Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • Daily Coping 27 Oct 2020

    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.

    Today’s tip is to recognize you have a choice about what to priotitise.

    I have a few hobbies, and I have various tasks that I need to complete on the ranch. I also like getting to the gym on a regular basis. This is on top of the coaching commitments I have in my life.

    Recently I was chatting with a friend and noted that I hadn’t had much time to do any woodworking lately. It’s been busy, and the time I’ve used in my shop has been to try and fix some things around the ranch. When I noted that I was too busy, the person said I needed to prioritize this if it was important.

    That is true. While I wasn’t looking for a solution, and I know this is the case, it’s a good reminder. I put my time in the gym, and my time coaching at a higher priority than some of my other hobbies, so I choose to do those more often, and before I take time for something else.

  • Daily Coping 26 Oct 2020

    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.

    Today’s tip is to set hopeful but realistic goals for the week ahead.

    It’s time to get back to work and buckle down a bit. PASS recordings are due today, the conference is a couple weeks away, and I need to prep for it and a few more events coming up.

    This week, I have a few things to do.

    1. PASS recordings uploaded
    2. Complete a new article I started on containers.
    3. Get 5 new questions written for SSC
    4. Spend a couple hours reading one of my goal books this week
    5. Get in five workouts, including a swim.

  • My Apologies to SQL Sat Oregon 1000 Staff and Attendees

    I missed a talk this morning. I overslept and didn’t hear the alarm, and as a result, I wasn’t there for my sessions.

    I’ve been under the weather a bit this week, fighting a cold, and wasn’t ready. However, this is my fault, and I should have either cancelled, or made other arrangements to be ready.

    I am truly sorry, and I apologize to all affected.

  • Daily Coping 23 Oct 2020

    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.

    Today’s tip is to share an inspiring idea with a loved one or colleague.

    Poker is a great metaphor for life.

    I was reading The Biggest Bluff recently, and I found it fascinating. It’s about a psychologist who takes a year to learn poker and play in some of the biggest tournaments in the world. The poker part isn’t the biggest one, but really the thing that caught my eye was how poker is a model for decision making with imperfect information, in a way that forces you to really consider what things mean to you and what you are risking.

    I hadn’t thought about that, and I’ve avoided poker often, outside of nickel/dime/quarter games, because of the concern of losing money. Instead, I see that I may be missing something.

    I discussed this with my Mom recently, and she bought the book right away. It was a neat conversation and I’m looking forward to seeing what she thinks. I also wonder if I ought to get a small game going again with family or friends.