SQL Saturday

Another change in jobs: and upcoming events

SQL Padre Career, SQL Jobs, SQL Saturday

Recently I was forced to make a job change. 

I am now working for a reputable local bank as a DBA and I am no longer a consultant.  l enjoyed my time as a consultant even though I never could get used to the idea of being “billable”.  And putting the fate of your job in the hands of other individuals (sales department) was nerve racking to say the least.  But I learned valuable skills and information from my time as a consultant.

I hope to continue participating in the SQL community.  In fact, I am presenting my newest presentation “You want me to Isolate What? An Introduction into Data Integrity and Isolation Levels of SQL Server” THIS Saturday at SQL Saturday Pensacola #617.  Of course I will upload my slide deck and demos after this weekend.

And you can catch me in two weeks at SQL Saturday Houston #651.

Hope to see you there!

My first time, lessons learned!

SQL Padre Career, SQL, SQL Saturday, SQL User Group ,

This past weekend, I had the privilege of doing a presentation at SQL Saturday #514 in Houston Texas.  I had been to other SQL Saturdays before as both a participant and a “volunteer”; but I had never have spoken before.

Speaking in front of people is usually no big deal to me.  I have been designing, presenting, hosting and administrating all types of training for the Boy Scouts for many, many years.  I have taught Scouting newbies how to tie a knot to presenting on topics like “Project Planning and SMART goals” (email me if you want to know what SMART goals are).  I have even coordinated an all day training event very similar to SQL Saturday for my Council called University of Scouting.

But what was different about this experience was the topic.  I have been active in the Boy Scouts since I was eleven.  I know Scouting information, concepts, and topics backwards and forwards. I have been facilitating trainings (presenting) since I was 15. So Scouting is 2nd nature to me.  But presenting on SQL Server topics was somewhat nerve wracking.  For me it was a test of not my presenting abilities; but my SQL DBA abilities.  As an “Accidental DBA” I have always questioned my abilities with SQL Server.  Everything I have learned about computers I have learned my self, so I am always 2nd guessing myself. 

As a “First timer”, I thought it would be best to cover Beginning Level topics.  My thought was 1) I knew the material and 2) after reading Tim Ford’s #EntryLevelChallenge it motivated me to remember my fellow newbies.

I won’t go into the topic of my presentation today as this is more about the experience.  The audience, which I had 14 in attendance, was very attentive and I don’t think I put anyone to sleep!

I do need to work on my demos.  They all worked as expected; but switching between laptop and projector, throwing SSMS on the projector screen, changing screen settings from duplicate to extend was all too much.  There has to be a better way to switch between PowerPoint in presentation mode and SSMS to do demo. So I will practice that.

I thought I did best on time management.  The time allotted was 60 minutes, I said “Thank you for your time” at 59 minutes and 30 seconds. 

Over all the experience was well worth it. By the responses I received from the speaker evaluations, I think I did an OK job.  I had no major criticisms except to slow down, I assure you that was nerves at the beginning.