Voice of the DBA

Tag: networking

  • Networking at the PASS Summit: First timers

    The PASS Summit is just over a week away, and one again Andy Warren and I are hosting a networking dinner on Monday night. This is a free, informal event to help people get to know each other. Whether you are new to the community or have been to many events, you’re welcome to attend. We are targeting first timers, so if you’ve never been to the Summit, and don’t know what things you can do, if you don’t have other plans, come on by.

    We want to ensure that people are taking advantage of their time at the Summit, while encouraging them to do more than hang out with themselves or friends. Many of us have done that, but there are better things to do, like meet your colleagues.

    Andy and I will greet people and introduce some of you to others. Networking is easy, and this is a chance to meet some new people and make some contacts in the community. We’re providing a time and location, you just have to show up, and of course, pay for your own food and drinks. If you want to buy someone else a round, that’s a great way to make new contacts.

    Register and come if you are in town Monday night. There’s no charge, but we’d like to have an idea of how many of you will come by. It’s a Buffalo Wild Wings in Charlotte, from 6-9. The address is below:

    400 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
    Charlotte, NC 28202

    I don’t know how much I’ll get to talk to most of you, but I’d like to shake your hand and say hi.

  • SQL and Skiing – SQL Saturday #183

    This weekend of SQL Saturday #183 in Albuquerque, NM. It’s the first SQL Saturday in that state, and it’s a relatively short drive from Colorado. Six hours from my house, S of Denver, and a nice city. My brother used to live there, and I made a few trips to see him.

    I’m looking forward to going back, but not to tour the city. I’m sure that would be fun, but there’s a side diversion between Denver and Abuquerque:  Taos.

    Taos, NM has two ski resorts nearby: Taos Ski Valley and Angel Fire. I’ve never been to either of them, and I’d like to see what it’s like to ski in New Mexico. A few of my fellow Coloradans feel the same way and we’ve organized a bit of a caravan trip.

    Two or three of us are planning to drive Thursday night with two or three passengers, for a total of 5 or 6. We’ll ski Friday and then continue down to Albuquerque for the speaker event Friday night and SQL Saturday #183 on Saturday. A few of us will then go back to Taos on Saturday. Whether we will ski on Sunday depends on how these older bodies feel.

    I love the SQL Saturday events, and think they’re a great chance to teach people things, learn things, and give vendors a chance to meet potential customers face to face. However the networking is one of the best opportunities that I’ve seen from these events. The chance to meet other SQL Server professionals, find out what they are doing, learn about new features, functions, applications and opportunities is amazing.

    The chance to bond and make a new friend or acquaintance is one you shouldn’t pass up. You never know when you network might help you, and there are plenty of companies that view networks as more important than recruiters.

    I’m looking forward to some networking on the drive, getting to better know the people I’ve met at many local events. I’m also looking forward to speaking on Branding at the event and meeting even more SQL Server pros from New Mexico.

    If you get the chance to attend an event, it’s worth your time if you meet people and talk with them. I encourage you to try this in the future, especially at a SQL Saturday. Talk to people in sessions, between them, or even later at the after party.

  • LinkedIn and Connections

    I don’t use LinkedIn a lot,  but I do try to go over there once every week or two and update my status, add a link, and accept connections.

    I have a simple philosophy on connections: I accept them all. I don’t worry if I know the person or not, if they’re a recruiter or fellow technical pro, I just accept them.

    My thoughts are that the more people I can touch if I need help, the better off I am. It doesn’t matter where they are, or how I know them. A broadcast for network help is a broadcast that I want to reach everywhere.

    If the person is someone I know well, I do take a moment and move them into my A or B networks.

    I feel differently on Facebook, which is for real friends and family and I rarely accept friends there.

  • Join Our Networking Dinner in Seattle

    This is the third year that Andy Warren and myself are hosting a networking dinner in Seattle, just before the PASS Summit. If you are new to the Summit, or just interested in meeting some new people, we hope you’ll join us on Monday, Nov 5, at Gordon Biersch, located in the Pacific Place mall on Pine St. It’s just a couple blocks from the Convention Center.

    We don’t have anything formal planned, just a time and place for people to swing by, shake hands, introduce themselves and talk about what they do, or why they came, or just life in general. It’s a casual event that is just (barely) organized so you have a chance to meet other attendees on an off night.

    If you don’t have plans and want to attend, come on by. Please register so we have an idea of the number of people coming.

    It’s BYOD/BYOF (buy your own xxx), but there’s no fee to attend.

    I’ll be at SQL in the City – Seattle 2012 during the day, another free event, and then I’ll come by afterwards.

    Register today