“The Project Manager”: The Human Firewall of Construction
Mood: Overwhelmed & Efficient
Meet The Project Manager.
The Project Manager
AI Translator
Converts 4-page client emails into 3 bullet points the crew will actually read.
Scope Creep Shield
Uses “The Budget” to block unreasonable requests. “I know you want it, but the spreadsheet says no.”
BY THE EXECUTIVE JOKESTER
On our latest Tactical Trading Card, he is depicted fighting off a horde of monsters labeled “Scope Creep” using nothing but a glowing tablet. We gave him 80 HP because while he isn’t the one swinging the hammer, he is the one taking the hits from the client.
His class is “Scapegoat.” And his secret weapon is Artificial Intelligence.
The “Scope Creeper” Phenomenon
Every construction project starts with a plan. And five minutes later, the client says: “What if we moved this load-bearing wall to the left?”
That is Scope Creep. It is the monster that eats budgets and destroys timelines.
The Project Manager’s job is to translate that request into reality.
- Client says: “I want it to feel more… organic.”
- PM hears: “I want to spend $15,000 on curved drywall.”
- PM tells Crew: “Just round the corners.”
The “AI Translator” Move
We gave this card the move “AI Translator” because the modern PM has realized that humans are terrible at communication.
He feeds the client’s rambling, incoherent emails into Gemini or ChatGPT and asks: “Summarize this into 3 actionable bullet points that won’t make my foreman quit.”
It isn’t lazy. It’s a translation service. He is bridging the gap between “Corporate Speak” and “Jobsite Speak.” Without him, the Architect and the Electrician would have killed each other by week three.
The Asset: Gemini Advanced
We paired this card with a Gemini Advanced Subscription because it is the ultimate tool for the “Work Smarter, Not Harder” crowd.
- Drafting Change Orders: Done in seconds.
- Writing “Per Our Last Email” replies that sound polite but mean “No”: Done instantly.
- Calculating the probability of finishing on time: (Error: Probability too low to calculate).
The Executive Jokester Verdict
We stamped “APPROVED” on this card because the Project Manager is the only thing standing between the project and total anarchy.
He takes the blame when it’s late. He takes the heat when it’s over budget. And he uses every tool at his disposal—including AI—to keep the ship afloat.
Respect the PM. And please, stop asking him to move the wall.
The Executive Jokester is a satirical project by a Minnesota Real Estate Agent who knows that “Fast, Cheap, and Good” is a myth.