Daily Coping 2 Nov 2022

Posted on November 2, 2022 by way0utwest

Today’s coping tip is to be kind to yourself today. Remember, progress takes time.

I am usually good at this. I work on many things that take time, so I am always looking at things over time.

However, sometimes I feel the weight of work or life and I forget. I’ve been traveling a lot in Oct (and Sept), being gone almost half the time. That makes it hard to concentrate on some things, and I’m often disconnected.

One of those things is my editing queue. It has crept up a bit, and I know it bothers authors, and more importantly, my queue can sometimes disappear, so I need to work on whittling this down. I have slowly been knocking out items, and I’m reminding myself it is getting smaller, even though it sometimes grows with new submissions.

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQL Server Central 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.

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Getting Started Speaking – #NewStarNovember

Posted on November 1, 2022 by way0utwest

My journey might be somewhat unusual, but perhaps not.

I started writing articles on the Internet at a few different places before I started SQL Server Central. There were other authors online, and one of them was also in Colorado. We became friends, and a few years later (after SSC started), he reached out to me and asked me to come speak at the local user group, which he was running.

I accepted and then had to come up with things to say. I dug into the topic he’d requested, practiced a little (not enough), and was lucky enough that the meeting was small. About ten of us sat around a conference table and I talked about some things, no Power Point, just discussing some data topic.

It was a rather inauspicious start, and I don’t think I did a good job. I didn’t really look to speak at other places until my co-founders at SQL Server Central asked me to join them at a few talks in different places. I got a few positive reviews and then started to send in my own submissions. Things worked out well and took off from there.

The last ten years I’ve often looked for authors or fellow professionals that have good ideas, ask interesting questions, or might impress me during a casual chat. I often ask them to submit something to a user group or SQL Saturday and consider speaking. I know it’s not for everyone, but if I could give it a try, they could.

Part of a Series of #NewStarNovember posts. If you want to help promote new speakers, consider writing a post as well.Some ideas at the New Stars of Data.

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SQL Kilts #SeattleSummitMoments

Posted on November 1, 2022 by way0utwest

This is another memory of the PASS Summit, this one an idea from Grant Fritchey, who wanted support the Women in Technology (WIT) events.

And have a few laughs

If you have a memory, share it with #SeattleSummitMoments.

Only a few of us did this one year, but many more over time. Here are Grant and I, much younger than now, during that first year.

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Daily Coping 1 Nov 2022

Posted on November 1, 2022 by way0utwest

Today’s coping tip is to be kind to yourself. Remember progress takes time.

I’ve spent most of this year trying to better manage my weight and become healthier. I started the year at around 243 pounds, which for a 6’ person is a lot. I felt quite fat.

I worked through the first part of the year and managed to get down to 215-218. Then a trip to London had me pop up to 222, but I managed to get below 220 again. Throughout the summer and into Q3, I had a lot of travel. I got as high as 230 (likely a lot of water weight), but struggled to get below 220 again.

I’ve had a bit more time lately at home, and I’m better at watching my diet. As I’ve struggled between trips, I have learned to be patient, accept the failings of my travel diet, as well as continue to work to be better.

Hopefully I’ll be below 220 when I head to the Summit in a few weeks.

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQL Server Central 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.

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Daily Coping 1 Nov 2022