Own. Move. Anchor. with Kevin Pannell

What should you do during your first days as a leader?Many new managers and executives feel pressure to prove themselves by introducing new processes, reorganizing teams, or making immediate changes. But what if the best first move is something different?Inspired by Bruce Lee's famous advice to "be like water," Kevin Pannell explores why effective leadership begins with observation, curiosity, and trust before transformation.Drawing on lessons from the U.S. Navy, emergency management, healthcare IT, and years spent leading Project Management Offices, Kevin shares how experienced leaders can balance confidence with humility as they step into a new organization.In this episode, you'll learn:Why experience should help you ask better questions before providing better answers.How to avoid solving the wrong problem during your first 90 days.Why every process has a story worth understanding.A practical leadership framework: Observe. Orient. Optimize.How People. Process. Progress. creates sustainable organizational change.Whether you're a PMO leader, project manager, executive, supervisor, entrepreneur, or simply beginning a new chapter in your career, this episode offers practical leadership advice you can apply immediately.Mentioned in this EpisodeBruce Lee's "Be Like Water" philosophyBuilding situational awareness before making changeLeadership transitionsPMO leadershipOrganizational change managementTrust and stakeholder engagementConnect with Kevin: ???? peopleprocessprogress.com |???? Instagram & X: @thekevinpannell |???? YouTube: Own, Move, AnchorIf You Enjoyed This Episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone beginning a new leadership role. Your support helps more leaders discover practical conversations about people, process, and progress.

The traditional project management Big Three of Scope, Schedule, and Cost are foundational. They are not going anywhere, and they should not. However, those metrics primarily measure the process. If you only look at data on a digital dashboard, you are missing the human element that determines whether a project succeeds or fails.In this episode, we break down how to augment your traditional constraints with four people-focused vital signs that provide a real-time, accurate picture of your team and project health.Alignment: Is everyone actually pulling in the same direction, or are they just checking boxes?Confidence: Does the team genuinely believe the objectives are achievable?Direction to Done: Is the path forward completely clear, or is the finish line a moving target?Stability: Is the operational environment steady, or are shifting priorities causing burnout?By tracking these human indicators alongside your standard constraints, you bridge the gap between software dashboards and real-world execution.Key TakeawaysThe Process vs. People Gap: Why on-time and under-budget projects can still fail if the team is completely misaligned.Augmenting the Big Three: How to layer qualitative human metrics on top of quantitative scope, schedule, and cost data.The 4 Vital Signs Explained: A deep dive into Alignment, Confidence, Direction to Done, and Stability, and how to spot when one is slipping.Leading with Clarity: Practical ways for PMO leaders to pulse check these metrics through direct communication rather than software tracking.Resources MentionedConnect with the Show: peopleprocessprogress.comKeep the Conversation Going: @thekevinpannell on X and InstagramFitness and BJJ Content: Own. Move. Anchor. on YouTubeRead the Book: The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced LifeGodspeed y'all,Kevin

A project is marked green on the tracker, the meetings are happening, and the status reports look perfect. Then, the delivery day arrives, and the end users are completely unprepared. What happened?In this premiere episode of People. Process. Progress., veteran IT PMO Director Kevin Pannell breaks down the metric trap of green dashboards and explains why your tracking tools might be hiding massive execution risks. We explore the critical gap between visibility and true human alignment, drawing on historical engineering lessons such as the Challenger disaster and applying them directly to modern white-collar leadership.You will learn why methodology cannot solve human misalignment, why data points are just proxies for reality, and how to use the weekly Stand Up audit to check your unverified assumptions.Stop confusing activity with progress. It is time to double down on the fundamentals of your people, your process, and your outcomes.Key TakeawaysThe Metric Trap: Why a green dashboard only tells you that tasks are being checked, not that your team is actually aligned on the objective.Proxies vs. Reality: Software tools show you the work; real human connection and honest conversations move the work.The Stand Up Audit: How to strip away documentation theater and test whether your stakeholders are actually ready for deployment.The Core Lesson: Visibility is what we see on a screen. Alignment is what happens when real people understand the mission, trust the process, and execute horizontal communication. Never mistake a green status slide for a successful outcome.Connect and Share: If you found value in this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this link with a leader who needs to audit their corporate dashboards this week.

Welcome to the relaunch of the podcast. Host Kevin Pannell announces the official pivot back to the foundational framework: People. Process. Progress.In this brief trailer, we are stripping away the corporate fluff, trendy management fads, and endless debates over methodology to focus on how real work gets done. If you are tired of counting checkboxes, hiding behind software proxies, and watching green dashboards lie to you, this show is your new weekly resource for raw, real-world operational execution.Subscribe now and look for Episode 1 dropping alongside this trailer to start moving the needle.

At 52 years old, Kevin Pannell could absolutely kick his 30-year-old self’s ass, both physically and mentally.In this premier episode of Season 11, Kevin strips away the tough-guy illusions of midlife and confronts the male mental health crisis. Drawing from his own experiences with enterprise work burnout, anxiety, and grief, Kevin delivers an operational briefing on how to proactively train your mind, optimize your life portfolio, and build a foundation that lasts. This is a tactical breakdown of how to weaponize midlife friction using proven psychological frameworks, deliberate physical recovery protocols, and radical accountability.Key TakeawaysPost-Traumatic Growth: How to use extreme stress, burnout, or grief as the ultimate catalyst to restructure your life portfolio.Cognitive Reframing: A proven CBT technique to dismantle automatic negative thoughts and view challenges as simple operational constraints.Fatherhood as Coaching: Moving from an authoritarian stance to an active coaching role that builds self-reflection in young teenage men.The Math of Recovery: Kevin’s exact protocol for a 52-year-old garage gym athlete, including three rounds of Wim Hof breathing and cold plunge down-regulation.Professional Superpowers: Shifting from executive authority to trust-based leadership through coordination and partnership.If this episode challenged you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Stop reacting to your days, execute your strategy, and build a foundation that lasts. Get after it this week.

There is a fine line between helping someone and stealing their growth. On this episode of the Own, Move, Anchor podcast, we dive into the discipline of stepping back so the people we lead, mentor, and parent can find their own grit. From the battlefields of Glory to the BJJ mats, the boardroom, and the limits of medical intervention in EMS, we break down why true leadership means letting go of control.Key Takeaways:OWN: Redefining fatherhood boundaries and corporate leadership. Why over-managing creates bottlenecks, and how to transition to solutions by exception.MOVE: Embracing the grind of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Understanding the "Breathe, Frame, Survive" framework and using the Seven Pillars to get back to center when heavy emotions break through.ANCHOR: Building "2 AM" friendships by exception, grounding yourself in faith, and learning the ultimate power of presence during my father's final months.Connect with the Show:Share this episode with a leader, parent, or friend who needs it today.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

In this episode of OWN. MOVE. ANCHOR., Kevin Pannell reflects on why so many people feel mentally overloaded, emotionally fragmented, physically disconnected, and spiritually exhausted right now.After standing at attention with his family before completing Memorial Day Murph, Kevin began thinking about the contrast between real human experiences and the nonstop noise of modern life. Constant scrolling, outrage culture, comparison, divisiveness, endless notifications, and the pressure to always stay connected are leaving many people anxious, distracted, and disconnected from the things that actually ground them.This episode explores:Something feels off.The dashboard indicators of lifeMost people are trying to find stability in a very noisy world.Technology has become some people’s belief system.Not everything deserves access to your attention.Thank you for being who you are.Kevin also shares personal reflections on family, leadership, fitness, Jiu-Jitsu, project management, faith, and listener feedback that continues to reinforce the importance of helping real people through real struggles.If life has felt “off” lately, this episode is a reminder to simplify, reconnect, and return to the things that truly steady us.Website: https://ownmoveanchor.com/Instagram & X: @thekevinpannellThat is who I am, thank you for being who you are, and remember each day to own your mind, move your body, and anchor your spirit.Godspeed y'all,Kevin

Magic and Logic: What Project Leaders Can Learn from Coach’s Billion Dollar GrowthIn this episode of OWN. MOVE. ANCHOR., Kevin explores the balance between “magic” and “logic” in leadership, project management, and organizational growth.Inspired by a story shared on Masters of Scale episode featuring Lew Frankfort and the rise of Coach from a $6 million company into a global public brand, this episode breaks down what leaders can learn from combining people, purpose, momentum, standards, and repeatable systems.Topics include:• Why project leadership is more than timelines and metrics• How “magic” creates momentum, culture, and belief• Why “logic” builds scalability, trust, and consistency• The importance of understanding the “why” behind the work• Leadership lessons from Simon Sinek and Viktor Frankl• How portfolio and project leaders can build stronger, healthier teamsStrong organizations need both structure and humanity. This episode discusses how leaders can bring both together to improve delivery, engagement, and long-term success.References:Master's of Scale: How Coach scaled from a single store into a global iconWebsite: ownmoveanchor.comInstagram and X: @thekevinpannellThat is who I am, thank you for being who you are, and remember each day to own your mind, move your body, and anchor your spirit.Godspeed y'all,Kevin

What can PMO leaders, healthcare IT teams, and organizational leaders learn from UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra’s approach to onboarding new Brazilian Jiu Jitsu students?Quite a bit.In this episode, What Matt Serra Taught Me About Onboarding Teams, Kevin Pannell reflects on lessons from BJJ, emergency management, healthcare IT, and PMO leadership to explore why new employees are basically white belts and why good onboarding matters more than most organizations realize.The conversation covers:• onboarding and organizational culture• confidence through repetition• balancing accountability with support• psychological safety and leadership• progressive exposure versus overwhelming people• lessons from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Incident Management TeamsA central theme throughout the episode: “New people do not need to be tested immediately. They need to be developed.”Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.Godspeed, y’all.

Most real progress is not flashy.The internet sells nonstop motivation, hacks, shortcuts, and perfect routines. Real life usually looks different.This morning my phone died overnight. I overslept, missed Jiu Jitsu, and missed my workout.That happens.The goal is not perfection. The goal is resetting before one bad morning becomes a bad week.Real progress is often boring: sleep, movement, consistency, hard conversations, discipline, faith, and showing up again tomorrow.The basics still work.Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.⌚️Get up ????????Give thanks ???????? Get after it ???? Godspeed#OwnMoveAnchor #Mindset #Consistency #MensMentalHealth #Leadership

What do ICU medicine, Incident Management Teams, PMO leadership, coaching soccer, fatherhood, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and fitness all have in common?More than most people think.In this episode, Systems Under Pressure | Organized Urgency vs. Wasted Calories, Kevin Pannell reflects on lessons learned from serving as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman in critical care, working in EMS and emergency management, leading PMO teams, coaching youth sports, raising sons, and training on the mats and in the garage gym.The conversation focuses on the repeatable systems and leadership principles that help people stay steady under pressure:• repeatable processes• organized urgency• clarity and communication• mastering basics• letting others lead• movement as maintenance• anchoring through faith, gratitude, and purposeA key theme throughout the episode:“Organized urgency is focused power. Chaotic urgency is wasted calories.”This is not a motivational talk about becoming unstoppable. It is a grounded conversation about sustainable readiness, leadership, and becoming the kind of person people can trust during difficult moments.Key themes from the episode:• Calm is contagious• Projects are incidents without sirens• Organized urgency is focused power• Chaotic urgency is wasted calories• Leadership follows you home• Movement is maintenance• The environments change. The leadership lessons don’t.Reflection prompts from the episode:What was your happiest moment this week?What was your hardest physical effort this month?What made you feel anchored this year?OWN your mind.MOVE your body.ANCHOR your spirit.Breathe, frame, keep showing up, survive. Godspeed y’all.

What happens when the dashboards, templates, and systems are no longer enough?This Five Minute Friday focuses on the difference between visibility and true alignment, and on why strong project managers lead people through communication, ownership, and calm decision-making rather than relying solely on tools and methodologies.Drawing from project leadership, emergency response, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kevin Pannell shares why the best leaders simplify under pressure and help teams move forward with clarity.In this episode:Why dashboards do not tell the full storyHow passive communication creates uncertaintyThe difference between managing tools and leading peopleWhy calm communication matters under pressureHow experienced leaders create alignment without overcomplicating the work

When the System Fails, Your Skill ShowsIf technology, dashboards, and systems disappeared tomorrow, could you still do your job?This episode explores why core skills, communication, and fundamentals matter more than tools when pressure is high. Drawing from emergency response, critical care medicine, project leadership, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kevin Pannell shares why strong professionals fall back on training, assessment, and clear decision-making when systems fail.In this episode:Lessons from The Pitt and mass casualty responseWhy firefighters needed whiteboards and pizza before planning meetingsHow strong project managers lead without relying on dashboardsWhy fundamentals matter more than flashy techniques in BJJ and leadershipIf you want to improve your ability to lead, adapt, and stay steady under pressure, this episode focuses on the skills that actually hold when things get difficult.

What You Say Yes ToTrying to do everything spreads your attention thin. This episode focuses on choosing the right things to say yes to so your time, energy, and effort actually lead to results.In this episode:Why doing too much leads to less real progressHow attention and capacity affect outcomes at work and in lifePractical ways to choose what deserves your focusIf you feel busy but not effective, this will help you reset your priorities.

Sharing a quote and my $.02 from a great write up by Dr. Ali Binazir."So what's the probability of your being born? It's the probability of 2.5 million people getting together -- about the population of San Diego -- each to play a game of dice with trillion-sided dice. They each roll the dice -- and they all come up the exact same number -- say, 550,343,279,001." - Dr. Ali BinazirRead the full article at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/probability-being-born_b_877853Thank you for listening, subscribing and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts,Have a plan, stay informed and get involved,KevinKevin Pannell, PMP | Creator & Host ‘KEV Talks’ Podcast | Subscribe |  Instagram | Twitter | LinkedInWant to be on KEV Talks? Fill out the request here.

Sharing insight from and reflection my my conversation with Dr. Tracey Marks in "Why Am I So Anxious with Dr. Tracey Marks | PPP111". In PPP111 Dr. Marks shares how she started posting online articles, put out YouTube videos, stopped then became more consistent and now has over 1.2 million subscribers. In this 'Foundations Friday' I share the importance of keeping going to achieve success.

Great conversation with Dr. Tracey Marks about her new book Why Am I So Anxious: Powerful Tools for Recognizing Anxiety and Restoring Your Peace. Dr. Marks is a Psychiatrist, Author, and YouTuber with over 1.2 million subscribers. Some of the things we talk about in this episode include the following:Dr. Marks' early life and getting into PsychiatryThe Default-Mode-Network (DMN) and the relation of gut health to mental healthThoughts on the "new" Serotonin level studyBenefits of Magnesium, essential oils, and aromatherapy4 Fun facts you didn't know about Dr. Marks and much more!*Watch Dr. Marks' informative and entertaining videos on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/DrTraceyMarks or reach out to her at https://markspsychiatry.com/**Please leave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts to help get this and other great interviews out

Sharing the top 5 most impactful lessons I took from Mindfulness for Warriors: Empowering First Responders to Reduces Stress and Build Resilience by Kim Colegrove, Author and Owner at Pause First Foundation

Just like we need to clean and season an iron skillet properly, so to do we need to work to maintain good mental health by processing and addressing past traumas. Give this short 'Foundations Friday' a listen to hear more on how like is like an iron skillet.

“The Body Keeps the Score” was a suggestion from the first Therapist I spoke to after my panic attack. This episode is my way of sharing Dr. Van Der Kolk’s fantastic work and how I think others like me can benefit from his research and the shared stories within the book.

Inspired by Brett McKay's interview of Teddy Atlas on the 'Art of Manliness' podcast from May 16, 2022.Hear the full interview at https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/manly-lessons/teddy-atlas-boxing-trainer-interview/

Sometimes we’re in the bottom of a dark pit that seems hopeless. There is always hope. Let’s find it together and all come back stronger.

Checking in to say “Thank You” and provide a quick preview of what’s the come for the ‘People, Process, Progress Podcast’ in Fall 2022.

Taking a break for Summer 2022. Look forward to reconnecting in September 2022.Stay safe. Wash your hands. Godspeed.

Sharing helpful guidance from the book Managing Projects Large and Small on the value of challenging assumptions made early in a project.

"Take Time to be Silent" - Inspired by a sermon at church where the Pastor challenged each of us to unplug for 30 minutes. Well worth it.

In "The Godzilla Principle" I share the concept of the same name from Mark S. Dobson's book "Streetwise Project Management". 

'Portfolios Programs and Projects' is a quick reminder of the top down hierarchy between Portfolios (highest) Programs and Projects (lowest).

In 'The Art of the SBAR' I share the Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR = "ess-bar") to discuss issues with leaders.

"Thank you!" for helping the 'People, Process, Progress' Podcast increase listens/downloads by 120% this month over last. Please support the show by visiting the store at peopleprocessprogress.com

Sharing lessons I learned recently while optimizing my blog posts using the Yoast SEO plugin for the peopleprocessprogress.com website.

Inspired by a stay at home mom that had been out of the workforce who I advised to think about how she could map her life experience as she considers getting into project management. Also some thoughts for hiring managers to not discount the hundreds or thousands of repetitions parents get in managing tasks and milestones on the homefront.

Sharing U.S. Marine Corps Officer standards as outlined by Gen. James Mattis (USMC, Ret.) in his book Call Sign Chaos and how we as Project Managers can apply them to our field.

In EMS and Healthcare we are taught to not get tunnel vision by looking only at the monitor and not paying attention to our patient’s signs and symptoms. As Project and Program Managers we should follow the same sentiment and not get locked into only how good our KPI‘s are tracking but should dive deeper into how the people are or are not adapting to the output of our projects.

We go chasing waterfalls in this one…Project Management Waterfall, that is! Join me on this audio tour of Waterfall Project Management.Key Focus Areas:Project IntakeProject PhasesInitiationPlanningExecutionMonitoringClosing

On this Foundations Friday 54 I share four key definitions from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and practical considerations that can help Program and Project Managers determine whether they are still in project mode or supporting operational task completion.

If your project or planning seem to be going off the rails or circumstances have changed quite a bit, maybe it’s time to pause and re-charter your project.

A reminder for those of us that have some life and professional experience that we have opportunity to help others succeed and should pay it forward when we can.

Sharing a brief history of Yoga, how I've incorporated it into my regular exercise routine and my thoughts on the practical application of Yoga for Project Managers.

Sometimes we don't need to push through. Sometimes we need to take that leave, take a walk or take that nap and give our selves a break.

I am sharing the history, benefits, and some examples of the Tabata-style workout invented by Dr. Izumi Tabata in the 1990s that still provides times saving and health improvement benefits in 2022.

The other day I laid down on my driveway, soaked up some sun and watch the wind make the clouds dance across the sky. I highly recommend it.

Sharing the background, benefits and some examples of metabolic conditioning or 'MetCon' style workouts.

Sharing a great statement by Rear Admiral Thomas Richards, USN (Ret.) from Jocko Podcast 319 and my $.02 on how Project Managers, Incident Management Team members and First Responders can remember this when working solutions with their teams.

Sharing the 11 'mat rules' as shown on a poster in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) gym I train in that can help new BJJ players get off on the right foot of their BJJ journey. The source for the list is Chokebrand.Find the poster at https://www.redbubble.com/i/postcard/Mat-Rules-Poster-by-CHOKEBRAND/23763217.V7PMD

Sharing the great statement from Micah Fink from Jocko Podcast 318 and my $.02 on how we can all get more into the business of developing our fellow human beings.*Apologize for the pops. First time back recording on the iPhone for a while

Originally aired on Nov 30, 2021 as part of my short-lived 'Up In The Morning' podcast and now part of the KEV Talks Podcast library. In the episode, I share regular exercise's physical and mental benefits.

Sharing five impactful quotes from the movie 'Don't Look Up', my thoughts on this art imitating life, and considerations for us all as we get into 2022.

Sharing the 10 most downloaded episodes of 2021 and my favorite with a special message at the end. Thank you all and we'll see you in 2022!

Knowing when the projectized portion of a project or program is over is key to be able to reassign resources to the next effort on the organizations to do list.