Search results matching tags 'SQLPeople' and 'SQL Server Community'

SQLPeople News and SQLPeople Wants You!

andyleonard — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

It’s true! Everyone has a story, and SQLPeople is one place to share yours. “How, Andy?” I’m glad you asked. Browse on over to our Become a SQLPerson page and answer the questions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and join our LinkedIn group (technical people only, please). Why sign up? So you can keep up with all the cool SQLPeople happenings, or course!

SQLInspire NYC 2011 was held 12 Nov 2011 at Microsoft in New York City. The event was graciously sponsored by Embarcadero, Red Gate, and Confio; without whom the event would not have been possible. We had a stellar event planning team that worked diligently for several months to organize the event. Kudos to Matt Velic (Blog | @mvelic |SQLPeople), Robert Pearl (Blog | @PearlKnows | SQLPeople), Michael Coles (Blog | @Sergeant_SQL | SQLPeople), Melissa Demsak (@SQLDiva), and Brian Moran (Blog | @briancmoran).

The format of the event was single-day, single-track. Each presenter spoke for about 20 minutes. This was followed by an interview and questions from the assembled. The mission was to inspire, not necessarily educate. Granted, education occurs during inspirational presentations; inspiration is the primary goal. We invited awesome speakers to share what motivates them. We asked them, “What fires you up? Why do you do what you do?” Their answers were truly inspiring – ask anyone who attended. Or…

Watch the Presentations!

Our friends at AndNow Media did an outstanding job capturing the event for us. The edits are complete and videos have been posted (thanks Matt!). You can view them here. Over the next few weeks, I will feature each presentation, sharing my thoughts and impressions.

Kudos!

I cannot say enough to thank our presenters, sponsors, and planning team. Our presenters were:

Thomas LaRock (Blog | @SQLRockstar | SQLPeople)
Robert Pearl (Blog | @PearlKnows)
Michael Coles (Blog | @Sergent_SQL | SQLPeople)
Steve Jones (Blog | @way0utwest | SQLPeople)
Michael Corey (Blog | @michael_corey)
Brian Moran (Blog | @briancmoran)
Andrew Brust (Blog | @andrewbrust)

Yall rock!

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Happy Birthday, SQLPeople!

andyleonard — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 GMT

One year ago today, I began sending out batches of SQLPeople interview emails to friends in the SQL Server Community. Since then, Brian Moran (Blog | @briancmoran) and Matt Velic (Blog | @mvelic | SQLPeople) have joined the effort, we have published dozens of interviews, and there have been two events!

You can join in the fun. If you haven’t already, visit the interview page and answer the seven questions. You can also join us on LinkedIn and Facebook. And you can follow us on Twitter (@SQLPeople)!

SQLPeople is really about you – the SQL Server Community. As the community grows, we grow. As we thank everyone for a fantastic first year, we are excited about the future!

Remember, people are first!

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QwikTalk and SQLPeople™ Announce Free SQL Help by Phone!

andyleonard — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Introduction

I received some awesome responses from I Am Here To Help™! One of them was an email from Josh Breinlinger, founder of QwikTalk.com. Josh and I spoke on the phone later that day to discuss using QwikTalk’s platform to provide free support to folks with SQL Server-related questions.

It’s Like #SQLHelp on the Phone!

QwikTalk connects people with questions to people with answers. Here’s how it works (my version, anyway – see the link for Josh’s version):

You have a question about SQL Server.
You remember reading a blog post (this one!) about getting SQL Server help on the phone, find it, and connect to QwikTalk.com.
You select “SQL” from the Categories list:

When you arrive at the SQL Help – Free Phone Consultations page, you type your question and click the Ask a Question button:

(Some magic happens)
You phone rings a few minutes later, connecting you with someone who answers your question.

How cool is that?

And it’s free!

The Magic

The magic actually starts when willing people sign up to be experts. I did this and the process is very smooth. I entered my information, including my cell number. I got a text from the QwikTalk number requesting a reply. I replied. I was in the system. I got another text with instructions on how to set my availability On and Off. Josh and I tested it.

Think of it as a live forum. Experienced SQL Server DBAs and developers with some time can set their Availability to On, help out some folks SQL Server questions, and then set their Availability to Off when they have something else to do.

It. just. rocks.

“What Does QwikTalk and SQLPeople Get Out Of This, Andy?”

Excellent question – I’m glad you asked! We get the best thing ever: we get to help. We get to see the SQL Server Community – already vibrant on social media – become even more connected.

Conclusion

Did I mention the cost? It’s free! Check out the QwikTalk SQL page today!

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Hang Out With Me Tuesday at 11:00 Am EDT

andyleonard — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Inspired by Grant Fritchey (Blog | @GFritchey), I am hosting a Google+ hangout tomorrow (9 Aug 2011) at 11:00 AM EDT.

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SQLPeople Interviews and News for May 2011!

andyleonard — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Late last year I announced an exciting new endeavor called SQLPeople. At the end of 2010 I announced the 2010 SQLPeople Person of the Year.

The new SQLPeople website is up and running, thank to Matt Velic! Thanks to all who have made our fifth month great - those willing to share and respond to interview requests and those who are enjoying the interviews. Here's a summary of May 2011 SQLPeople:

May 2011 Interviews

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Introducing SQLPeople - the Blog Series!

andyleonard — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The first 50.5 weeks of 2010 have been interesting, to say the least. My experiences in 2010 can best be summed up in a single word: educational. I've learned a lot this year!

One important thread wove its way through my 2010 experiences...

Relationships Are Everything

How we interact defines community. Relationships define community. Our community is more than the sum of our members. Trust and respect are the capital of community. And just like money, this capital can be invested, exchanged, spent, earned, traded, borrowed, blown, or burned.

I have to admit: I saw a lot of SQL Server community capital burned this year. There's no way to sugarcoat this: If, as a leader, you demonstrate disrespect and distrust for members of your Tribe, you will lose followers.

A Truism

I was approached at the PASS Summit 2010 by a ranking Board member. He pulled me aside to share the following:

I used to tell people who want PASS to change that they should run for the Board. I can't say that anymore.

I complimented him on an astute observation.

It's possible the comment was meant as hindsight regarding the denial of Steve Jones' candidacy for the PASS Board 2010 Elections slate. Or it could have been a way to communicate to me "Don't bother running for the Board". Either way it's ok. What's done is done. Three paragraphs from the end of the afore-linked post, I put in writing that I will never seek election to the PASS Board of Directors. I restate and reaffirm that here.

(SQL) Saturdays With Andy

When Andy Warren (Blog | @sqlAndy) and I discussed the future of PASS at SQL Saturday in Nashville, I expressed my sentiment that the PASS Board crossed a community tipping point by denying Steve Jones the privilege of appearing on their ballot for the PASS 2010 Board election. I believe this action caused irreparable harm to the organization's credibility in the SQL Server community and, for this reason, I declined when I was asked to serve on the PASS Election Review Committee. Andy maintains that PASS Leadership can be coaxed back into a relationship that recognizes some semblance of the community reality that exists outside PASS Board meetings. We disagree.

So it's time to be...

Moving Forward!

2011 is a new year. I'm pouring my love of community into a couple new endeavors. One of them is SQLPeople (LinkedIn | Facebook | @SQLPeople). The website is live but, at the time of this typing, not very useful to the public. That will change.

"What Is SQLPeople?"

That's an excellent question. I think a better question is, "What will SQLPeople become?" Right now it's a Facebook page, LinkedIn group, and Twitter account - all private. They will become (more) public 1 Jan 2011.

It's a website with a splash screen. And yet... and yet, there's the promise of more. SQLPeople can be whatever we, the SQL Server Community, want it to be. If nothing else, SQLPeople is already something important: an alternative.

SQLPeople: The Blog Series

I've interviewed several SQL People in our community and will be posting those interviews throughout 2011, beginning in January. The folks are people I selected. Some, because everyone knows their name and work; others, because they're doing cool work in their community; and still others because, well, just because. The SQLPeople blog series is a way to help you get to know all of them a little better.

Conclusion

I've been dreaming about SQLPeople for a while. There's more to come, I promise!

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