January, February, March, April, May, July and September each have one; June, August, October and November all have two. How many does December have?
Perhaps disappointingly, the first Christmas cracker I pulled this year did not have a joke inside – it had a riddle.
Around the table, they all did … riddles about December!
Did you suss it?
The answer is …
…THREE.
And here’s why …
December is a special month! Not only does it cap off the year with some lovely time off work, pressies under the tree and celebration with family and friends – but also, if you were born in December, you get the choice of three birthstones – turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite.
Three birthstones!!! Who knew!?
Well, now … YOU (and thanks to a quick under-table-Google, I do too)!!
Feel free to steal the question to brighten your Christmas dinner table as much as it did ours! And by that, I mean that not only did we pull our first Christmas crackers – we also had our first argument of the festive season! One diner piped up that “June also has three birthstones” and found a website to ‘prove’ it, another got quite heated about the fact that it was more nuanced because there were modern and traditional birthstones for each month. A third sarcastically asked, “Who even believes in birthstones? Next, you’ll tell me you believe in signs of the zodiac and horoscopes.”
I said, “Typical Capricorn!”
I don’t think it helped.
Anyway, back to December and its three birthstones – and what all this has to do with IT Project Management as a Service! (YES, I WAS WONDERING – ED)
I asked my “witchy” friend Sarah (who does believe in birthstones) why December got three and she told me that it was all about expanding choice!
Indeed, according to Beaverbrooks: “Traditionally, each month is associated with one birthstone but having multiple options for some months was created in order for more affordable options. Originally just zircon and turquoise, there became a third birthstone for the month of December, tanzanite, in October 2002.”
Expanding choice … more affordable options … thanks to its birthstones, December seems a great time to reacquaint yourself with PMaaS!
It gets better! My friend, “Witchy Sarah”, shared some of the qualities of the December birthstones …check this out!!!
DECEMBER’S BIRTHSTONES: A TRIO OF UNIQUE QUALITIES
For December birthdays, turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite each offer something special:
Turquoise: Known for its calming blue-green tones, turquoise symbolises trust, protection, and harmony.
Zircon: Renowned for its brilliant clarity, zircon evokes efficiency, transparency, and clear thinking.
Tanzanite: With its striking deep blue hues, tanzanite represents transformation, uniqueness, and innovation.
These same qualities apply to PMaaS, a resourcing model that allows your business to select project management services and resources that align with your needs, goals and challenges. With PMaaS, your organisation is no longer confined to rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, you gain the freedom to mix and match services, tools, and expertise – much like picking the gemstone that suits your character best.
CHOICE: A CORE QUALITY OF PMAAS
The essence of PMaaS lies in its ability to provide your business with a wide array of options, ensuring that every IT project is handled in a way that maximises success.
Here’s how PMaaS opens up choices:
1 – Customisable Engagement Models
Some projects require end-to-end management, while others need support only during critical phases.
PMaaS gives you power to decide: Do you need a full-time project manager or just interim leadership? Should you opt for on-site or remote resources (All Stoneseed’s PMaaS services are available onsite or remote, in fact we are experts in Remote Project Delivery)?
With PMaaS you pay for exactly what you need and use, nothing more and nothing less.
2 – Scalability
IT projects vary in size and complexity, and so do the resources required to execute them. PMaaS provides scalable options, enabling your organisation to adapt its project management approach as the project evolves.
For instance, a startup deploying a new CRM system might initially require light-touch management but need more intensive oversight during integration.
3 – Access to Specialised Expertise
Just as December’s gemstones offer diverse characteristics, PMaaS opens up a world of specialised expertise. With PMaaS your organisation can tap into specific skills as and when needed.
Stoneseed’s team is experienced across multiple technology solutions, sectors and industries, and we work on all types of projects and programmes such as Business Change, Transformation, Infrastructure, and Digital and IT Project Delivery.
HOW DECEMBER’S BIRTHSTONES REPRESENT PMAAS
PMAAS AND TURQUOISE: TRUST AND PROTECTION
Turquoise’s calming presence symbolises the trust and protection that PMaaS brings to the table. IT projects often carry significant risks—budget overruns, missed deadlines, or scope creep … with PMaaS your business can gain:
• Risk Mitigation (our PMaaS professionals proactively identify potential risks!);
• Stakeholder Confidence (a trusted PMaaS partner and its resources bridge gaps between IT teams, vendors, and executives, fostering transparency and trust);
• Continuous Oversight (PMaaS is like a safety net, our PMO resources and PMO platform ensure ongoing monitoring and real-time adjustments leaving no aspect of the project to chance). How very turquoise!!
PMAAS AND ZIRCON: CLARITY AND EFFICIENCY
Zircon, with its brilliant sparkle, symbolises clarity, precision, and efficiency – qualities at the core of PMaaS. IT projects often have numerous moving parts, and PMaaS can ensure complexities are handled with crystal-clear precision.
PMaaS delivers:
• Transparent Processes (our PMaaS talent excel at setting up frameworks for regular updates, status reports, and stakeholder communication ensuring everyone involved knows where the project stands at all times).
• Streamlined Execution (by leveraging proven methodologies and governance protocols, PMaaS helps teams deliver projects on time and within budget, efficiency is the hallmark of every stage, from planning to execution).
• Cost Optimisation (Clarity in budgeting and resource allocation ensures that no resources are wasted. PMaaS also has a straightforward commercial model. We work with you to forecast the project resources required and then provide a straightforward rate card with resources defined by type and skill set. Resources are called off against your demand schedule and may flex up and down throughout the period – you are simply billed for the resources consumed at the end of each month. PMaaS enables you to align resources as and when you need them, on a cost effective, full-time or part-time basis.
Could PMaaS BE more like zircon’s sparkle?!?
PMAAS AND TANZANITE: TRANSFORMATION AND INNOVATION
Tanzanite’s striking blue hues and transformative qualities remind us of the role of PMaaS in driving innovation. Modern IT projects are rarely about maintaining the status quo – moreover striking change management is the name of the game!
PMaaS brings:
• Agility in Execution – the ability to adapt quickly can be the difference between success and failure. With PMaaS projects remain flexible and responsive to changing requirements.
• Innovative Solutions (PMaaS professionals bring fresh perspectives and cutting-edge tools to every project, ensuring that your businesses-led IT initiatives stay ahead of the competition.
• Organisational Transformation (The impact of PMaaS goes way beyond project completion and delivery. Your team can benefit from sharing knowledge, experience and best practices. Even shifts in culture can happen that can endure long after the project ends, enabling lasting transformation).
Tanzanite and PMaaS – both such dazzling gems!!!
CONCLUSION: CHOICE MATTERS
The freedom to choose is always empowering, whether it’s a December baby choosing the birthstone that best suits their personality (and pocket) or a CIO resourcing IT projects according to need and budget.
For December birthdays, the ability to select from turquoise, zircon, or tanzanite reflects their individuality. Similarly, PMaaS offers tailored resourcing solutions that perfectly match your needs, goals and time horizons.
Although this blog is, perhaps, a tad more light-hearted (tis the season for frivolities after all!!!), at Stoneseed we’re SERIOUS about helping you resource your IT projects to maximise project outcomes.
With Stoneseed’s PMaaS your organisation can deliver results that sparkle as brightly as each of the gemstones of December. Happy December!
More about Project Management as a Service from Stoneseed
SOURCES
https://www.gemporia.com/en-gb/gemology-hub/article/1464/what-are-the-birthstones-for-each-month/
Oh and … Witchy Sarah