Why I Project Manage My Trip

About Me

My NameYong, Chee Khen

(call me Yong)

My ProfessionProject Manager

My DreamTravel around the world

Travel Achievements So FarAustralia, Canada, Hong Kong, India

Indonesia, Macau, New Zealand Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, USA

What I Want From My Trip

1. To visit spectacular landscapes.2. To take beautiful pictures.3. To do things I’ve never done

before. 4. To enjoy memorable moments.5. To relax, refresh my mind, and

generate new ideas.6. To make new friends.7. To spend within budget.

7 Common Travel Problems

1. Unrealistic itinerary.2. Get sick.3. Over budget.4. Pack too much.5. Miss out spectacular places.6. Camera run out of power.7. Lose all pictures taken during

the trip.

How do I get what I want from my trip?

How do I manage those common problems which can spoil my trip?

The Answer : I Project Manage My Trip

4 Phases of Trip Project Management

Before Trip During Trip After Trip

Phase #1Initiate

Phase #2Plan

Phase #3Execute & Monitor

Phase #4Close

Phase #1 : InitiateKick off my personal trip focusing on key objectives, high level scope, budget and timeline.

Phase #2 : PlanFocus on creating a Trip Management Plan covering detailed travel itinerary, budget management, risk management, and key action items.

Phase #3 : Execute and MonitorFocus on completing the required tasks. Regularly track, review, and revise progress to deliver an amazing trip.

Phase #4 : CloseUnpack luggage, pay bills, capture beautiful moments,

recap key lessons for future reference.

Phase #1 : Initiate

Decide my travel objective

• What is my purpose?

• What is important to me?

• What is not-so-important to me?

Decide my high level plan for this year

• Where I want to go?

• When I want to go?

• What is my budget?

Phase #2 : Plan

Plan my itinerary

• Do research on top attractions, must-do activities, must-eat foods,

accommodations, transportation, and budget.

Explore ways to save cost

• Focus on key areas to save cost, including flights, accommodations,

foods, local activities, transportation.

Review key lessons from my previous trips

• Avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Phase #2 : Plan

Manage risks

• Three major risks to manage

1. Risk #1: Get sick or poor body fitness.

2. Risk #2: Danger in foreign countries when travelling alone.

3. Risk #3: Burglar at home.

• Decide key actions to mitigate, avoid, transfer or accept these risks.

Phase #2 : Plan

Document Trip Management Plan

• Trip management plan is a single document which stores all

information and actions related to my trip.

• These include my research, itinerary, budget & actual spend, risk

management plan, receipts, key action items, emergency contacts,

packing list, etc.

• Trip management plan is saved in Microsoft OneDrive account for

easy access anywhere, anytime.

Before The Trip

• Refer to trip management plan to ensure all actions are executed

according to schedule.

• Fitness training and health monitoring.

• Monitor risks related to the place(s) I am going, including political

stability, currency, health crisis, etc.

Phase #3 : Execute and Monitor

Phase #3 : Execute and Monitor

During The Trip

• Follow itinerary as close as possible.

• Explore underrated but spectacular places.

• Monitor diet, exercise regularly.

• Charge camera and phone.

• Back up photos.

• Record beautiful moments and key lessons.

Phase #4 : Close

• Unpack luggage.

• Pay off credit card bills.

• Estimate total spend.

• Organize photos.

• Create and upload videos to my travel channel on YouTube.

• Recap the beautiful moments, key lessons, and next steps.

Conclusion

• Project management is the art of getting things done.

• In the business world, companies apply project management discipline to bring exceptional values to their business.

• On a personal level, we can also apply project management in our everyday life to achieve better results.

• In my example, I use project management to get the most out of my personal trips.

• Similar project management principle can also be applied in other areas of our life. For examples, it can be applied in organizing a birthday party, learning new skills, or renovating a house.

Yong, Chee Khen(call me Yong)

Website : http://www.1800pm.comYouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmpDkOZU6_S4aV8xoOFxHUALinkedIn : http://www.linkedin.com/in/yongcheekhen Contact Me : YongCheeKhen@yahoo.com