How I started with Scrum?

I’ve spent my whole life working in IT. From the simplest to the most complex things.

I want to share a story about how I discovered Scrum and how it all started for me.
A little over 10 years ago, I started working on a large project in the Waterfall methodology.

When I now think about…

Mistakes that we made:

• We’ve been working on this project for too long, and it felt like it is never going to end.
• People became dissatisfied or left the project.
• We waited a very long time to see something that was developed, or sometimes, we haven’t seen it at all.

I immediately recognized that one of the reasons for that was the project management method itself.

We called it Waterfall methodology or the traditional way of project management.

I started to analyze…

5 horror disadvantages of the Waterfall methodology:

1. There is almost no room for change if something unexpected occurs during a project. And on the large project, something will need to be changed.
2. The waterfall model focuses on the internal processes of the work instead of looking at the end-user who gets involved with the project.
3. It delays testing until after the completion of development. The traditional method makes it the fourth step out of six. Since the project is likely to take a considerable amount of time to complete at this stage, any adverse results could trigger the need for a significant revision.
4. Longer delivery times. Because every phase requires a 100% completion of all tasks and documentation before transitioning to the next step.
5. Working products aren’t available until the latter stages of a project, and other reasons…

Then I found out that something different, something better, actually existed, but at that time it was not yet so widespread.

Today’s name is Scrum Framework. And the Scrum Guide 2020 is only 14 pages long. I loved it (You can find it below this video).

It provides the ability to develop products quickly, with flexibility, and, above all, competitively. We are talking about improved planning, and establishing a series of steps that help avoid wasting time and eliminate all types of waste.

Scrum Framework provides:

• Improved results. By including all team members, and stakeholders, the way that everyone is doing their part. You achieve better results because everyone is “on the same page” to get the job done.
• Satisfied users. Users must be taken care of. Users must be included in the product development from the beginning.
• And one more thing that leads to the satisfied user. If you want to do something, do it from the first attempt and with the highest possible quality. And if you provide your results to customers, more quickly, then they will be much happier too.
• Motivated workers. Each of the team members feels that they are an important part of that team and company.
• Lower costs. Not only do you avoid hiring more people, but you also minimize the possibility of failure and mistakes, because everyone knows what to do.
• Open to the changes that inevitably occur. Let me explain how this works: Scrum projects welcome change by using short, iterative Sprints that incorporate customer feedback on each Sprint’s deliverables. This enables the customer to regularly interact with the Scrum Team members, view deliverables as they are ready, and change requirements if needed earlier in the Sprint. It’s simple as that.

This all felt so good to me. This is something that we’ve been missing out on in our project.

And I just can’t believe why this amazing way of working hasn’t completely replaced the traditional way of project management.

I guess one of the problems was the lack of experts on this topic. But, today, there is a huge demand for these roles…

So, what I did do?

I found out which are the most famous world authorities in this field that provide certification.

I completed the preparation work for Scrum Certification in record time. I got certified for SM and PO.

But, I did not stop there, I launched and actively participated in several startups in which we implemented Scrum techniques and strategies.

Those projects were very successful and some are still active.

I met a lot of people with whom I discussed project management, and I realized that they all had the same or similar problems that I had.
I tried to explain to them what the solution to the problem was, and to help them find this solution.

By helping others I learned the main purposes of Scrum, and all roles and responsibilities in Scrum, I’ve also helped everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.

Not only that, but by helping others I’ve Mastered coaching, how to host meetings, how to assist PO and devs, how to remove impediments, how to write user requirements, how to deal with difficult team members, and so much more…

Younger colleagues generally accepted my suggestions and started to implement Scrum practices, while older (traditional PMs) still had certain barriers to Scrum.

I think that one of the reasons was their fear of change or the loss of the authority they were used to. Or, they are thinking that the Waterfall model is a straightforward and streamlined approach to development and because of this is unreplaceable.

But they could not understand that breaking down those barriers, those barriers that have already cost them too much in their lives.

Working in a Scrum team is fun but also challenging. I constantly improved my work and my life using Scrum.

And now the question arises …

Why did I decide to teach Scrum?

This epiphany came when I realized that it would be good to pack all this acquired knowledge into one excellent online course. On the other hand, a new challenge appeared, which took me out of my comfort zone.

And that challenge was me as an online trainer…

Somewhere deep inside me, there was that desire.

Yes, I wanted to become an online trainer because the role is one that I am extremely passionate about.

But, I didn’t feel quite like an expert enough to teach, I was scared to death to do some things more publicly, I was scared to take media, what if I get embarrassed?

Luckily, my passion was stronger than my fears and I kept going. It’s much easier these days to take control of your own career path and to work for yourself by helping others to become successful.

Being an online teacher allows me to make a positive difference daily, along with job satisfaction from helping people, because I am training students to achieve their objectives and to make them more competitive in the job market.

So, I’ve decided to create the Agile and Scrum Masterclass to show the world, how I work with Scrum now.

First, Scrum was a solution (if you recall my Waterfall story from the beginning of the video), then it was a problem I struggled with (because I didn’t know how to handle all these Scrum processes) until I found these secret formulas. And then it all changed for me.

And that’s how it all started for me.

Are you aware of how valuable this Masterclass is?

Because I will explain all these years of my work compressed into hours.

Now, what do you think is the real value of compressed 10 years of knowledge in this one course? 10 years of problems, failures, and successes…

How much is the real value of this knowledge?

If I only had this Agile and Scrum Masterclass when I was starting…

Every module is designed to build upon.

Every module has its meaning and purpose.

So, please, if you are all in for a Scrum career, take your time, don’t rush, and don’t skip any modules or lectures, because if you skip some of them, you will not get the most out of this course. And I want you to be 100% prepared, not just for Scrum certification, but for real-life Scrum implementation.

If you’re brand new to Scrum, I have a couple of things for you I want to share:

1. Don’t let fear of this new career be the dominant emotion. You say okay, I love this career path, my excitement is telling me that I should do it, but my fear, is telling me, what could happen, you can’t do this, you are not good for this, am I afraid- of this career switch. Don’t let fear be the decision-making factor for you. Because you can do this even if you haven’t done anything like this before.
   I was scared before I created this course, so back then, what if I said oh creating a course is scary, I’m not going to do it. Then you wouldn’t be here, I couldn’t serve you. And maybe you wouldn’t choose this career. So, if you have such filings right now, I want you to work on and move on to the next step, which is to acknowledge the fear and write them down. Okay, this is my fear of what could happen, why am I afraid, acknowledge it, but don’t beat yourself up.
2. If you are brand new to Scrum, after this Masterclass, you will go like, wow, I could do that. Right. I will also show you how to elegantly serve. I’ll show you some strategies that no Scrum Masters would dare to tell you. But we will go, slowly and step-by-step.
3. I give you all the credit in the world. But to work in Scrum, you have to be passionate about Agile, an investigator, and be open-minded, because you will have the opportunity to see what’s possible, and see the potential that traditional PM could only dream of.
   That means that you have to gain new capabilities, and then you got to take new uncomfortable action.
   But you don’t have to do it alone. Because I will be here to serve you.
   And that’s why I am so happy that you are here with me today.

OK, that’s it. I hope you liked my story.

And yes, one more thing, I am not saying that the techniques and strategies that I am about to show you in this Masterclass, are the only way how to run Scrum, NO.

I am saying that this is how I work with Scrum now.

✅ Free access to 30 minutes Scrum course + the Scrum Guide 2020. Send an email to agileandscrummasterclass (at) gmail.com (SUBJECT: 30 minutes Scrum Course and Scrum Guide), and I will send it to you immediately.

 I hope you will like it.

Dejan