Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Brett Palmer's Journey to Become a Certified Scrum Trainer

March 21, 2017 - I send a job offer to Brett Palmer as full-time agile coach.

March 23,2017 - Brett declines the full-time offer, and requests a contract opportunity.

March 25, 2017 - I reply that any 1099 work will not include my investment and support for the CST. I wrote:

I'm going to think some more about what this means on the CST process, though, given the cost and investment and the network I bring for that. I'm not there yet if it's not full-time (which is what the Scrum Alliance was trying to help and address with the ECST program).  
The CST is such a lure towards money that most would rather train full time rather than train and coach. Even if training & coaching, it's hard to find where to draw the line on train vs long term investment in the company, community, etc.  
For example, train four times a month and coach the rest? Train twice, coach most and spend some time visiting clients, on free coaching calls, supporting a and running an other low-margin classes? 
I feel strongly the latter is best for individuals, teams and companies in our area long term. Results will take time, but I don't see any other way. 
I can't, in good conscience, expect an independent to give up a good income from training just for what I think is "best for the company and community." It doesn't make short term economic sense. That's why I made stock options/ownership part of the offer.

April 6, 2017 - Brett accepts the initial full-time offer, stating among other things:

Your offer is really quite generous, and says a lot of your confidence in me...I will do everything possible in my capacity to help grow the R9 brand...my loyalty now is R9.

May 13, 2017 - Arranged co-train for Brett with CST #1. Two days off and direct cost of $15,552.00.

June 7, 2017 - Arranged co-train for Brett with CST #2. Three days off and travel costs.

July 16, 2017 - Arranged co-train for Brett with CST #3. Four days off and travel costs.

July 23, 2017 - Second co-train for Brett with CST #2. Three days off and travel costs.

July 30, 2017 - Second co-train for Brett with CST #3. Three days off and travel costs.

August 1, 2017 - Arranged co-train for Brett with CST #4. Five days off and travel costs.

August 21, 2017 - Arranged co-train for Brett with CST #5. Two days off and direct costs of $11,004.

Summer and Fall, 2017 - Brett had over 7 weeks of training, all of which helped to present him as the best candidate possible. This includes CSD, multiple CAL, Large Scale Scrum (LeSS), Lean Kanban University and ORSC certifications. Brett had over 40 days of co-training, all paid for as an FTE. Brett is not billable for majority of the time.

October 24, 2017 - November 1, 2017 - Brett's trip to Dublin, Ireland for the Scrum Gathering. He does not pass the Trainer Approval Committee (TAC).

December, 2017 - Brett submits an expense report totaling over $30,000.

April 13 - 19, 2018 - Brett travels to Minneapolis Scrum Gathering, passes the TAC.

April 22, 2018 - Brett Palmer quits Rocket Nine Solutions.

Brett is now independent, doing business as "Brett Palmer & Associates" with two classes a week, including Orange County. He has a "code of conduct" that "anyone who violates this code of conduct may be sanctioned."

Brett Palmer



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