I'm an MVP

Hello Dear Reader!  Two weeks ago I was very honored to be named a Microsoft SQL Server MVP.  Since then I've been reflecting on what it means to get this award and the massive amount of people that helped me along the way.

Family, co-workers, friends, community members, and other MVP's.  This could turn into an Emmy speech, but I won't put you through that.  In the past I've written about this and saying Thank You to the People That Get Us There, about Why You Should Go to SQL Saturday and the impact it had on me, and how Who You Work With helps push you in the right direction.  Before I move on from thanking people I need to say a big THANK YOU to the people who nominated me.

Mike Walsh (Blog | @Mike_Walsh), Jack Corbett (Blog | @Unclebiguns), Jorge Segarra (Blog | @SQLChicken), Adam Jorgensen (Blog | @AJBigData), and Jason Strate (Blog | @StrateSQL).  Gentlemen I thank you not only for nominating me, but giving me a seat at the table to begin with.  Through advice and conversations you immediately welcomed me.  I've always been humbled by the way in which smart men and women of the SQL Community open their arms not only to greet but assure newcomers that they deserve a voice and a seat at the table.   My friends Thank You.  Thank you for your faith in me.  Thank you for helping me get here, and for all the encouragement.

Jorge once said to me about three years ago, "You deserve a seat at this table, enjoy it and don't ever worry that you belong.".  Great and kind words my friend.

Now Dear Reader, I also want to pass along one incredibly important piece of advice that was given to me.  How to become a SQL Server MVP.


HOW TO BECOME A SQL SERVER MVP


I have no idea.   None.  Not a clue.  In conversations with all of these amazing folks, they had no idea either.  However, I did notice that I heard the same three pieces of advice repeated over and over again.

That feeling you get when you open the box

1.  Love what you do.

2.  Don't treat being an MVP as a goal, but something that happens along the way.

3.  When you get nominated fill out the website details, better start collecting them now.


LOVE WHAT YOU DO


I enjoy this.  I love presenting.  I love learning.  I love talking with people about their issues with SQL Server.  I really love when I know what's wrong with a system and can help fix it.  I've had telephone calls with clients in the past couple years where after hearing about five minutes of their problem I knew what the issue was.  I could start giving advice on the phone call, and by the time we were sharing screens or I was landing on the ground we were able to start working on a fix.  That is pure awesome.


Some people love to blog, some love volunteering, some are leaders that bring us together, some organize, some  troubleshoot on forums, some program amazing applications/scripts/videos to help the community, and some love to speak.  Whatever you are doing if you love doing it, then keep doing it.  You'll never feel like you wasted your time, and you will know you are doing things for the right reason.


IT'S NOT THE GOAL, IT'S THE JOURNEY

San Francisco Sunset with @JasonHorner

I'm paraphrasing Emerson.  It's no less true.  If I only get this one year, if I never would have gotten it, the journey of pursuing what I love to do has taken me places and allowed me to achieve things I had not even thought of.  I've criss crossed the U.S. this year and I'm looking forward to staying busy next year.

Keep in mind this didn't happen in one year.  Every journey begins with a step.  I encourage you to start your journey.  When I present at SQL Saturday's or SSUG's I tell the audience the same thing I hope you now hear Dear Reader.

In each of you there is a story to tell.  There is something you are doing right now at work that I, and other people, would love to know and hear about.  There are ideas you have that would be well received and applauded.  Get involved, volunteer, blog, present, find what it is that you want to do.  We all have a calling and I hope you find yours.  If I can do this so can you.

Remember, you deserve a seat at this table, enjoy it and don't ever worry that you belong.

Now grab your seat, let's have some fun.  As always Thanks for stopping by.


Thanks,

Brad

#PASSVOTE 2014

Hello Dear Reader!  The PASS Board of Director elections are upon us again.  We have 3 spots open and 4 great candidates.  A lot has been written about this election already.  Andy Warren has sounded off, Brent Ozar as well.  There are blogs by the candidates and many others.

While we are all waiting to get into the website to vote, here's who I'm voting for and why.


1. JRJ aka James Rowland Jones.

James is energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and a pleasure to hang around.  James has done a lot of work expanding and evangelizing for SQL Server on the international front.  He helps head up SQLBits and I love the idea of a FREE & PAID conference combined.  I'm hoping that we can adopt some model of that in the U.S.

James is a flat out leader in this field of IT/SQL Server/Microsoft Consulting.


2. Wendy Pastrick.  

STOP SCREAMING INTERNET.  Before people go "OF COURSE, SHE WORKS FOR PRAGMATIC" stop.  If that is all you think of what I write, stop reading.

Being in IT as long as I have the way someone's mind works is incredibly important to me.   I work with Wendy, I've interviewed her.  I also encouraged her NOT to run for the board.  That's right Dear Reader not to run.

She has a wonderful enthusiasm.  She is thoughtful, and she truly believes that she can make a difference and told me so when I encouraged her not to run.  I like the work that Wendy has done for the community.  The first part of victory is wanting something. She does.  I may never run for the board but, in the conversations she and I have shared I have no doubt PASS is a better organization with her there.


3. Grant Fritchey.  

I know Grant, I like him quite a bit.  Met him at SQL Rally in 2011 when he did his first pre-con.  I've seen him at conferences, presenting, and talked about everything from SQL, presenting advice, to cleaning shot gun's vs. sharpening swords to intimidate boys coming to date a teenage daughter.

It's safe to say I like him.  But why do I think he would be good on the PASS Board?  Grant is an optimistic, enthusiastic, realist and when we talk I can't help but think he's somebody I would want to work with or work for.  He is passionate at the right times, and he clearly explains what is on his mind and the way his decisions work.  The most important thing to me is how someone's mind works.

He's a DBA, but he has taught pre-con's on Azure, he has looked at Big Data, he doesn't shy away from learning and tackling new things.  Plus the man produces a damn fine book on Performance Tuning.  I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do on the board.

WRAP IT UP

Alright Dear Reader.  I don't expect to convince you, this is just who I'm supporting and a short reason why.  The thing you do not see in this post is the hours, meals, and conversations I've had over time.  All of that adds up.  I'm lucky to know these 3 people.  PASS would be lucky to have them.

A long time ago before I got involved I thought the Speakers ran PASS.  It never occurred to me that the public face of PASS was not who ran the show.  I've been very happy the last couple of years with the additions to the board.  I'm excited to see these Speakers stepping up to help.


If you have a ballot to vote please do.  Good Luck to all of the Candidates!  As always Dear Reader, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad

Outstanding PASS Volunteer

Hello Dear Reader!  In June this year I was recognized by PASS as with an Outstanding Volunteer Award.  In an unusual move I found myself speechless.  This is a very quick post to give the true credit where it is due.  June was a very busy month for me and I had a blog post scheduled to post it in July, but… let’s just say a couple things happened on the way to the theater.  The timing felt a bit wrong.

“So Balls”, you say, “Why blog about it now?” 

Great question Dear Reader.  The original blog was a big Thank You, and I want to say that in earnest.  The reason I received my award was for a lot of the work and presentations I’ve done this year. 32 presentations so far in 2014 with 9 more planned out and hopefully a couple more to come. 

These presentations don’t happen in a vacuum.  I’ve been very blessed as a presenter and community member.  I’ve written recently about how SQL Saturday’s impacted my life.  This year friends in the community invited me to new and wonderful locations.  Mike Walsh (@Mike_Walsh| Blog)  and 1/2 of my future law firm of Biguns & Balls Jack Corbett (@UncleBiguns | Blog) started out my January in New Hampshire from there I've presented physically and remotely in Florida, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas, California, North Carolina, Virginia, Oregon, Colorado, Georgia, with more before the end of the year.  That doesn’t include Webinars where people from all over the world signed up to attend.

If you attended, were forced to attend, dragged, cajoled, or otherwise persuaded to attend I Thank You.  Dear Reader without you it doesn’t happen.

For the organizers, who put in their time, put on events, get sponsors, volunteers, and manage the process Thank You.  My time to present is a pittance compared to the effort it takes to lead a group and the hours that you put in.  Many Thanks for letting me be part of your group.

To PASS, the volunteers (the literally HUNDREDS of volunteers from SQL Saturday’s, program committees, Leadership Staff, down to the volunteer picking up coffee a noble and thankless job), Chapter Leaders, the employees whom I see and send emails to for the Summit or SQL Saturday’s, and all of those who I do not see Thank You. 

Your hard work helps create an environment that allows our community to thrive.  There have been lots of fantastic winners already this year.  I encourage you to check out the PASS page of Outstanding volunteers here.  Chances are if you’ve been to an event this year one has touched your life.

A Quick late-CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Shawn McGehee (@SQLShawn | OPASS) who is the August Outstanding volunteer.  Shawn is the Chapter Leader for OPASS and has done an incredible job.  He is leading the charge for our Pre-Cons for SQL Saturday Orlando amongst many, many other things!  Way to GO Shawn!!

To my friend who nominated me, the beers on me.  To anyone who wants me to present and I haven’t presented for you. If I’m in your area or you need a virtual presenter, shoot me a message on twitter or an email at bball@pragmaticworks.com  I’m always happy to help.

ONE MORE THING

“So Balls”, you say, “You’ve said Thank You, anything else?”

Why Yes Dear Reader!  Yes there is one more thing, actually 4 more things.  I got something big that I cannot share quite yet.  In celebration of the community and the influence you’ve had on my life I want to give something back.

So in October I’m going to blog a community script a week.  These will be scripts that people have asked for, as I’ve presented that I never found the time to get out there, plus a couple new ones.  One a week leading up to the PASS Summit in November.

As Always Dear Reader, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad