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Project Pirate

Project Pirate

Project Pirate - where PMs, technical leaders and professional mavericks navigate uncertainty and find the treasure hidden in every challenge. Sail we must.
13
Aug
Sunlight filtering through deep water, with rays of light and rising bubbles against a dark blue-green sea.

A Note on the Water

Every chart in this library has assumed a kind of solid ground beneath our feet - masses, gravity wells, orbits, forces
1 min read
24
Jul
Quando, Quando, Quando

Quando, Quando, Quando

When will you (my benefits) be mine? Most of what gets written about delivery is written from the deck. The
5 min read
07
Jul
A clock face submerged in dark swirling ink, its numerals barely legible as black smoke consumes the dial

The Invisible Clock

The Countdown Nobody Heard There is a particular type of lighthouse that maritime historians find fascinating - not the ones that
5 min read
03
Jun
A cloaked ferryman stands motionless in a ancient wooden boat at the edge of a dark river, mist rolling across still water toward a distant amber glow on the far shore.

You Can't Cheat the Ferryman

In Greek mythology, Charon ferries the souls of the dead across the river Styx to the underworld. His service is
6 min read
26
May
A ghost ship rendered in white outlines dissolves into dark indigo mist — the Klabautermann, spirit of the vessel, barely visible within the hull.

Das Schiff hat eine Seele

Klabautermann - and the soul of the organisation. In den alten Hafenstädten der Nordseeküste glaubten die Seefahrer nicht nur daran, Schiffe
5 min read
13
Jan
Odysseus bound to the mast navigating past the Sirens - ancient Greek framework for managing scope creep in project delivery

Bound to the Mast: Navigating the Sirens of Scope Creep

An Odyssey through Discovery and Delivery Every Project Manager knows the moment. You're sailing smoothly toward delivery when
10 min read
24
Nov
Valuable gems hidden among low-value rough stones

The Value Architect: Why Project Leadership Must Evolve Beyond Delivery

The traditional Project Manager role no longer fits the world we operate in. It was built for certainty; today demands
8 min read
05
Nov
Guy Fawkes mask wearing a pirate tricorn hat against red and black background with text 'REMEMBER, REMEMBER

Remember, Remember, The LinkedIn Pretender

Every November, we remember the man who tried to blow up Parliament. This year, it’s time to light a
3 min read
20
Sep
Hands pushing fast food tray toward viewer with "WE'RE NOT ORDER TAKERS" text overlay.

We're Not Order Takers: Reclaiming Your Value as a Strategic Navigator

When you accept orders without question, you diminish your value and reduce your contribution to task execution. True professionals are
4 min read
11
Sep
Sunset over ocean horizon with dramatic purple and orange clouds reflected in calm waters

The Journey is the Prize

When the final status report is filed and the war room goes silent, what remains? The Last Light There’s
4 min read