Behind the Badge: My Journey towards CSM

I became Certified Scrum Master on 10th March 2025. More than earning the CSM badge, it was the shift in my perspective on Scrum and Agile that felt truly fulfilling!

Background

Most of my corporate experience comes from oracle ERP implementation through waterfall SDLC and my introduction to Agile happened sometime around 2012-2013, in the form of daily scrums and iterative sprints. Those were partial agile (or it was thought so) adaptations by the industries to get the benefits of both the worlds(Waterfall and Agile). Even today, most of the ERP implementations are happening with hybrid/partial agile approach. This could be due to the complex nature of ERP projects which require sequential approach and some kind of rigidity to manage the challenges of integration with multiple upstream and downstream systems.

Sometime between 2022-23, I happen to inculcate certain practices from agile philosophy during my freelancing journey of building android apps. This was slightly better adaptation considering the fact that I was using frameworks like Kanban to maximize my efficiency and visualize work efforts, iterative approach to product development, getting early feedback and building upon that, etc. Even during those times, I was just following certain agile practices, to the best of my knowledge to reap its benefits.

A Push Towards Structured Agile Learning

In late 2024, I had an interesting interaction with a prospective client who insisted on having an Agile-certified professional for a small piece of work. It was amusing because the task was estimated to take only 3–4 weeks, manageable by a single person (or two at most, to cut the timeline in half). Requiring an Agile certification for such a brief and straightforward project seemed quite unnecessary. This experience left me wondering — has "Agile/Scrum" become more of a buzzword or a fashion statement? Is not adopting it now seen as a sign of being outdated?

Around the same time, while managing a project and collaborating with other freelancers, I realized the need to enhance my project management skills. With limited time for PMP, I opted for Google's Agile Project Management course, which improved my understanding of Agile concepts. This eventually led me to pursue Agile certification, starting with the Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

On March 8th, I had the opportunity to attend CSM training by Snehamayee Kulkarni, which completely changed my perspective on Scrum and Agile. She cleared many misconceptions that trainees had about the philosophy and framework. That’s when I realized that many organizations implement Agile without truly understanding its essence. I, too, had a bias — believing Agile often created undue stress for developers — a view shared by many industry professionals I had interacted with. The training gave me a fresh perspective - Agile is not just a philosophy to adopt; to unlock its full potential, it requires a cultural shift at the organizational level.

Application and Continuous Learning

Since I didn’t want to lose the rhythm of this new perspective, I decided to continue exploring Agile concepts and apply them wherever possible.

One impactful example was how Scrum helped me overcome a mental block in achieving my fitness goal. This year, I aimed to take my fitness to the next level by doing 108 Surya Namaskaras once or twice a week. I gradually increased my daily count to 30 sets (60 rounds), but going beyond that always felt overwhelming. It wasn’t my body that resisted but my mind. The thought of doing 35 sets felt daunting, making it hard to even start.

To trick my mind, I broke it down into 7 sprints of 5 sets each (7 × 5 × 2 = 70) instead of framing it as "35 sets of Surya Namaskaras." This approach made it feel manageable, with short breaks after each sprint. Now, I’m confident about achieving my goal in the next few days by gradually increasing the sprint count to 11.

Beyond fitness, I’ve started applying Agile principles to many areas of my life, and it has helped me significantly. Having experienced the benefits, I’m now more committed to advocating Agile further. I regularly consume articles and insights from industry experts and coaches on World of Agile, attended a webinar on “Agile for Startups,” and continue to explore practical applications through reading materials available on Scrum Alliance. This journey is ongoing.

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Conclusion

Agile is not just a methodology for product or software development — it’s a mindset. Applying it in daily life can improve our productivity, break mental barriers, and foster continuous improvement. In my experience, it helps shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your perspectives and experiences!