharing how I use Windows and what apps I use, but I am concerned about Windows collecting what I type, my contacts and location. When Cortana is enabled, this data extends to my web browsing history, voice commands and more. The data gathering settings can be turned down, but not off.

Updates on Windows 10 also happens more frequently than older versions of Windows. Users have less control over when updates are done and what changes these updates will make.

3. Old Hardware / Software

Windows 10, like other Windows releases, does not support certain older hardware or software. I am not referring to items from the 80’s, I’m talking about hardware and software that worked fine on Windows 7. I found that printers are the least supported item, but some video cards were not supported either. When I spoke to the Microsoft tech support, their response was to simply buy newer hardware.

Older software that I paid good money for was no longer supported, but I could (with some software) buy an upgrade from that company that did allow it to function on Windows 10. So now I’m left to wonder; how much is that FREE upgrade to Windows 10 really going to cost me?

4. Missing features

A key item missing from Windows 10 is the Windows Media Center. This software was designed for TV, music and movie playback. The Windows store offers a version for you to download, but at an extra cost. There are some open-source (free) media programs out there to fill in the gaps.

Solitaire is still there but it comes with full page ads that you have to work around. You can disable them, but only by purchasing the solitaire game from the Windows store.

Another issue I found was that on some laptops, Windows 10 did not allow moving icons on the desktop. Where they landed is where they stayed. Even when creating a new icon, it was populated on the desktop in a random spot and was not movable. So, I could not arrange my icons to my viewing pleasure.

Conclusion:

If you decide to make the upgrade, there is one option not found in previous versions of Windows, the option to go back to Windows 7 or 8. You have 30 days to revert back to your original OS if you decide Windows 10 is not a benefit to you. In my experience, this option works most of the time. Two of the computers I tried this on crashed beyond repair.

So, there is a short list of my pro’s and con’s regarding the upgrade. I will leave it up to you the user to determine if the upgrade would be a good thing. My personal opinion is, if you are a heavy graphics user, (games and video) you may want to try it out. If you are a basic user, (Internet, email, word, etc) you may want to stick with Windows 7 or 8.

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com

Windows 7 Task-bar Tricks

In recent articles we have ventured off into other lands of the electronic world with my first computer, first robot and a few other off-the-wall ideas. This week finds us back at the heart of tech articles with some tips for making Windows 7 work harder and faster for you. Today we will focus on the often used but frequently neglected taskbar.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Have you ever found yourself clicking around between several open programs on your desktop when you just want to concentrate on one of them? There is a little trick to easily minimize all the others without actually closing them. Mouse over the title bar of the program you want to leave open on your desktop. Click and hold the mouse button down then shake the mouse around and all other programs will minimize to the task bar. Then release the mouse button. To make them return to the desktop just shake the title bar of the open program again.

Say hello to Speedy Gonzales

A nice feature about the taskbar is getting a thumbnail preview of all open windows applications. When you mouse over each application a thumbnail viewer appears. Usually there is a slight delay but you can make them display more quickly with a quick edit in the Windows Registry.

1. Click on the Start menu button and in the search box type “regedit”. Without the quote marks.
2. When you see the warning dialog box appear, click the “yes” button.
3. In the left column of the next dialog box click on the arrow next to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER.”
4. From the sub-list that appeared, click on the arrow next to “control panel” and in that list click on the “MouseHoverTime.”
5. In the right column of the dialog box you’ll see it has a value of 400 – which means 400 milliseconds. Double click on the line and set a new, lower value such as 100, then click OK and exit the Registry Editor.

Now when you mouse-over the application icons in the task bar, the thumbnail previews will popup much faster.

Shuffle your Taskbar Icons

Priorities, we all have them, so why not put your taskbar icons in an order that you are comfortable with. Normally these are lined up based on the sequence in which you added them to the task bar. Putting them in an order you prefer is simple. Just click and hold the mouse button on the icon you would like to move and slide it to the position of your choice. This can be done with open applications in the taskbar as well as shortcut icons in the taskbar. So click and slide until your taskbar is to your liking.

Mouse! Who needs a mouse?

For those of us who use the keyboard more often than the mouse, here’s a tip for navigating the taskbar. Instead of mousing over an icon in the taskbar simply press the “Windows” key and the letter T on the keyboard. This option will focus first on the leftmost icon. Hold the Windows key down and continue to press the letter T to toggle through the open applications.

You can also launch one or more of those applications with the keyboard. Simply press and hold the Windows key while pressing the appropriate number on the number pad. For example; the far left icon will be “1”, the next icon to the right of it will be “2” on the keypad, and so on.

Start menu boring? Customize it.

If you do more with videos than pictures or music, you can add a link in your start menu to launch the folder from there.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Properties.
2. On the screen that appears, go to the Start Menu tab and click “Customize.”
3. In the dialog box that appears, scroll to the bottom, look for the Videos section, select “Display as a link,” and click OK and then OK again.

If you’d prefer that Videos display as a menu, with links to files and submenus, select “Display as a menu.” You can also do this with your pictures and music as well as other folders.

Wow! Who knew you could do so much with the start menu and task bar? Best of all, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned for future issues and learn how to completely modify your Windows and your computer to make them work more efficiently for you.

 

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com

SPAM (email, not the meat)

SPAM: What to do and not do.

“How do I stop all the email spam?” Actually I’m asked this question frequently and I have a few quick tips for reducing your email spam down to a low roar. While it is virtually impossible to completely rid yourself of spam without actually terminating all your known email addresses, you can filter it down to a manageable size.

First,let’s take a look at how and why you are getting bombarded with these unwanted pests. Logging onto a website where you are asked for your email address is one of the biggest instigators. As mentioned before in this column, we discussed reading the fine print before typing in your email address and clicking that infamous submit button.

A great number of those sites state in their terms and conditions that they have the right to sell your email address, or at least share it with their affiliate companies. While the first company may specifically say they will not sell it, they do say they may share it with an affiliate company who does reserve the right to sell your info.  See the tips below for ideas on how to avoid this.

Another trend growing in popularity is sending #whatever to a certain number using your cell phone. In return you are registered to win a tank of gas or a $50 department store card. Do not fall for this one either. Here is the scoop on how that works for their benefit and your misery. This company (whoever it may be) shells out 50 bucks for a gift card or tank of gas and in turn they receive hundreds of active cell phone numbers they can put on a list for sale. Trust me, they are going to make a lot more than $50 selling that list with your phone number on it. I have seen this same tactic used with email also.

So if you are not really interested in acquiring a Russian mail order bride, dating Asian women or getting free samples of Viagra, then follow these simple rules to a cleaner email inbox.

Tips for reducing or avoiding email spam overload:

1. Do not use your daily email for logging onto new websites. I maintain a separate email account that I’ve dubbed as my spam mail. Simply create a new email address from any free server such as Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook, AOL (yes it’s still around), GMX and so on. Only use your daily email for co-workers, friends and family. If there is a site you would like to see regular email notices from; you may return to that site and put in your personal email address. Just remember to read those terms and conditions before doing so.
2. Do not unsubscribe from a stray junk email that may wander into your inbox. Often when you do this, you are sending that server a message that your email address is good and prime for them to distribute or sell. Simply delete the email without opening it. You may also select it and choose the option “mark as spam” from your email menu and later empty your spam folder. Eventually your email server will notice a pattern and automatically forward any future emails from that source directly to your spam folder.
3. Use caution when choosing the “reply all” option in response to emails. This includes emails from people that you know and trust. This was mentioned briefly in last week’s article “email spoof.” Using the reply all option inadvertently puts you and everyone else on that email string at risk for spam. You may know and trust the friend who sent you that email, but they may have friends you don’t know, and those friends have friends and so on.

In conclusion, following these three basic rules of thumb regarding email will go a long way in reducing your daily spam intake. Granted these are not the only things you can do, but they are my top three picks for anyone wanting to reduce the spam in their inbox.

 

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com

Email Spoofs

Email spoof, what is it and how to avoid being spoofed.

Most of us have heard of, or unfortunately had, viruses on our computer at some point in our lives. An email spoof is a little more inconspicuous but still prominent in the world of computing.

The word spoof means to falsify, hoax or deceive according to Webster’s dictionary. A spoofed email is intentionally altered by the sender to imply that it is coming from a legitimate source such as a bank, company, friend or an online store. The sender will alter the email with a “letterhead” look to imply someone else is trying to contact you. In many cases the spoofed email is a form of phishing or (con man) attack. In other situations, spoofing is a way of dishonestly marketing an online service or trying to sell you a bogus product.

The business spoof

Most of these will have the appearance of a well known company such Dell Computers or Microsoft. Often they are trying to get you to purchase some fake warranty or upgrade for your hardware or software. When in doubt, call the company directly and speak with the sales department about the service or product being offered in your email. Chances are, they know nothing of it or they have been flooded with similar calls.

The personal spoof

Most of us have seen this one. You get an email from a close friend saying he is stuck in the Cayman Islands and has lost his billfold, passport and everything but the clothes on his back. Naturally you want to help. After all, this is a friend of yours. This is exactly what the spoofer is relying on. In the email they are always asking for money to be wired via Western Union or some other source. Don’t fall victim to this one. Simply pick up the phone and call your friend. Most often you will find he or she is at work or home and oblivious to the situation.

The data spoof

Dishonest users or con men will alter different parts of an email disguising themselves as someone else for the purpose of getting your email contacts. The types of information they are trying to obtain and alter are;

1. From – name and address

2. Reply-To – name and address

3. Source IP – address (your IP address)

The first two properties are easily altered by using settings in your Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail or other email services. The third property (IP address) is a bit more difficult for the con man to alter since it is difficult to make false IP addresses convincing. Difficult, but not impossible.

While some spoof-altered emails are falsified by hand, meaning a hacker actually sitting down at his computer and manually altering emails, most are created by software such as ratware. Ratware programs will often run massive built-in word lists to generate thousands of target email addresses, spoof a source email and then shoot out those emails to the list generated targets. These email address lists are generated from your contact list.

Defending yourself against spoof emails

This is where common sense and curiosity should kick in. Question the email and its contents. Be particularly cautious if it has an attachment, this is almost always a good tell-tale sign that something is not right. Think in rational terms, I know my neighbor is not in the Caymans since I just saw him last night grilling in his backyard. The IRS is not going to contact someone via email about an outstanding tax debt. If they want to contact that person, they will send a certified (hard copy) letter to their home.

Conclusion; investigate before you click on that email. Opening it may do more harm than you are able to undo. My own rule of thumb is; when in doubt, delete. Deleting suspicious emails and installing a good anti-virus program, are the best options you have for cutting your risk of being spoofed. You should also refrain from using the “reply all” option in your emails. However, while it does have some relevance here, it will be better covered in next weeks article regarding spam.

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com

10 Tips for New Microsoft Project Users

With all the “Top 10 Lists” out there on varying subjects, I thought it was time to create one for Microsoft Project. Most beginners that are given Project are simply thrown a copy of the program and maybe an 800 page book that reads like assembly instructions for a Space Shuttle.

In the real-world work place classes are just not an option, usually due to budget constraints. With the proper training and a good understanding of a few simple rules, the users frustration level can be drastically reduced to a tolerable level. So, here is my list of a few basic rules or guidelines to consider when working in Project.

1. Project is not Excel.

This may seem obvious but surprisingly when you first open a new project, most are inclined to think in terms of an excel spreadsheet.  After all, it’s been ingrained in our thought process since the dawn of Microsoft Office. While the grid-like layout of the “Gantt Chart” may look similar to excel, make no mistake, it is different. It may look similar but it behaves very differently. For example, Project will automatically change the start and end date. Let it. Remember, this is a scheduling tool and scheduling tools change dates based on other inputs. Not understanding how and why it does this will lead most newbies to abandon the software.  Stick with it and it will become a valuable tool.

2. Understand the basic scheduling formula.

(Duration = Work divided by Units)

This is a fundamental formula across all scheduling practices and thus is no different in Project. Understanding this formula and the definitions of the words themselves is vital in comprehending how Project schedules and manipulates tasks. Without an understanding of this formula, changes made by Project may seem obscure and unjustified. Knowing the formula may not stop Project from making changes to your scheduling, but it will help you better understand what changes to expect given certain modifications on your part.

3. Setting fixed types.

By default, Project will set the “units” as fixed, when in reality most often we would want the “work” as fixed. On a default set-up where either work, units or duration is fixed and you modify one of them, Project will recalculate the third but will not change the one that is fixed. Since most technical tasks are driven by the amount of work effort required, they should be set so the work type is fixed.  You would set the work type as fixed if you do not want overtime. So, if your order for units increases you can plug in the new quantity and since the work is fixed, Project will adjust the time and provide you with a new deadline for production. In the same respect you can change the fixed type to any of the three options so if your deadline gets pulled in, adjust the new duration while keeping the same quantity of units and Project will calculate the adjusted amount of “work” or hours needed.

 

4. Don’t assign everyone at 100%.

When you assign a resource or person to a task, the default in Project is 100%. This means that that resource or person will work solely on that assignment. In some situations this is okay, but it limits that resource to only that task for the duration of the task. This will result in erroneous numbers and timelines in Project. Also pay attention to assigning people or resources to concurrent (parallel) tasks. Although most of us like to think we can multi-task, in Project it just doesn’t work.

5. Minimize those constraints.

When you add constraints such as “Start no earlier than” or “Finish no later than”, you are actually telling Project not to schedule anything. While there may be legitimate uses for such constraints,  such as a dependency on an external event, the best practice is to let Project adjust the schedule. This is known as Dynamic Scheduling. Difficult or inflexible constraints may cause scheduling conflicts and force Project to ignore or eliminate a particular project schedule. If your sponsor (by sponsor I mean boss) mandates an end date then use Deadlines. Deadlines will flag a missed milestone but will not disable scheduling of the task.

6. Avoid estimating or guessing the Percent Complete.

Estimating the percent complete for a project is a practice you should avoid. This often becomes a habit and soon becomes a subject of abuse. The best practice should be to ask a resource (or manager) to report the actual work then calculate the remaining work. This will allow project to automatically (and correctly) calculate the percent of work completed. A point to remember is that; in project the percent complete actually means duration complete which is distinguished from work complete. Remember, we are using Project – not Excel. Before you make changes to work or units, make sure you understand the difference between work complete and duration complete.

7. Let your project program talk to you, and listen to what it says.

Think twice before you hit the “ignore” button when Project pops up an error message “This action will cause a scheduling conflict…” They are there to warn you of potential problems that may occur if you continue. Deal with the errors or conflicts immediately or their consequences will have long term effects. Not taking care of them now will make it more difficult to trace back later when these issues start stacking up.

8. Leveling is not a magic wand.

As anyone who has used automatic leveling can tell you, there is no real magic to it. Leveling simply delays the start or continuation of a task or tasks in a schedule until your resources are no longer over allocated.  It’s best to use some thought when first assigning resources to tasks. A common mistake is to assign a person full time to more than one task that is on the same scheduled time frame. If you are careful, leveling can work great for you, if not it can be a nightmare.

 

9. Tools are not communicators.

Considering the various collaboration tools in the Enterprise Edition of Project Management (EPM) environment including things like notifications and SharePoint, you may be inclined to think the tool can communicate for you. Wrong! Ninety percent of a project manager’s job is communication. PM tools may facilitate some communication and relieve us of some mundane tasks allowing us to spend more time communicating – but it will not replace it.

10. Knowing project management will not make you a project manager.

Project Management Institute (PMI) identifies 44 processes that a typical project manager performs. Project really only handles a few of these processes. Project makes a good manager better and a bad manager worse. Project will facilitate some of your routine scheduling tasks so that you can devote the bulk of your time to truly managing your projects.

Also visit my new “About me” blog at https://www.aubreywlove.com