Are you defining project success the wrong way? Most project managers are — at least according to PMI’s Dave Garrett.

Project Management Happy Hour hosts Kim Essendrup and Kate Anderson sit down with Dave — Senior Advisor at the Project Management Institute (PMI) and co-founder of ProjectManagement.com — for a frank and real conversation about PMI’s new definition of project success to talk about how realistic it is, and what it means for the future of our profession.

For decades, project success was judged by the “iron triangle” — scope, schedule, and budget. But PMI has officially redefined it:

“A successful project is one that delivers value worth the effort and expense.”

Dave explains how this updated definition shifts the focus from checking boxes to delivering outcomes that truly matter — and how every PM can start measuring success through value creation instead of rigid constraints.

The discussion digs into PMI’s new M.O.R.E. framework — a practical mindset for modern project leaders:

• M – Manage Perceptions: Build trust and alignment with stakeholders.

• O – Own Success: Don’t just deliver; ensure the value lands.

• R – Relentlessly Reassess: Constantly re-evaluate priorities and adapt to change.

• E – Expand Perspective: See the bigger picture across business strategy, customers, and society.

Dave also shares lessons from his early startup days building Gantthead.com, the dot-com crash, and how those lessons apply in today’s AI-driven project world. You’ll hear how the rise of automation is making project management more human, pushing PMs to lead through empathy, influence, and strategic insight rather than process checklists.

If you’ve ever struggled with the question, “Was my project really a success?” this episode will give you a fresh, empowering way to answer it.

Key Takeaways

• PMI’s official definition of project success now centers on value, not just time, cost, and scope.

• The M.O.R.E. mindset helps PMs evolve beyond administrators into strategic leaders.

• AI will augment, not replace, project managers — freeing them to focus on human connection and business impact.

• “Success” is contextual: a delayed project that delivers exceptional value can still be a win.

Guest Links

• Learn more about PMI’s Project Success initiative: pmi.org/projectsuccess

• Connect with Dave Garrett on LinkedIn

• Explore PMI’s AI resources: pmi.org/ai

Want even more? Join us at pmhappyhour.com/membership to get PDU certificates for episodes, downloadable templates, access to our PM community, and 1:1 time with Kim and Kate.

Ever been dropped into a troubled project that’s already gone off the rails? Welcome to life as “The Wolf.” Inspired by the fixer from Pulp Fiction, Kim and Kate revisit one of our most popular episodes—now a PMI Global talk! —and break down how to step in, take charge, and rescue a broken project without losing your cool.

Kim shares his new 3-part formula for project recovery:

• People first – You aren’t just fixing a plan, you’re fixing an organization.

• Calm – Calm is contagious, and you can only control yourself.

• Clarity & Courage – Seek out misalignment, bring truth to light, and have the guts to ask, “Does this project still make sense?”

Of course, Kate keeps Kim honest, adding the perspective (and laughs) that make the tough lessons go down easy.

If you’ve ever been handed a project that feels unsalvageable, this episode is your playbook.

👉 Want even more? Join us at pmhappyhour.com/membership to get PDU certificates for episodes, downloadable templates, access to our PM community, and 1:1 time with Kim and Kate.

Why bother with risk management when you can just deal with problems as they happen? In this episode, Kim and Kate dig into the heart of that question—and the answer might just save your future self a world of pain.

You’ll hear:

• Hard-hitting stats: 1 in 6 projects go 200% over budget (Harvard Business Review), 17% of major IT projects threaten company survival (McKinsey), and why 69% of projects don’t succeed.

• Firefighting vs. fire prevention: why controlled burns (boring, thankless prep) prevent disasters while the “heroes” just put out fires.

• ROI of risk management: the surprising 20:1 return on time spent planning versus cleaning up issues later.

• Language hacks: how swapping “risks” for “obstacles” (credit to Dr. Josh Ramirez) can get your team—and executives—on board.

• Practical techniques: from whiteboarding failure points to slicing your project into risk categories, simple ways to start risk management without drowning in templates.

Whether you’re a seasoned PM or just tired of project disasters, this episode shows why risk management isn’t about doom and gloom—it’s about giving future you a fighting chance.

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