MVP Birds of a Feather Lunch at PASS Summit 2010

The almost final list just posted by Mike Walsh, 50+ MVP’s will each host a lunch table at the PASS Summit on Tuesday, November 9, 2010. I participated in this last year and had a great time, doing so again this year and my topic this time will be SQL Server statistics. It’s fun to […]

Do You Have Influence? Part 3

I talked about the basics of Influence in Part 1 and Part 2, today I’m trying something harder, showing you how to deliberately use your hard won influence to evoke change. Earning influence is perhaps not simple, but it’s an easy enough formula to understand. The risk is low. Not zero, but if you’re reasonably […]

SQLRally After Hours

One of the things we’re trying to do at SQLRally (May 2011 in Orlando!) is support and grow the social events that happen after the close of the official program. How do we do that? I’ve got a couple ideas, hope you’ll send more: Provide an ‘after hours’ page on the SQLRally web site (coming […]

Networking to Build Business Contacts

I’m borrowing the title for this post from the pre-conference seminar Don Gabor is doing at this PASS Summit this year. It’s a 2 hour seminar that happens Monday afternoon at 4:30 pm, which means you can do a full length seminar and attend this one, or if you’re arriving mid afternoon on Monday you […]

Notes on Jacksonville Code Camp 2010

Overall it was a great event, attendance in the 350-400 range. Boxed lunches instead of pizza (good!), not much in the way of drinks/breakfast (not so good), check-in ran smoothly. Everything seemed to run smoothly. Team Jax did a nice job! The speaker party was a cigar bar, the second year in a row. I […]

Book Review: Career Warfare: 10 Rules for Building a Successful Personal Brand on the Business Battlefield

I found Career Warfare: 10 Rules for Building a Successful Personal Brand on the Business Battlefield by David D’Alessandro ($12@ Amazon) in the audio section at the library, one of those happy occurrences when I’m looking with no particular item in mind, just something interesting to listen to while I drive. I’m fan of personal […]

Still More Notes on Networking at SQLSaturday

Had my final follow up call with Don Gabor, took one more run through the networking and speaker stuff (Don went to SQLSaturday #40). Might have some repeats from earlier posts, trying to capture and burn into my brain at least. Less than 50% of attendees had business cards. Some options are to insert a […]

Volunteering Equals Karma, Not Cash

One of the things I think we don’t do well sometimes – in generally – is set fair expectations with regards to volunteers on both sides. As the occasional leader of efforts that involve volunteers, what I ask for first is communication and follow through. Skill, energy and all the rest are useful, but good […]

More Notes from SQLSaturday #40

In addition to being at at #40 as an attendee, I also had Don Gabor there to take a look at our networking efforts, presentation styles, and more, in part to help us do SQLSaturday better right now, in part so that he can join our SQLSaturday meeting at the PASS Summit this fall (Monday […]

PASS 2010 Summit on LinkedIn Event Calendar – Have You RSVP’d?

Happened to notice in my weekly LinkedIn update today that Todd McDermid had signed up for the 2010 Summit event on LinkedIn. Easy to forget LinkedIn, but it’s a really good way to see who else will be there that you know…and that you don’t know. Here is the link, or just search LI events […]

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