Hope is NOT a Plan

Hey there, friend. It’s Kevin. Welcome back to the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast. Today, I want to have a little check-in with you. It’s like a virtual wellness consult, just you and me.

And if you're looking for some resources to help you work through any challenges you might be facing, head over to our website at hopeisnotaplan.org. We've got a whole toolkit of tips, tricks, and inspiration to keep you moving forward. Want to check i...

"For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…" - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

It is said that Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon in response to Proverbs in the Bible. In it, King Solomon’s point is that life is not so simple as to fear God and choose wisdom. While important, it is also vital for us to go through...

Often, it feels like we don’t have time to exercise. We have to get the kids ready for school, or we have an early meeting, or maybe we’re traveling early. On today’s Fitness Friday, Five Workouts You Can Knock Out in 10 Minutes or Less, I’m sharing five quick and effective workouts you can squeeze in in ten minutes or less.

1. Tabata
2. 100 burpees
3. High-rep resistance bands
4. Run 1 mile for time
5. 10 minutes of mindfulness

Learn more abo...

Hello and welcome, I’m Kevin Pannell with this episode of the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast, Thriving After Cancer: A Journey of Post-Traumatic Growth. In today’s episode I’ll share what post-traumatic growth is, how it differs from resiliency, and more specifically, how cancer survivors and their families can take actionable steps to turn adversity into opportunity and emerge stronger than ever. 

1. Embrace your emotions
2. Build your su...

Marcus Aurelius said, "It is not death that a man should fear, but rather he should fear never beginning to live."

So, how are you living? Are you living in total comfort? Is that comfort preparing you for tough times that may come? I submit it is not. I submit to you that making yourself get up and get after it in some form, whether Yoga, weights, Jiu Jitsu, etc., will prepare your mind, body, and spirit for challenges life WILL th...

So, in my early incident management career as a Planning Section Chief, I'd go with other people after disasters, help find missing people, or plan big sporting events. I was super rigid in the methodology and the tools we used, and I had to hit every step. I was wrong. Fortunately, good friends of mine helped me realize that sometimes we don't need to work on the whole process; we need to meet the needs of those in front of us. Th...

In Lessons from the Roman Mob and for Project Stakeholders I talk about how around 52BC, the Roman mob was comprised of Plebeians as they were called or working class people. Individually they weren't that powerful, but together, they created a mob that changed the Roman empire. In projects, our stakeholders can start to sew dissent like the Roman mob did.

So, how do we address the mob mentality we see building in project teams and ...

I’m Kevin Pannell, Host of the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast. I am an IT Healthcare Project Management Office leader with a background in Public Safety, Special Event planning, and Incident Management and disaster response. In this episode, Hurricane Helene SITREP as of 06OCT2024, I'm providing a numerical snapshot of the impact of Hurricane Helene, the importance of shifting operations and mindset from rescue to recovery mode, and th...

In What You Need to Know About Disaster Response, I provide my insight as a former Firefighter-EMT and Incident Management Team (IMT) member on the early impact of Hurricane Helene, what should be happening on the ground in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and how listeners can help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Focus areas:

• Search and Rescue (SAR)
• Public Safety and Environmental Hazards
• Mass Care and Shelterin...

Have you ever wondered what superheroes and project managers have in common? While they may seem worlds apart, there are surprising parallels between the challenges they face and the strategies they employ. In this episode, Parallels Between Comic Book Superheroes and Project Managers, we'll explore five key areas where comic book heroes and project managers share similarities, from problem-solving and leadership to resource manage...

“Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to seasonal changes. SAD typically begins in the fall and ends in the spring. Symptoms of SAD may include feeling sad, having low energy, overeating, and sleeping too much.” - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 

In this episode, How to Prepare for and Push Through Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), we will discuss the importance of hope and action to p...

If you want to Lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, improve bone health, and have an overall better quality of life, you’ll make regular fitness part of your life.

Join me on How to Fit Fitness into a Busy Schedule as I share three tips to help you make fitness part of who you are, not just something you do.

• Prioritize exercise like you do the Dentist
• Incorporate activity throughout your day
• Find exercise...

In How to Solve the Resource Allocation Riddle, I share three planning elements that will help Program Managers, Project Managers, and Team Leaders more effectively plan for, coordinate, and support the resources on their projects.

• Conduct thorough resource planning and forecasting
• Optimize resource utilization through effective time management and prioritization
• Develop a contingency plan for resource shortages

Stay safe, tak...

In How to Tame the Scope Creep Monster, I share three key actions Program Managers, Project Managers, and Team Leaders should take to keep the scope on track while leaving room for team and life dynamics to drive the customer's needs.

• Define and communicate the scope early
• Establish a clear and dynamic change control process
• Prioritize customer needs and set clear expectations

Stay safe, visit hopeisnotaplan.org, subscribe, an...

Welcome back to the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast! I'm your host, Kevin Pannell. I’m a veteran of the US Navy, Public Safety in Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Public Health and Healthcare, and Information Technology spaces. In this second season, I’ll dive deep into the challenges of program and project management. I’ll identify a problem, discuss the hope, and provide actionable planning steps that will empower you to tackle th...

I'm taking this moment to express my sincere gratitude for all of you who have been listening, sharing, and supporting the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast.

Last month, we reached a milestone of 414 downloads, bringing our total to over 2.1k! That's more than 100 high school classrooms worth of listeners! And the best part? Our retention rate is an amazing 84%, which means you're not just listening, you're actually engaged and getting va...