SQL Saturday 85 Call for Speakers Closing Soon!

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Hello Dear Reader just a quick reminder that the call for speakers for SQL Saturday 85 in Orlando closes this Sunday July 24^th.  We have extended the call until then, and we got quite a few great submissions!  So what are you waiting for time is getting down to the wire, make sure to get your Abstract in before it is too late.

In my Previous Post, I WANT YOU To Present at SQL Saturday 85, I walked through how to make an abstract, and I even tossed out two that are on presentations I’ve I made up just to brain storm with you.  If you want some ideas go give it a read.  So the question is what are you waiting for?

“But Balls,” you say “I don’t want to get rejected, I don’t have a blog, nobody knows me.  To be honest the idea of presenting makes me nervous.”

Well Dear Reader let’s take these one at a time.

I DON’T WANT TO GET REJECTED

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I hear you loud and clear.   But let me put your mind at ease, SQL Saturday is a community event.  This isn’t the Summit, this isn’t SQL Rally, this isn’t Tech-ED.  This is where new speakers come to start out, and where experienced speakers go to polish their material.

I know a guy on the inside, and he told me that we want to make sure everybody gets a shot.  Heck, I would rather sit this one out, (And I know several very experienced speakers that feel the same way), in order to give someone else a shot.  Don’t let this discourage you!

You should actually let this encourage you to submit!  We want you to get a shot Dear Reader!

I DON’T HAVE A BLOG

I’ve heard people say this before.  They don’t want to present because they are not blogging.  It isn’t a prerequisite.  You don’t have to blog. 

I do it, but that is because deep down inside I like being on stage.  I like the lime light.  I think it’s fun.  But it is also a little like shaving, once you start you have to keep going, otherwise it will just look funny.

Do not let this hold you back, if you ever want to start a blog start one.  If you don’t ever want to that is fine.  This shouldn’t even be a concern, there are a couple people I’ve met that are top people in the business, they present at SQL Saturday’s and I’ve never seen them post a blog before.

THE IDEA OF PRESENTING MAKES ME NERVOUS

I was listening to a presentation that Buck Woody (@BuckWoody | Blog) and Brent Ozar (@BrentO | Blog) did for the PASS Summit last year and they advised “That if you don’t feel nervous when you stand up to present you probably need to sit down”. 

Which made me feel great because I always feel nervous before a presentation.  The point is if something is important to you then you will probably get nervous over it.  Presenting is an art form, it takes time to perfect your style.  Heck it takes time just to realize that you have a style and what it is!

The great thing about SQL Saturday is a lot of folks are in the same boat, and will be happy to give you feedback.  If you’d like ask me to come to your presentation and I’d be happy to sit in and give you a friendly face.  All you need to do is sign up and your half way there!  CLICK HERE to submit an Abstract for SQL Saturday 85.  I hope to see you there!

Thanks,

Brad

MagicPASS This Week!

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The MagicPASS SQL Server User Group, SSUG in Celebration Fl, is meeting this Wednesday July 20^th  and Dear Reader do we have a treat in store for you!  MVP & MCM 2008 Maciej Pilecki will be with us.   This is a wonderful opportunity to come out and meet some friends, or catch up with old ones in the SQL Community.    Also come see a top notch speaker, and up your SQL Learning!  

Normally you would only see someone like this at a Confrence, or if you are paying for some training.  Don't miss a chance to visit with one of the 87, currently, MCM's outside of Microsoft.  Here’s our speaker’s Bio:

Maciej Pilecki

Maciej Pilecki (Twitter: @DrHouseOfSQL) is a SQL Server Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Microsoft Certified Master in SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Certified Trainer and Senior Consultant with Project Botticelli. He has many years of international experience in Microsoft SQL Server database development, optimization and troubleshooting. He spends most of his time travelling around the world either advising his many customers on how to improve performance and reliability of their databases, or sharing the lessons learned with conference and user group audiences worldwide, where he is a popular and highly rated speaker. His favourite topics are the internals of the SQL Server database engine, including: SQLOS, Storage Engine and Query Optimizer and Performance Tuning

 

Maciej what is the topic you will be presenting on?

SQL Server Execution Plans - From Compilation To Caching To Reuse

Summary: Execution plan reuse is one of the most important aspects of building well-performing and scalable SQL Server solutions. But it’s also the one that is often overlooked during the design phase and becomes very difficult to troubleshoot later. In this session we will discuss in details the following aspects of SQL Server execution plans: compilation, re-compilation, parameterization, caching, reuse and aging. You will leave this session with full understanding of how to improve your server’s performance by increasing execution plan reuse (or how to avoid reuse in case this is necessary).

If you are interested in coming this Wednesday Here is a link to the MagicPASS website, and or to register CLICK HERE to go to the eventbrite page.  We’ll be starting the meeting at 5:00 pm, but the main event doesn’t begin until 6:30 pm.

“But Balls”, you say “I can’t make it at 5.”

No Worries Dear Reader, most people cannot.  We’ve got the room for the entire time and our fearless leader Kendal Van Dyke (@SQLDBA | Blog) will be showing a PASS presentation from Summit 2010 for those who can.  A lot of people will be arriving up and till 6:30, so don’t let the time stop you.

“But Balls”, you say “I’ll have to grab some dinner, I don’t know the area….”

Not to Worry Dear Reader, Dinner will be provided so make sure to RSVP so we have an accurate count of who to buy food for.  The meeting will be on the main Campus of Stetson University in beautiful Celebration FL, Here is the address for your GPS  Stetson University Center 800 Celebration Ave Celebration, FL 34747 or CLICK HERE for the Google Map.

The Meeting will cost you only your time and the gas to get here.  A Free dinner, a show, and a Microsoft Certified Master, you can't beat that kind of deal!

 I hope to see you at the meeting!

Thanks,

Brad

2011 Half a Year in Review

I'm looking back and looking forward at the same time.  We're about halfway up the mountain, a lot has been accomplished and more is on the horizon.  And as long as we stay on track, the view at the top is going to be spectacular.

7.       MCITP DBA SQL 2008

a.        Still sitting at the same certification levels.  It doesn’t cost a lot of money, but I don’t want to spend the money until I’ve achieved the biggest goal on my list.  Still should have this taken care of before the end of the year.  But I ranked these backwards from least to most important.

6.       MCITP DBA Developer SQL 2008

a.     I’ve got the book, I’m reading and studying for the first one.  But this is in the same boat as number 1, the house, the dog, then the certifications.

5.       13 T-SQL Tuesdays

a.     I’ve missed 3 this year so the best I can do is 10 at this point.  I’ve gotten so busy with projects in and out of work that the second Tuesday of the month just keeps sneaking up on me.  I’ve got a reminder set in my calendar so I can start again next month.  This was a exercise to get me blogging more, to get into the practice of it, and it sure has helped! I know at this point it doesn't look good 2 put off, 1 not  going to happen, but never fear Dear Reader the best is still ahead!

4.       40 Blog Posts

a.     DONE!  And this was the goal for the YEAR!  I have a feeling we are just getting started.  We’ve got some great things cooked up for SQL Saturday 85, and the PASS Summit is yet to even happen.  And Thank You Dear Reader for stopping by!

3.       6 Presentations to the SQL Community

a.     DONE!  SQL Saturday 62 (January), MAGICPass (February), OPASS (March), PASS DBA Virtual Chapter (March), SQL Saturday 74 (April), SQL RALLY!!!! (May), I took June & July off, but planned for this year August 9^th OPASS, SQL Saturday 79 (Submitted, August 13^th),  Pragmatic Works Webinar (August 23^rd), SQL Saturday 85 Orlando (September 24^th Submitted), PASS Summit 2011!!! (October), SQL Saturday 86 Tampa BI Edition (November 5^th Submitted).  Six presentations already and if I’m accepted at all of the SQL Saturdays I submitted to I’ll end up with 12.  WOW, better than I could have imagined

2.  MCM Prep

a. This is a constant and never ending effort to learn.  There is so much to learn about SQL.  Every year that I’ve spent as a DBA I look back on the previous year and think, “Wow I can’t believe I didn’t know that”.   If you ever make it to my desk you will see that for the last 3 jobs I’ve got a stack of flash cards.  I constantly keep blank ones there and work up questions.  I could get multiple flash card from the MCM video’s that SQL Skills did for Microsoft, another from a great question of the day on SQL Server Central, another from a PASS Virtual Chapter Webinar.  My list of flash cards is always growing, and my Prep is only beginning.  I don’t know that this will truly ever be Done, but I’ve benefited greatly just from taking a stab at it.

1.   A House and a Dog

a. This by far is the most important goal.  To have a home and a yard for the kids, and not to move them all over the place any more.  That was the whole point of the move to Florida, to put down roots and stay in one place.  So to that end we found a House!  We’re going through the process and should be closing before the End of July (Crossing toes, fingers, and any other body part that will cross).  We’ve found a great Lab rescue group that we have worked with, had our home visit, and gotten approved.  The only thing we are waiting on for the Dog is to have a house that we can all spread out in.

I had said in a previous Blog that if getting a House and a Dog was the only thing that we accomplished this year it would be a win.  This house is about much more than setting a goal or marking a check box from a list.  I fumble at the words to even describe how important this is, but I know it in my heart.  I feel it in my bones.  This is the biggest and the best one of the year!

So Two done, one that won’t happen, and everything else is in flight.  Not bad.  Hopefully the next update on goals will be soon!

Thanks,

Brad