I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.
Today’s tip is to send a friend a photo from a time you enjoyed together.
I ran across this one the other day. Some of you might know this guy.
I haven’t seen him in years. I reached out and found him, then sent this along. A fun time at a conference years ago.
It’s that time of the month again for a T-SQL Tuesday blog party. This month is hosted by Kenneth Fisher, who has hosted a few times in the past. I like this topic, and it’s a good one for me to think back to my earlier career.
I am very curious to see what others might write.
Perhaps one of the things that I learned early and didn’t believe is that networking, connections, and who you know matter more than what you know. The what is certainly important and can help you succeed in day to day work, but for landing jobs, networking is king.
I actually had my first technical job as a computer person in high school. I had gotten interested in computers and owned a Commodore Vic-20 and 512, and later an Apple II compatible. My Mom wasn’t sure about spending all the money, but she did and I spent hours digging into how things worked.
My neighbor owned a construction business, laying water and sewer pipe. Later I worked in that side of the business, but the spring of my junior year he was struggling to implement a new estimation and inventory program on his first PC. His secretary was a nice lady, but in her 50s and in the early 80s, computers were completely foreign. He chatted to my Mom about things and she said I might be able to help.
This was the first time I was thrown into a situation where I didn’t know a lot, but it wasn’t the last. In fact, these same skills were useful as a consultant:
These were the things I had to do over a few weeks as I learned how the software worked, installed it (a few times), set things up, and worked with the secretary and a few foreman to help configure things the way they wanted them. I also had to train them to use the software to enter data.
Outside of school, this was my first technical job. I think I got paid $10 or $12 an hour at the time when most jobs were $3.35/hr at minimum wage. No big earnings, but I probably made enough to buy a few $50 video games or software games.
The rest, as they say, is history.
BTW, laying water pipe a couple summers later taught me a lot as well.
I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.
Today’s tip is to focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t.
If the pandemic of the last two years has taught us anything, it’s that we need to adapt to a changing and uncertain world. We have to be malleable as the rules, restrictions, and requirements of life could be different today from yesterday. Or even from place to place today.
I’ve been lucky that I am healthy, I survived COVID twice, and I had the opportunity to travel. I have been happy to wear masks when required, or even when asked. I’ve put one one to accommodate others and make them feel safer. I don’t like masks, but I also don’t think it’s that much of a hassle to wear one.
I traveled to LA recently, just as the mask rules in US airports and airplanes were removed. I flew to LA without a mask, being on a plane for the first time in two years without my goatee itching from a face covering. A day later, as I returned to LAX, there was a mask restriction in place in the airport. I’ve gotten used to carrying them, so I put one on.
It’s easy to be annoyed by the changes, but for me, I was glad that I was able to travel and visit a place I enjoy going and see people I enjoy spending time with. I was ready to wear a mask on the plane, not really worrying or thinking about that. Instead, I was glad that I’d get to take off over the ocean and fly back across LA, seeing familiar and new sights.
Be positive and look forward when you can. It makes life much more enjoyable.
I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.
Today’s tip is to do something kind for someone you really care about.
My daughter is away at university, actually quite far away. We live in Colorado, and she is in New York. I miss her, and she’s had a hard year at school during a few stretches.
This spring, I’ve needed to send her a few things she requested from home. Each time, about every 6 weeks or so, I’ve gone to town to mail a package through the postal system. When I do, I usually stop by a store and find a few treats, usually chocolate. I add those to the package as a little surprise. I’ve also sent some treats or toys for her kitten.
It’s a small thing, but I really care about her and it’s a small kindness to get a surprise in the mail. I know I loved when my Mom did that for me.
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