Paradise City, Where the Grass is Green and the Hills are… BILLY. Three PAX were freed to lead in a simulated AGILE project. Customer called for 100 reps of arms, legs, and ab exercises, plus 3+ miles that included cardio-building elevation gain.

Warmup: SSH x 2 x 2, 10x burpees, merkins, squats on the 1.5 mile mosey to the hill.

In an AGILE project, the Customer identifies and prioritizes the product requirements or BACKLOG and the TEAM is self-organizing, self-directing, and is empowered to lead itself and make decisions—much like F3’s mantra—Freed to Lead. The TEAM identifies which features or “user stories” it can tackle in a SPRINT. Today, for our first SPRINT, the TEAM chose 100 arm reps to be completed during the run from the top of the hill to the bottom of the hill—that is, our SPRINT. Freed to lead, each team member determined which arm exercise, when to complete it, and how many reps. All to meet the requirement of 100 reps. At the end of the SPRINT, the customer reviewed and accepted the 100 reps as meeting the DEFINITION OF DONE. Success!

In the next SPRINT, the team tackled 100 leg exercises, completed during the same distance-boxed SPRINT—from the top of the hill to the bottom. Once again, each team member determined which leg exercise, when to complete it, and how many reps. All to meet the requirement of 100 reps. At the end of the SPRINT, the customer reviewed and accepted the 100 reps as meeting the DEFINITION OF DONE. Success!

Two principles behind the AGILE project management methodology are to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software meeting the customer’s requirements. And to make these deliveries FREQUENTLY. Today, we delivered two sets of 100 reps. But that’s not all. Another customer requirement was to cover 3+ miles that included cardio-building elevation gain, all within the time-boxed SPRINT of 45 minutes. To meet this 3+mile requirement, we traveled to the steepest hill on Crossway Lane. We met the 3+mile requirement easily, but after completing the two SPRINTS above, we were pressed to get back to the flag are to meet the 45-minute REQUIREMENT. To save time, the team decided to take Milpass Drive. Freed to Lead.

We probably would have made it back, but one PAX needed to drop a deuce. OMG. We arrived at the flag area 2 minutes late. Upon Customer review, we did not meet the DEFINITION OF DONE, since we exceeded the time requirement. Oh well, we’ll return this USER STORY to the PRODUCT BACKLOG for the next SPRINT.

Prayer Requests: Please continue to pray for Davis (3-Alarm). He is in the hospital for respiratory issues and more. Doctors are treating him and hoping he responds to this round of treatments.

Pray that @Dumbo is not negatively affected by First Citizens’ recent acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank.

Announcements: Remember to plant your F3 flag at every workout. If you don’t plant an F3 shovel flag, it’s just a bunch of guys working out together. Passersby likely assume it’s a closed workout and likely assume they are not welcome. So, plant that flag! The mission of F3 is to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups to reinvigorate male community leadership.

Why all this project management stuff? I just finished studying 2 months for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. And passed!