Crystal Richards

This week hit different.

Three of my boot camp students passed the PMP exam this week. And one of them passed on her birthday. Her actual birthday.

She spent part of her birthday taking the PMP exam… and walked out certified.

I still can’t get over it.

Moments like this remind me that passing the PMP is not about luck. It is about discipline, preparation, strategy, and deciding you are going to finish what you started.

Every single one of them put in the work. The study sessions. The practice exams. The late nights. The second-guessing. All of it.

And this week, it paid off.

Today is the LAST day to register for my final public PMP boot camp of the season. After this, I am only offering boot camps through corporate training engagements.

If earning your PMP has been sitting in the back of your mind, this might be your moment.

Link in bio.

And to my three newest PMPs, especially my birthday-pass queen 🎉 … I am incredibly proud of you.

There's a particular kind of tired that comes from doing meaningful work on a deadline.
I just submitted the final chapters of my PMP book, 2nd edition.

Then I packed a bag and got on a plane to teach project management to the folks in healthcare who are building things, solving problems, and coordinating people without a PM title in sight.

No title, all responsibility. That's the accidental project manager. That's who I show up for.

Rest is on the other side of this trip. And I'm ready for it.

🎉 Today is my birthday.

I’ve always seen birthdays as built-in checkpoints.
A moment to pause, reflect, and appreciate how far the journey has taken you.

I’m grateful for another year of lessons, growth, and the people who make the path meaningful.

And since it is my birthday, I wanted to share a small gift. 🎁

My book PMP Exam Prep For Dummies is currently 30% off at Barnes & Noble, Inc. this month.

If PMP certification is on your list this year, this might be the perfect time to grab a copy.

Grateful for the journey and excited for what’s ahead.

Before you fall in love with a project, ask for the prenup. 💌

Day is tomorrow.
A reminder that commitment without clarity gets messy fast.

That early project phase feels like a honeymoon.
Big ideas. Big energy. Lots of yes.

In real life, a prenup protects the relationship.
In project management, that protection is the project charter.

It answers one question that matters most:
What are we committing to and what are we not?

If you hear, “Let’s just get started. We’ll figure it out later,”
pause. Someone isn’t ready yet.

The charter isn’t about control.
It’s about cover.

Because no one wants to be left holding the bag.

Did you know a Black inventor helped create one of the first home security systems?

Marie Van Brittan Brown saw a problem.
She prototyped a solution.
She filed a patent.

That’s real-life product development.

What customer pain point are you overlooking right now? 👀

👇🏾 Comment below

✨ Guess who’s writing the 2nd Edition of PMP Exam Prep for Dummies?

This woman. 🙋🏾‍♀️📘

With the PMP® exam changing in July, I’m excited to partner with Wiley again to bring you a fully updated edition aligned to what’s coming next.
Same straight talk. Same real-world examples. Just refreshed for the new exam.

📝 Studying for the current PMP exam?
Grab the book now and keep your momentum going.

⏳ Testing after July?
Stay tuned for release dates, a virtual book tour, and yes, another book signing party (maybe two 👀).

💬 Have feedback or a wish list for the update?
Tell me what you wish existed when you were studying. I’m listening.

👀 And if PMP is on your 2026 vision board, my upcoming PMP boot camps are open.
Structure, accountability, and honest guidance on what actually matters for the exam. More to come. 🚀

Is PgMP the right next step for you? 🤔

If you’re managing multiple projects, leading enterprise initiatives, or operating more at a strategic level, it might be time to look beyond PMP.

I’m hosting an informal PgMP info session to break down what this certification really is, who it’s for, and who should wait before pursuing it.

📅 January 13, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM ET
👉🏽Hosted by MindsparQ®

We’ll cover:
✔️ What PgMP actually certifies and how it differs from PMP
✔️ Who benefits most from PgMP and who may not need it yet
✔️ Application and exam expectations at a high level
✔️ How MindsparQ is preparing to support PgMP candidates

👉🏿 Register and stay close. Link in bio‼️‼️

😩 Feeling FOMO because you can’t make it to the this year?
I got you.

You can still learn, connect, and grow with project managers just like you at Playdate™, happening Thursday, November 13.

It’s a 4-hour virtual session (yes, with breaks!) where we’ll tackle risk management in a fresh, interactive way:
🎯 From Red Flags to Readiness: Mastering Modern Risk Management
✅ Real scenarios
✅ Choose-your-own-adventure challenge
✅ Takeaway tools you’ll actually use
✅ Earn Ways of Working PDUs

No flights or hotels needed. Just log in and learn.

Leave a quick review of PMP Exam Prep for Dummies® and get a discount (just use your real name, not your witness protection alias 😉).

Let’s turn FOMO into Focused Learning.

👉🏽Join us. Registration link in the comments.