Worrying about the iPod in my child’s eye when I have an iPad in my own eye

I really don’t think I’m the only parent that has visions of skeet shooting iPods, iPads, Kindles, computers and game systems. I can almost smell the singed electronics now. Another favorite daydream is lining up all the screens on a country road then gathering up top speed before obliterating the screens. Oh, but I could go on and on. A few days ago, I discovered that my hatred of my kids “Distraction Devices” (DD’s) has been clouding my perspective on my own DD’s.

Last week I proudly proclaimed that I have declared Sunday as an entire day unplugged. My timing was perfect; moments before they left to spend the night with their dad. Oh did I live in bliss with a pumped up ego at what an awesome parent I am for taking them back to their roots. I, too, couldn’t escape my self-declared unplugged holiday, but I don’t do much more than check email and Facebook. Not a big deal. And it wasn’t. But something much bigger happened.

After the fear of apocalypse subsided, my kids proclaimed that if they must do without for a day, they are going to stay up playing all the screen they want until 11:59 PM. And they did just that while I did last minute email checks and Facebook status updates. At midnight, like a warden, I confiscated all screens, including my own, leaving me feeling a bit uneasy.

Sunday morning was a breeze getting my kids, 11 and 9, ready for church. As a matter of fact, we were all ready 45 minutes early. We filled that time with drawing, reading, and even some bible study. As the day passed, there was hugging, talking, laughing, wrestling, playing, games, and exercising all as one unit - a family. By early afternoon, my youngest was asking if we can do this again next Sunday.

I expected us to reconnect again; we did. I expected the kids to be angry and sulk; they most certainly did not. I did not expect the feeling of freedom. I realized that I have been tethered to my email. Watching my email go from 42 to 202 was difficult, but enlightening. One hundred and forty-two of the emails were from work which caused me to sweat. Come Monday morning, the building was still standing and work survived me not checking my email. So far, I have unsubscribed or blocked nearly fifty separate publications/reports. I consider that 50 links I cut out of the chain that tether’s me to my once adored iPhone.

At the end of the day, we decided to call this a “ReCharged Day”. Boy, are we Charged! We all want to do this again, and we will in two more weeks. I can tell you there is a big smile on my face because we all felt loved and wanted. While we were disconnected and distracted on so many levels, in one short day we became what we all really wanted - a family.

If you decide to do this with your family, please let me know how it works out for you. You may need to rediscover what to do without DD’s, so make some plans ahead of time so you’re prepared. The kids and I highly recommend a ReCharged Day to move the family from individual, heads-down time to family, heads-up time.

Lookin' Up,

Shelly

SQLSaturday Develops Leaders

I Must Be Out of My Mind!

How could I possibly be right in the mind to get up at 4:30 am on my Saturday off work and drive a total of 6 hours in one day to talk work from 8 to 5 on my own dime? I stopped asking myself this question after the first session of the day and began wondering when the next SQL Saturday will be and where.

For sixteen years I have been an Oracle groupie and just about a year ago planned out my next ten years of education and certification. So, why is this self-professed groupie cheating on Oracle? I’ll save that for another blog.

SQLSaturday

SQLSaturday was started in 2007 as a tool for SQL professionals to help strengthen and build their leadership skills in the SQL Server community, provide valuable training, and nurture vital professional relationships. These training events are made possible by the movers and shakers in the industry and many are well known in the country as well as internationally. The training events, offered on Saturdays, is free to anyone that would like to learn more about SQL Server. The only fee charged is the lunch fee of just $10. At my training event #164 in Cleveland, there were piles of donuts and cookies and drinks throughout the day, along with a nice healthy lunch.

My Expectations

Since this was my first SQLSaturday and I am not in a user group, I relied heavily on the websites description of training. I hoped to gain a better understanding of T-SQL and formulate a new Microsoft learning path for certification. My biggest fear was that I would be stuck in a room with vendors giving me a sales pitch. I can pleasantly say that my expectations were blown out of the water.

My Experience

The great people that volunteered at this event are some of the most helpful, genuine, down to earth people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. The Ohio North SQL Server User Group with the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) organized the event that took place at DeVry University in Cleveland. The vendors were also very helpful, gracious people and waited for me to approach them. They appeared to be a team with the SQLSaturday group, and I enjoyed my leisurely visits with them.

In my estimate, there were about 100 people that attended. Spread out across 7 rooms, I never felt lost in a sea of people. All of my speakers were extremely knowledgeable, successful Microsoft Professionals. All of my speakers were engaging and more than willing to help. I was even fortunate enough to kick off my day with one of the founders of SQLSaturday, Andy Warren, when he shared insight and proven success in Building Your Professional Development Plan. It was exactly what I needed and far exceeded all my expectations.

Things First Timers Should Know

Know your schedule before you get there

o   You will be able to attend six 1 hour sessions. Each hour offers 7 choices. Read the descriptions of the classes to make sure this is where you want to be.

Print your SpeedPass and cut out

o   You will receive an email the week before SQLSaturday that has your lunch and raffle tickets. Print and cut out on the dotted lines.

Dress comfortably

o   The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting.

Have the Vendors sign your “Bingo Card”

o   One of the raffle forms you will receive in your packet, when you arrive, will have the vendor names in boxes much like a bingo card. As you visit each station, have them sign their box. Once full, you can enter the raffle to win a great prize like a Kindle Fire.

Bring business cards

o   Easy and fast way to exchange information and get connected.

Attend the After party

o   Directly after the day of training, they meet to socialize (aka Network) at a fun location with lots of fun people.

Contact the user group

o   They will let you know about events not published online like a Sunday morning run/walk.

Out of my mind with excitement!

Maybe training isn’t the best word to describe SQLSaturday. While my Oracle groupie status caused some reluctance to attend a Microsoft event and the possibility that my precious Saturday would be wasted, all fears were quickly washed away within the first hour. I left filled with renewed hope by those that are willing to volunteer their time and energy to invest a bit of themselves into me.

The SQLSaturday.com About Page states that the founders and PASS feel these training events have

“a tremendous, positive impact on the future of SQL Server and its user communities.”

I think they are humble.

Blessings,

Shelly

Who's directing your career path?

Where exactly does an IT Department fit within a Corporation? My first job as a Computer Programmer in 1996 was for an organization that had just hired its IT Director three months earlier. The two of us were given an office that barely fit two desks and a large file cabinet. The company server was a Windows desktop sitting out in the open in the middle of the Accounting Department. Not only were the Executives not sure where to put us and our equipment, they weren't really sure how to manage us.

Since our humble beginnings, we have flourished and grown in numbers and manage many offsite locations each with their own dedicated server rooms and databases. We have worked our way into the forethoughts of the Executives. And we are managed the way Executives have always managed.

After following the traditional educational routes involving years of evening math courses, I decided to break free from the Executive's recommendations of education and seek out specialized training and certification as a Computer Programmer. Finally, I have taken control of the direction of my career. I am now involved in Forums, listening to Podcasts every moment I can, and reading programming books in preparation of the certification tests.

The Executive route wasn't a direction I wanted my career to head. Evaluate where you want to be in ten years and talk to someone that you trust; preferably someone in the position you desire. Do what feels right to fuel the fire of your passion. 

Blessings, 

Shelly