Lesson 21: The Final Lesson – What 21 Years in IT Project Management Taught Me
Welcome to the final installment of my 21-part series on lessons learned throughout my IT project management career. Over the past 21 years, I’ve been through budget slashes, failed go-lives, executive battles, vendor disasters, and crisis situations—and I’m still standing.
By Tom Jones, IT Project Manager
Welcome to the final installment of my 21-part series on lessons learned throughout my IT project management career. Over the past 21 years, I’ve been through budget slashes, failed go-lives, executive battles, vendor disasters, and crisis situations—and I’m still standing.
Looking back, I’ve realized that successful IT project managers don’t just manage timelines and tasks—they lead, adapt, and solve problems that no one else wants to touch.
So, for this last lesson, I want to share: ✅ The biggest takeaways from two decades of managing IT projects. ✅ What I wish I had known earlier in my career. ✅ The top skills every IT project manager must master. ✅ How ezRACI ties everything together to keep teams accountable and projects on track.
The Hard Truths About IT Project Management
After 21 years, here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned:
🚀 1. Your Project Will Never Go Exactly as Planned
❌ What I used to believe: If I just plan well enough, everything will run smoothly.
✅ The reality:
Every project will face unexpected challenges.
The best PMs don’t just follow a plan—they adapt when things change.
Risk management is just as important as execution.
🤝 2. People Matter More Than Processes
❌ What I used to believe: A well-defined process will ensure success.
✅ The reality:
A bad team with a great process still fails.
A great team with a bad process will find a way to succeed.
Building relationships with stakeholders, executives, and team members is critical.
🏆 3. Leadership is More Important Than Technical Skills
❌ What I used to believe: My job is to manage tasks and deadlines.
✅ The reality:
Project managers are leaders first, administrators second.
You need to motivate teams, influence executives, and make tough decisions.
Managing people’s emotions is just as important as managing deliverables.
🔥 4. Conflict is Inevitable—Learn to Manage It
❌ What I used to believe: If I do my job well, everyone will be happy.
✅ The reality:
IT projects are full of competing agendas, budget fights, and executive clashes.
Your job is to mediate, de-escalate, and keep the project moving.
Use ezRACI to clarify responsibilities and avoid power struggles.
📈 5. The Best PMs Never Stop Learning
❌ What I used to believe: Once I reach a certain level, I’ll have everything figured out.
✅ The reality:
Technology, methodologies, and business needs are always evolving.
If you stop learning, you’ll fall behind.
Stay curious, adapt, and keep sharpening your skills.
The Skills Every IT Project Manager Must Master
Want to thrive in IT project management? Master these core skills:
✅ Communication – If you can’t explain complex ideas simply, you’ll struggle. ✅ Stakeholder Management – Understand power dynamics and manage expectations. ✅ Risk Management – Anticipate and mitigate problems before they happen. ✅ Decision-Making – Projects stall when no one takes decisive action. ✅ Negotiation & Influence – Get buy-in from executives and manage team conflicts. ✅ Adaptability – Be ready to shift strategies when reality doesn’t match the plan. ✅ Accountability & Structure – Keep teams aligned with tools like ezRACI.
How ezRACI Brings Everything Together
Over the last 21 lessons, one tool has been a recurring theme—ezRACI.
Why? Because most project failures come down to unclear ownership, misalignment, and lack of accountability.
✅ Clarifies roles and responsibilities so no one drops the ball. ✅ Tracks approvals and decisions to prevent misunderstandings. ✅ Provides transparency so teams stay aligned and focused.
If you’ve ever struggled with unclear expectations, accountability gaps, or team misalignment, ezRACI can help you bring order to the chaos.
Final Thoughts: Project Management is a Lifelong Journey
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? There’s no such thing as a “perfect” project—just skilled project managers who know how to navigate the chaos.
✔️ Plan for change, not just execution. ✔️ Lead people, not just tasks. ✔️ Keep learning—because the best PMs never stop growing.
This concludes my 21-part series on IT project management lessons. If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope these lessons help you become a stronger, more adaptable project manager.
And remember—when in doubt, use ezRACI to bring clarity, accountability, and success to your projects.
Disclaimer: This blog is written from the perspective of Tom Jones, a fictional IT Project Manager, and is intended for informational and educational purposes. While based on real-world project management principles, all anecdotes and characters in these posts are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. The blog also references ezRACI, a project management tool designed to help teams succeed in project execution. However, these opinions are solely those of the fictional character and do not constitute an official endorsement.
About Tom Jones
Tom Jones: A Veteran IT Project Manager Navigating the Complexities of Enterprise Technology
Tom Jones is a seasoned IT Project Manager with over two decades of experience leading complex enterprise technology initiatives. Based in South Florida, Tom has built a reputation as a pragmatic, results-driven leader who thrives on solving intricate business and IT challenges. His expertise spans project management, IT security, large-scale system migrations, and process optimization, making him a trusted figure in the industry.
Early Life and Education
Tom was born and raised in Pennsylvania, eventually attending Penn State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems (MIS) in 2003. His passion for technology and business integration was evident early on, as he quickly grasped the nuances of systems architecture and project execution. His ability to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders became a defining characteristic of his career.
Professional Journey
Tom's career began at Unilever HPC as a Systems Analyst, where he got his first taste of large-scale enterprise operations. However, he quickly sought new challenges and moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a Consultant for the Department of Defense. This experience exposed him to high-stakes, mission-critical projects where precision and security were paramount.
Over the years, Tom took on increasingly demanding roles, managing SAP migrations, IT security projects, and various large-scale initiatives across industries. His ability to navigate high-pressure environments and deliver results led him to leadership roles in project management, where he excelled in driving teams toward successful project completion.
Leadership Philosophy
Tom's leadership style is rooted in accountability, transparency, and strategic execution. He believes that successful project management isn't just about timelines and budgets—it’s about aligning business objectives with technology solutions while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. His direct, no-nonsense approach has earned him the respect of peers, executives, and technical teams alike.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and ezRACI
In recent years, Tom has expanded his expertise into entrepreneurship, co-founding ezRACI, a SaaS platform designed to streamline compliance, audit trails, and project management workflows. Recognizing the inefficiencies in traditional project management tools, he sought to develop a solution that integrates collaboration features like Slack and MS Teams, industry-specific templates, and intuitive dashboards for workload optimization. His goal with ezRACI is to help teams achieve clarity, accountability, and efficiency in their IT projects.
Personal Life
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Tom is a devoted husband and father of two elementary school-aged children. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his kids' sports teams, and keeping up with the latest industry trends. His wife, who works at the local library, shares his appreciation for continuous learning and knowledge-sharing. Together, they have built a life centered around personal growth, resilience, and community.
Legacy and Vision
With over 21 years in the industry, Tom Jones remains a passionate advocate for effective project management and IT governance. Through his blog, he shares lessons learned, war stories from past projects, and insights on optimizing workflows in modern enterprises. Whether leading large IT transformations or mentoring the next generation of project managers, Tom's mission remains the same: to drive efficiency, innovation, and lasting impact in the world of enterprise technology.
As he continues to build ezRACI into a premier project management tool, Tom is committed to reshaping how teams collaborate, execute projects, and maintain compliance in an ever-evolving digital landscape.