Earned value management is a concept and calculation technique in project management. At its core, EVA is a method that helps you see if your project is within the baseline budget and schedule given where you are at in your project work. 

If you are a project manager reading this, you likely understand the concept and if you are certified by Project Management Institute, you will have studied this concept and answered questions on your exam that dealt with it. 

As a tool, it’s helpful to analyze your progress with an accurate assessment of where you are really at. It takes into consideration the work that has been accomplished so far, costs incurred until now, and puts that into perspective to the original budget and schedule.

Outside of project management, it is also a valuable concept to consider when analyzing your life and career. Just as in EVM, the most accurate measure of where you are is not to look around you to compare to others. It is most helpful when you take stock of what you've planned to accomplish, what you have invested in terms of your time, your money and your efforts balanced against what your goals and dreams are.

Most people lose personal perspective in their pursuits of success and achievement. They can suffer from self doubt and imposter syndrome. Even worse, they can measure their own success against the perceived or real success of others and come to the conclusion that they are ‘behind’. This can have disastrous mental health consequences.

Only you can define success for yourself.

Your earned value is the measurement of what you have accomplished based on your own expectations of yourself. If you expected more, you can choose to feel inferior or behind. If you expected less, you can feel proud. BUT, the catch is. . .only you define your baseline. If you choose to allow family members, partners, colleagues or friends to set your baseline, you enslave yourself to their expectations. 

Earned value management cannot accurately assess how you feel about where you are. And, neither should outside influences. How you feel is valid and important. Humans are not data. We do not function as rigid metrics that can be measured and controlled. We are soft, malleable mammals with feelings, emotions and conscious and unconscious thoughts. All of these aspects make us unique and thinking about our accomplishments as earned value over the course of our lives can give a healthy perspective. 

Using the triple constraints of time, money and goals, how do you feel about where you are right now? Did you learn from the experiences that didn’t go as planned? Have you invested in things that bring you joy and will last? What earned value do you have from your life and career journey? 

Every step of your way earned value in leading you to where YOU want to go! 

Amber (a.k.a. The Feisty PM)