"The Way I Live My Life Makes Me a Better Project Manager", Josh Tomlinson, Client Services.

“The Way I Live My Life Makes Me a Better Project Manager”, Josh Tomlinson, Client Services.

If you’re a Project Manager, you’ll know it’s not just a job, it’s a way of thinking. It shapes how you approach problems, plan your time, and bring people together. And here’s the thing: the very same skills you use when you’re not at work are often the ones that make you great at your job.

I’ve learned over the years that the lines between “work” and “life” aren’t always that sharp. Sure, the tasks are different, managing a website build isn’t the same as renovating a kitchen, but the mindset? That’s the same.

Project Management: It’s Everywhere

When I’m at home, I might be knee-deep in a DIY project, figuring out the most efficient way to get it done, or managing my squad in Football Manager, balancing budgets, building the right team, and hitting key milestones. Different setting, same principles.

It’s about knowing what needs to happen, when, and who’s going to make it happen, whether that’s a designer, a developer, or the mate who’s promised to help you lay flooring. And the more you practice that mindset, the more natural it becomes to keep things running smoothly when it really matters: delivering for clients.

Hobbies That Keep Your Skills Sharp

Even when I’m not “on the clock,” I’m still keeping my project management muscles flexed. Without even thinking about it, I’m practising how to:

• Plan ahead – Breaking a project down into manageable stages, whether it’s a three-month renovation or a three-week sprint.
• Solve problems quickly – From finding a workaround when a drill battery dies to finding a fix when dev work hits a snag.
• Bring people together – Coordinating a household to-do list isn’t so different from aligning a design, dev, and SEO team to meet a deadline.

These aren’t just practical skills, they’re habits. And they’re exactly what allow me, and our whole Client Services team, to keep projects moving forward without clients ever feeling the bumps in the road.

Making Life Easier for Our Clients

At First Internet, our clients often don’t see the hundred little decisions we make behind the scenes each day. They just see things running smoothly, deadlines being hit, and budgets being respected.

That’s the real art of project management: taking the stress away from the client. Clear communication, realistic timelines, and a proactive approach mean fewer surprises, and when challenges do pop up, they’re handled before they become problems.

Connecting the Dots Across the Agency

One of the best parts of my role is working across all our teams, from design to development to SEO. Every department plays its part in bringing a project to life, and it’s part of my job to make sure those parts fit together perfectly.

It’s about understanding the dependencies, keeping morale high, and making sure everyone can do their best work. Because good project management isn’t just ticking boxes, it’s creating the space for creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration to thrive.

The Human Side of Project Management

We’re all human, and yes, even project managers have off days. But part of the role is being that constant positive drive that keeps the momentum going, for the team and the client. It’s making sure the people you’re working with feel supported, and that the client ends up with something they love, delivered when they expect it, without any last-minute chaos.

For me, that’s the real win. When a client says, “That was easy”, because it felt easy, I know we’ve done our job right.

Looking for an agency who can be trusted with your next project? Let’s talk.