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 HazardsMass Care and ShelteringInfrastructure Assessment and RepairCommunication and Coordination“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:89 Stay safe people of TN, NC, and VA, don’t give up and help each other, and Godspeed, Kevin

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 management and communication. By understanding these parallels, we can gain valuable insights into effective project management techniques and the qualities that make great leaders.more at hopeisnotaplan.orgStay safe, leverage your inner superhero, and Godspeed,Kevin

This week, I was fortunate to hear from a leader who innovates in changing social determinants of health to social drivers of health. In Thought from the Road: How to Convert Fitness Determinants into Motivational Drivers, I take this guidance to heart and see that it directly applies to ourselves in our fitness and wellness areas.more at hopeisnotaplan.org

“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 prepare for and overcome seasonal depression.Episode outline:Importance of sunlightValue of exerciseCleaner dietSocial connectionsTalking to othersStay safe, prepare to be less SAD, and Godspeed,KevinMore at hopeisnotaplan.org

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 DentistIncorporate activity throughout your dayFind exercise movements you enjoy doingGet up, get after it, and Godspeed,KevinMore at hopeisnotaplan.org

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 forecastingOptimize resource utilization through effective time management and prioritizationDevelop a contingency plan for resource shortagesStay safe, take care of your resources, and Godspeed.More at hopeisnotaplan.org

In Three Nutrition Myths Debunked, I debunk common nutrition myths that often trip up people working hard to lose weight and stay in shape.Myth 1: You can never drink diet sodaMyth 2: All carbs are badMyth 3: Low-fat means healthyMore resources, show notes, tools, and templates at hopeisnotaplan.orgRemember to get up, get after it, and I wish you all, Godspeed.Kevin

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 earlyEstablish a clear and dynamic change control processPrioritize customer needs and set clear expectationsStay safe, visit hopeisnotaplan.org, subscribe, and Godspeed.

Are you nervous about starting an exercise program? Does going to a "globo-gym" fill you with dread? On this inaugural episode of Fitness Friday I share three tips you can follow to get started on your fitness path with or without getting a gym membership.More at https://hopeisnotaplan.org/strengthen-your-pillars/Get upGet after itSubscribeGodspeed

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 these challenges head-on. I'll also keep you motivated with Fitness Friday segments. These short, but impactful five minute or less episodes will offer tips to keep your mind and body healthy to help you stay ready to lead teams and drive organizational success.More resources, episodes, and a way to contact me at hopeisnotaplan.org.Until then, remember, while hope ignites, it’s action that transforms.Godspeed and thank you for listening,Kevin

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 value from every episode. I'm truly humbled and excited to be on this journey with you all.And let's not forget our YouTube channel! We've hit 454k views and 679 subscribers! Thank you for spreading the word and sharing our content with your friends and family.Thank you for being an amazing part of this community. I can't wait to see what we accomplish together in the coming months. Until then, take some time for yourself, recharge, and come back ready to conquer your goals. Remember, hope is not a plan, but a good plan can bring hope.Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed,Kevin

In today’s episode, The Top 5 Reasons Taking Ownership at Work is Hard, let's explore why owning our situation at work is the crucial first step towards improving ourselves, our teams, and our organizations. But first…Episode references:-        Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin-        Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop-        Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl-        Joyce Meyer’s Enjoying Everyday Life Radio PodcastStay safe out there, take ownership and start moving forward, and Godspeed, Kevin

On today’s Five-Minute Friday,How to Complete a Project YOU Self-Check, I’m checking in. We’ll recap how you can lead the most important project ever: Project YOU!In this episode:Review of Project YOU phasesChecking in with yourselfRefining your focusSelf-accountability and supportMaking Project YOU a Lifelong ProgramStay safe, invest in yourself, and Godspeed.

In today’s episode, How to Plan for Project YOU!, I will walk the listener through standard project phases, but with a twist. Today, the project is not new software or some new gadget. Today, the project is Project YOU!In this episode:YOUR personal intake processInitiating Project YouPlanning for ActionExecuting the Project You planMonitoring Project You progressClosing...there is NO closingGodspeed y'all.

I'm re-sharing my custom version of Rudyard Kipling's "If" with focus on 2024 America.

I've been involved in a couple of National Special Security Events (NSSEs). To say planning for these events is challenging is an understatement. In this episode, How to Make Our Nation's Biggest Events Safer, I share insight on how Federal, State, and Local agencies can and should work together to keep each other, the public, and their public figures safer.The Ground Rules:Safety above allNo egosNo silosOne planning processOne planning teamOne incident action plan (IAP)Hope is NOT a PlanThis episode is dedicated to Firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died shielding his family, and to David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who are recovering from their injuries.Godspeed.

Today's episode, The Parable of the Lost Team Member, is inspired by the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 in the Bible. While no human can ever life up to Jesus' example, we an aspire to emulate his concern and effort to take care of the one lost member of the team as much as we do about the other ninety-nine members."Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" - Luke 15

In this episode, How Project Managers Can Wield a Shepherd’s Crook, I’m sharing how Project Managers can redirect the lost flock, or stakeholders, which can become lost during projects.The Flock:Scope: The Wandering SheepSchedule: The Lost SheepCost: The Indecisive SheepQuality: The Half-Shorn SheepStay safe, keep the flock moving in one direction, and Godspeed,Kevin

Even facing battlefield chaos, Ulysses S. Grant remained unshakable. Want that same unshakeable calm? In this episode, How to be imperturbable like Ulysses S. Grant, Kevin Pannell shares three focus areas you can practice bringing more steadiness to your stressful times. Discover how mindfulness, stoicism, and faith can help you achieve imperturbability and navigate life's challenges with greater ease.

The Battle of Gettysburg took place from July 1 to July 3, 1863. In Leadership Lessons from the Battle of Gettysburg, I share what I learned by touring the battlefield in 2019 as part of a Staff Ride leadership development course.Lessons include:FlexibilityIndecisionEgoPoor communicationPACE Contingency PlanningThank you for listening to this From the Archives episode. I hope the lessons I shared help you as much as they helped me shape my professional career.