Showing posts with label SQL Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SQL Community. Show all posts

Friday, May 20, 2016

SQL Server Random Workload Generator

Hello Dear Reader!  Before I start this blog I want to give credit to Jonathan Kehayias (@SQLPoolBoy | Blog).  He’s an Microsoft Data Platform MVP, MCM,  part of the amazing crew over at SQLSkills, and a really nice guy.  



I heard Jonathan talk about this at SQL Saturday Tampa years ago.  He joked at the time that, “in an effort to show that he did not have a life.  He make a workload out of all the current queries on BOL for SQL Server 2008 R2”.  

When I present and show mine, I tell the audience about that and joke that, “In an effort to show I have less of a life than Jonathan, here’s what I’ve done”.  The feedback I receive is often, "That shouldn't be a goal".  Point taken Dear Reader, point taken.  

Needless to say, I loved the script.  I grabbed it, tweaked it, and have used it for years. 

Today I wanted to make my version, which piggy backs heavily on Jonathan’s.  Here are the main differences:

  1.  tweaked the queries removing the compute by clause (deprecated in SQL Server 2008 R2) and replaced it with Cube or Rollup 
  2. I turned all of the queries into stored procedures, and adjusted the workload to call stored procedures
  3.   IF the table had a result set that allowed for it, I used the Randomize Function and passed in parameters to the stored procedures in order to get different data sets
  4. This gives a healthy dose of adhoc SQL as well as stored procedure use
  5.   I call Jonathan’s PowerShell from a batch script that allows me to spin up or down a larger set of concurrent connections.  (This makes the process visual, which is very handy when you are presenting to a crowd)


“So Balls”, you say, “That’s great.  Show me the money.”

Ah Dear Reader, as ever you are insightful.  We’ll cover this in 3 steps:  Download, Setup, and Run.


DOWNLOAD

You can Click Here or you can visit my Resources Page.  


At the top of the page you will find the download for the Random SQL Workload Generator.  

Download the ZIP and extract it to your C:\ Drive (or anywhere else you would like). 

 I’m going to use the C:\ root for simplicity in our next step Setup up.






SETUP

Now that you have the folder sitting in your C Drive let’s do the following steps:
  1.  Run the Create Stored Procedures for Random SQL Workload Generator.sql
  2. Change the SQL Server Instance Name in the RandomSQLWorkloadGenerator.ps1 to your instance name
  3. IF you changed the path from the C:\ folder, update ClientConnections.cmd and RandomSQLWorkloadGenerator.ps1 to change the paths to the proper file location.




The “Create Stored Procedures for Random SQL Workload Generator.sql” script references the AdventureWorks2014 database.  You can run this against 2012 as well, I have not yet added In-MemoryOLTP test queries, but I will eventually.  If you restored AdventureWorks2014 with a different name you will need to change that in the RandomSQLWorkloadGenerator.ps1, the  “Create Stored Procedures for Random SQL Workload Generator.sql”, and the Random_SQL_Workload _AdventureWorks 2014.sql scripts.



RUN



After all of the setup, you should be good to double click on Create5Connections.cmd.  It will spin up 5 command prompt windows.



Just to validate we are up and running, you can run a quick query against sys.dm_exec_requests, exec_sessions, queryplan, and sqltext to show our activity. 

select
     der.session_id
     ,der.status
     ,der.command
     ,des.program_name
     ,der.last_wait_type
     ,der.wait_type
     ,st.text
     ,qp.query_plan
from
     sys.dm_exec_requests der
     left join sys.dm_exec_sessions des
     on des.session_id=der.session_id
     cross apply sys.dm_exec_sql_text(der.sql_handle) st
     cross apply sys.dm_exec_query_plan(der.plan_handle) qp
where
     des.is_user_process=1
     and
     des.session_id<>@@spid

I can see that I have 4 connections and begin playing around. 



WRAP IT UP

Alright Dear Reader, a few final notes.  I don’t have a lot of write operations in this current workload.  You could easily add them yourself to the workload script, and I do plan to add some eventually.  Yes, some of these queries are bad.  No I’m not going to tune them, that’s part of the fun! 

If you find some cool stuff to do with this script, please let me know.  This is a pretty simple framework with a lot of cool potential.

Next up for this script, Running it against Azure SQL Database.  It’s not that hard actually just a couple configuration changes in PowerShell.  Plus, I’ve already done it.  More on that Next Week!

As always Dear Reader, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad

Friday, May 6, 2016

SQL Saturday Jacksonville #552 Pre-Con: A Day of DBA Fundamentals- Install- Maintenance plans-and Security

Hello Dear Reader!  I'm here in beautiful Jacksonville FL for the SQL Saturday 552 events!  Today my friend Dan Taylor (@DbaBulldog | Blog) and I are presenting our Pre-con A Day of DBA Fundamentals, Install, Maintenance Plans, and Security.

We are having a lot of fun so far, and I wanted to share.  If you are in the class or curios you can download the Deck Here.

More updates as we go!

Final Update 4:43 pm

I just wanted to say a big Thank You to all the people who attended our pre-con today and the SQL Saturday Jacksonville team!

We covered the Azure Portal, SQL Azure DB, Elastic Pools, Azure VM's, and Premium Storage.

I'm exhausted.  The class is exhausted.  It's been a great start to the event.  See you all tomorrow!

Here's the Class waving goodbye!

Update 5

We just finished up group activities working on backups and restores.  Getting the group interaction was key.  A very adapt pupil found a great way to use azure for a highly transactional system.

Not gonna lie I gave them some difficult ones to figure out.  In the process looks like Dan caught me blogging!


Alright up next Maintenance Plans, Azure, and one last group exercise!


Update 4 2:30 pm

At the beginning of the day we split the class into 5 groups.  I told them not to get comfortable and we just showed why.

In this job communication is key.  We just make all the teams regroup and reintroduce themselves.  Next we started work on discussing the importance of backups and restores.  Dan led the way preaching the importance of the right backup strategy for the right business objective.


 During lunch we had a good discussion about how to communicate with the business.  I recomended two books that have become a good starting foundation for me, and a mandatory read for everyone on my old team (Much love to the #TeamBall).

If your interested you can find them here.

Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition

Crucial Accountability: Tools for Resolving Violated Expectations, Broken Commitments, and Bad Behavior, Second Edition

Update 1:30 pm

Great lunch by Panera here at the SQL Saturday Jacksonville Pre-Con!  We are having a nice group exercise.  I like watching the teams interact and discuss security and what permissions should be given per scenario.


Will we use AD or SQL Authentication?


Granular permissions?


Dan never could resist a great debate on security!


Update 2 11:49 am

We've taken a break for lunch!  The class exercises so far have been a lot of fun.  We've got a smart crew here today.  So far we've covered the different versions of SQL Server, how features and licensing go together, and using SSMS to create basic options and monitor.

Great participation so far.  We had a nice side discussion on what services should sit side by side.  Lot of caveats with this and this will be a nice blog for a later day.

Oh and Devin Knight stopped by!

OK Lunch Time!



Update 1

Scott Gleason (@SQLScottGleason) Is helping us kick this off!


Great crowd so far!  I wonder what Scott thinks of my performance?


Tough crowd!




Thursday, June 25, 2015

Top 3 Questions Before Submitting to a SQL Saturday

Hello Dear Reader!  We are coming up upon the 9th SQL Saturday for Orlando.  Orlando is where SQL Saturday began, and the home to some pretty amazing speakers.

We, the SQL Saturday Orlando Team, are hard at work getting ready for the event.  Our Call for Speakers ends on July 10th, just 15 days from now.  

So hurry up and get those submissions in!

"So Balls", you say, "How do I deal with the rejection if I don't get selected?  How do I submit a Presentation? Why would I want to submit to be a Speaker?"

Great questions Dear Reader.  As always you are on top of your game!  Let's dive right in!


1. HOW DO I DEAL WITH THE REJECTION IF I DON'T GET SELECTED?


Simple answer, in Orlando you don't.  SQL Saturday was invented and founded by SQL MVP & SQL Saturday Orlando Committee member Andy Warren(@SQLAndy | Blog).  The main thought behind it was to grow the next generation of SQL Server Speakers.  In 2007 Andy saw the need to grow the pool of professionals that spoke at SQL Server events.  He knew the value of expanding the community.

My first SQL Saturday was #49 in Orlando as an attendee.  Since then I've been on the Speaker Selection Committee since 2011.  When I started I asked my friend, and one half of my future law firm of Biguns & Balls, Jack Corbett (@UncleBiguns | Blog) what do I need to know about this position?  How do I pick who makes it and who doesn't?  His answer (and I'm paraphrasing, it was 4 years ago).

"You make room for everyone.  This is about growing the community.  You, Kendal, Andy, none of you speak unless there is room.  Everybody who submits get's a spot.  We encourage new Speakers, friends we haven't seen present in a while, MVP's, people from Microsoft, we cast a net and we give the community a place to gather and share."

And we do.

I'm proud to say that my co-partner in crime on the Speaker Committee SQL MVP Rodney Landrum (@SQLBeat | Blog)  and I have never rejected anyone.  We've helped tweak abstracts, had experience speakers sit with new speakers, and provide direct feedback after their presentation.  We've done what we needed to in order to help them give them a spot.  In all that time we've never rejected anyone and we are not about to start now.

2. HOW DO I SUBMIT A PRESENTATION

Don't worry, it's easy.  I'll give you some quick advice, but I walk through this in a lot of detail in a blog that I had written for SQL Saturday 85, click here to review.

First write an abstract, NOT a presentation.  Why you may ask?  Because it takes  a lot of time to write your presentation.  It takes a couple minutes to an hour to write an Abstract.

What's an Abstract?  It is the description of your presentation.  Here are a couple sample abstracts below that I had previously written about.  By the way, I never used these, I never developed a presentation on them so you could have at them Dear Reader.

The Top 10 Things Your Developers Should Know

It’s not easy being a DBA, heck it’s not easy being a Developer.  Too often DBA’s and Developers are put at odds, are we two different species, are they from Venus and we’re from Mars, Why wasn't the Green Lantern the movie more successful?  There are a lot of questions and you want Answers!  Come and find out the top 10 things you Developers should know about SQL Server and a friendly way you can present them.

So there we go, we start off with the statement, “It’s not easy being a DBA, heck it’s not easy being a developer.”  We don’t want to alienate anybody you get just as many developers, managers, and other folks at a SQL Saturday as you do DBA’s.  And then the Question Why wasn't the Green Lantern Movie more successful Why do we have such a hard time communicating?  Then present the solution, and suggest a Take-Away-Item that people will get by attending your presentation. There are a lot of questions and you want Answers! Come and find out the top 10 things you Developers should know about SQL Server and a friendly way you can present them.”  

Notice I made a couple light hearted jokes in the abstract, you don’t have to do that. That's more my thing.  So let’s do one more that is a little more serious.

Surrogate Keys vs. Natural Keys – The Great Debate

An essential part of Database Design is looking at the keys that you’ll have in your tables, You want to make sure that you’ve got a Primary key right?  But do you want that key to be Natural or Surrogate? What is the difference between Natural and Surrogate Keys, What is the Sort order on a Page, and How can they affect performance?  What do I want for an OLTP system vs. an OLAP system?  Come find out as we take a step by step process that will build and compare each!

No jokes this time Dear Reader, kind of like an anti-mullet, no Party in the back and all business up front.   

Once your abstract get's selected THEN you write the presentation.  In order to do that you have to submit.

You do NOT need to be on Twitter, LinkedIn, or have a blog.  Those are optional, but they do help with your personal branding.  Long term you should consider those things.  But you have time to do that!

Submit to SQL Saturday 442 Orlando by Clicking Here.


3. WHY WOULD I WANT TO BE A SPEAKER?


If you liked his presentation,
go buy Simon's book
It's important to start with Why.  I cannot tell you your why.  I can't.  It is for you to decide.  I can tell you my Why.  That's mine not your's, and I would encourage you to listen to Simon Sinek's great presentation on that.  It's only 18 minutes, and it has the potential to change your perspective and by proxy your life.  Go ahead and watch.  I'll wait.

Okay did you go listen?  Seriously!  After I said the whole change your life and perspective thing!  Really!?!  Go watch, click here.

Okay, if you still didn't do it I'm not going to turn into The Monster at The End Of This Book.

My Why.  I love empowering myself and people with knowledge.  I do this by trying to make complex concepts simple and relatable.  I just happen to do this through presenting, writing, and consulting.  Would you like to come to my presentation?  If you watched the video, you see exactly what I did there.

If you don't know your Why, finding it is half the fun.  Being a speaker can help you along that path as well.

Networking and opportunities are certainly a part of the package, but they are a result of What you do not Why you do it.  Look at your Why and if it leads you here we'd love to have you!

You don't have to speak.  You can be an attendee, a volunteer, or just come for the coffee, donuts, and conversations.  After all this is all about community!

WRAP IT UP

What are you doing still reading this blog!  Go submit, and if Orlando is not close to you head over to SQLSaturday.com and find a SQL Saturday near you, I'm sure they'd love to have you speak as well!


As always, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

I'm an MVP

Hello Dear Reader!  Two weeks ago I was very honored to be named a Microsoft SQL Server MVP.  Since then I've been reflecting on what it means to get this award and the massive amount of people that helped me along the way.

Family, co-workers, friends, community members, and other MVP's.  This could turn into an Emmy speech, but I won't put you through that.  In the past I've written about this and saying Thank You to the People That Get Us There, about Why You Should Go to SQL Saturday and the impact it had on me, and how Who You Work With helps push you in the right direction.  Before I move on from thanking people I need to say a big THANK YOU to the people who nominated me.

Mike Walsh (Blog@Mike_Walsh), Jack Corbett (Blog@Unclebiguns), Jorge Segarra (Blog@SQLChicken), Adam Jorgensen (Blog@AJBigData), and Jason Strate (Blog@StrateSQL).  Gentlemen I thank you not only for nominating me, but giving me a seat at the table to begin with.  Through advice and conversations you immediately welcomed me.  I've always been humbled by the way in which smart men and women of the SQL Community open their arms not only to greet but assure newcomers that they deserve a voice and a seat at the table.   My friends Thank You.  Thank you for your faith in me.  Thank you for helping me get here, and for all the encouragement.

Jorge once said to me about three years ago, "You deserve a seat at this table, enjoy it and don't ever worry that you belong.".  Great and kind words my friend.

Now Dear Reader, I also want to pass along one incredibly important piece of advice that was given to me.  How to become a SQL Server MVP.


HOW TO BECOME A SQL SERVER MVP


I have no idea.   None.  Not a clue.  In conversations with all of these amazing folks, they had no idea either.  However, I did notice that I heard the same three pieces of advice repeated over and over again.
That feeling you get when you open the box

1.  Love what you do.

2.  Don't treat being an MVP as a goal, but something that happens along the way.

3.  When you get nominated fill out the website details, better start collecting them now.


LOVE WHAT YOU DO


I enjoy this.  I love presenting.  I love learning.  I love talking with people about their issues with SQL Server.  I really love when I know what's wrong with a system and can help fix it.  I've had telephone calls with clients in the past couple years where after hearing about five minutes of their problem I knew what the issue was.  I could start giving advice on the phone call, and by the time we were sharing screens or I was landing on the ground we were able to start working on a fix.  That is pure awesome.


Some people love to blog, some love volunteering, some are leaders that bring us together, some organize, some  troubleshoot on forums, some program amazing applications/scripts/videos to help the community, and some love to speak.  Whatever you are doing if you love doing it, then keep doing it.  You'll never feel like you wasted your time, and you will know you are doing things for the right reason.


IT'S NOT THE GOAL, IT'S THE JOURNEY
San Francisco Sunset with @JasonHorner

I'm paraphrasing Emerson.  It's no less true.  If I only get this one year, if I never would have gotten it, the journey of pursuing what I love to do has taken me places and allowed me to achieve things I had not even thought of.  I've criss crossed the U.S. this year and I'm looking forward to staying busy next year.

Keep in mind this didn't happen in one year.  Every journey begins with a step.  I encourage you to start your journey.  When I present at SQL Saturday's or SSUG's I tell the audience the same thing I hope you now hear Dear Reader.

In each of you there is a story to tell.  There is something you are doing right now at work that I, and other people, would love to know and hear about.  There are ideas you have that would be well received and applauded.  Get involved, volunteer, blog, present, find what it is that you want to do.  We all have a calling and I hope you find yours.  If I can do this so can you.

Remember, you deserve a seat at this table, enjoy it and don't ever worry that you belong.

Now grab your seat, let's have some fun.  As always Thanks for stopping by.


Thanks,

Brad




Monday, September 15, 2014

Outstanding PASS Volunteer

Hello Dear Reader!  In June this year I was recognized by PASS as with an Outstanding Volunteer Award.  In an unusual move I found myself speechless.  This is a very quick post to give the true credit where it is due.  June was a very busy month for me and I had a blog post scheduled to post it in July, but… let’s just say a couple things happened on the way to the theater.  The timing felt a bit wrong.

“So Balls”, you say, “Why blog about it now?” 

Great question Dear Reader.  The original blog was a big Thank You, and I want to say that in earnest.  The reason I received my award was for a lot of the work and presentations I’ve done this year. 32 presentations so far in 2014 with 9 more planned out and hopefully a couple more to come. 

These presentations don’t happen in a vacuum.  I’ve been very blessed as a presenter and community member.  I’ve written recently about how SQL Saturday’s impacted my life.  This year friends in the community invited me to new and wonderful locations.  Mike Walsh (@Mike_Walsh| Blog)  and 1/2 of my future law firm of Biguns & Balls Jack Corbett (@UncleBiguns | Blog) started out my January in New Hampshire from there I've presented physically and remotely in Florida, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas, California, North Carolina, Virginia, Oregon, Colorado, Georgia, with more before the end of the year.  That doesn’t include Webinars where people from all over the world signed up to attend.

If you attended, were forced to attend, dragged, cajoled, or otherwise persuaded to attend I Thank You.  Dear Reader without you it doesn’t happen.

For the organizers, who put in their time, put on events, get sponsors, volunteers, and manage the process Thank You.  My time to present is a pittance compared to the effort it takes to lead a group and the hours that you put in.  Many Thanks for letting me be part of your group.

To PASS, the volunteers (the literally HUNDREDS of volunteers from SQL Saturday’s, program committees, Leadership Staff, down to the volunteer picking up coffee a noble and thankless job), Chapter Leaders, the employees whom I see and send emails to for the Summit or SQL Saturday’s, and all of those who I do not see Thank You. 

Your hard work helps create an environment that allows our community to thrive.  There have been lots of fantastic winners already this year.  I encourage you to check out the PASS page of Outstanding volunteers here.  Chances are if you’ve been to an event this year one has touched your life.

A Quick late-CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Shawn McGehee (@SQLShawn | OPASS) who is the August Outstanding volunteer.  Shawn is the Chapter Leader for OPASS and has done an incredible job.  He is leading the charge for our Pre-Cons for SQL Saturday Orlando amongst many, many other things!  Way to GO Shawn!!

To my friend who nominated me, the beers on me.  To anyone who wants me to present and I haven’t presented for you. If I’m in your area or you need a virtual presenter, shoot me a message on twitter or an email at bball@pragmaticworks.com  I’m always happy to help.


ONE MORE THING



“So Balls”, you say, “You’ve said Thank You, anything else?”

Why Yes Dear Reader!  Yes there is one more thing, actually 4 more things.  I got something big that I cannot share quite yet.  In celebration of the community and the influence you’ve had on my life I want to give something back.

So in October I’m going to blog a community script a week.  These will be scripts that people have asked for, as I’ve presented that I never found the time to get out there, plus a couple new ones.  One a week leading up to the PASS Summit in November.

As Always Dear Reader, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,


Brad

Friday, September 12, 2014

Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Administration

Hello Dear Reader!  Last September I was approached with a tremendous opportunity to become the Managing Author for the Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2014 book by Wrox.  We worked throughout the CTP phase and solidified the book after RTM.  By the end of July all the pages were in, all the chapters proofed, and we all had a collective sigh of relief.

I was joined in this book by Steven Wort, Ross LoForte, Chad Churchwell (@chadchurchwell | blog), and Jorge Segarra (@SQLChicken | blog) from Microsoft and Adam Jorgensen (@ajbigdata | blog), Brian Knight (@BrianKnight), Kim Hathaway (@sqlkimh), Roger Wolter (@rwolter50 | blog), Dan Clark, and Kathy Vick (@MSKathyV | blog) from Pragmatic Works.

Tech reviewing the book we had Kathi Kellenberger (@auntKathi ), Jason Strate (@StrateSQL | blog), and my buddy Daniel Taylor (@DBABulldog | blog).

The initial goal was to just update the book.  It quickly became a project to gut and replace old ideas with newer material, a vision that continued to grow and should make the next release of the Pro Admin series drastically different even from this book.

I couldn't be prouder of this crew.  Roger Wolter is a former PM from Microsoft who helped write Service Broker, and has done some of the largest and most interesting implementations of it in the world.  You will see his handy work on Chapter 6 on Service Broker and Chapter 8 on Securing the Database Instance.

I worked with Jorge very closely before he joined Microsoft.  He is an amazing guy, with a thirst for new knowledge.  Jorge took Chapter 1 on the SQL Server Architecture and 24 on SQL Server Azure Administration and Configuration.

My friend Kim Hathaway and I teamed up Chapter 2 Installation Best Practices and Chapter 3 Upgrading SQL Server 2014 Best Practices.  Dan Clark, .NET coding wiz and all around BI knowledge base, lent his talents to Chapter 7 SQL Server CLR Integration.

Kathy Vick a former Microsoftie with two tours of duty, who has been working with SQL Server since it was still called Sybase prior to 4.2 has Chapter 13 on Performance Tuning T-SQL and Chapter 14 on Indexing your Database.

Bradley Schacht did more than can be mentioned for the BI side of the house in this book.  He wrote Chapter 23 on SQL Server and SharePoint Integration.  Chad is a smart and amazing PFE for Microsoft.  He joined at the last moment us to take over Chapter 16 on Clustering in SQL Server 2014 and provided a quick and solid contribution to help us over the finish line.

Steven Wort, Ross LoForte, Brian, and Adam all produced the work that is consistent with what we have expected over the years.  Superb.

Then there's this guy.  Mr. Balls. I was honored to be asked with working with this gifted crew.  I wrote Chapter 4 on Managing and Troubleshooting the Database Engine, Chapter 9 In-Memory OLTP (Hekaton), Chapter 10 Configuring the Server for Optimal Performance, and Chapter 11 Configuring the Server for Optimal Performance.  Hmmm....I sense a theme.

The link to the book on Amazon is here.  Just wanted to say Thanks again to the team that put this together!

Look Mom & Dad, I'm on a Book!!!

As always Dear Reader Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

24 Hours of PASS Preview: Zero to Hero (I'm the Zero)


Hello Dear Reader!  We are already away into the 24 Hours of PASS Summit Preview for 2014!  I don't know if you heard, but I have a pre-con at the PASS Summit!  More precisely SQL MVP Robert Cain(@arcanecode | Blog) had a great idea for a precon and invited SQL MVP/MCM Jason Strate (@stratesql | Blog) and myself to join him.

We decided early on that we have a great opportunity to showcase how we use PowerShell to complete tasks on the Business Intelligence, DBA, and Cloud engagements and pass on real world skills.  We also want to do it in a way that things are useful.  Our goal is to have things we can give you that will allow you to leave the pre-con and use right away.

We also realized with a bunch of smart guys (and me), presenting we had the opportunity to use Humor and a bit of stage acting.  I'll be playing the role of the Zero in our pre con.

"So Balls", you say, "What's a Zero, and how do you play one? (and why are you explaining this)?"


Great questions Dear Reader!  First let's talk about, what's a zero?  I will be pretending that I do not know how to use PowerShell.  That I don't understand how to use the verbiage, variables, function, modular code design, how to import modules, or do a lot of other stuff you need to know.  I will need to learn from the ground up as if I'm a beginner in the class.
Hopefully me at the Summit (without the awkward flying)

I will ask questions, get explanations, and help bring the audience along.  As the day progresses I'll become a hero using concepts and technology to deliver some end to end solutions.  I'll even take over the Azure PowerShell portion at the very end of the day.

Why am I explaining this?  PASS has an international audience and I'm not a professional actor.  I'll do my best but some may miss the humor in what we are presenting.  Robert, Jason, and myself spoke last night and we didn't want anyone to think that I didn't actually know PowerShell or give reason to doubt why I'm participating in the pre-con.

So sit back today, enjoy our session.  I hope you enjoy me being the Zero, and come to the Summit to find out how to be a Hero with me.

But wait there's more!! Today during out session Robert and I will do most of the talking.  Jason will be live answering your PowerShell questions using the #pass24HOP hash tag on twitter, and answering the questions in the room chat on Twitter as well.  This promises to be a fun session, hope to see you there!

Here is the link to our pre-con.   Here is a link to the 24 Hours of PASS website.  Good luck, happy learning, and as always Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Why You Should Go to SQL Saturday

SQL Sat Puerto Rico
Hello Dear Reader!  Soon SQL Saturday #318 in Orlando FL will be here.  The SQL Community does a lot of work at SQL Saturday’s, present at them, and help put them on.  When talking about them, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is: “Why should I go to a SQL Saturday?” 


Almost 4 years ago I attended my first SQL Saturday, attending was a last minute decision and one that has changed my life.  I have a real passion for SQL Saturdays, and while results may vary, my simplest answer is “they can be life changing”.  Here’s how I got there.   



Summit 2013 - Denny's awesome Party
The only SQL Event I had ever attended was the first 24 Hours of PASS.  I loved it.  I watched with eager anticipation, this was the first SQL training I’d ever been to.  Every company I’d worked for thus far had balked at sending me to training. 


I desperately wanted training.  When I discovered the 24 Hours of PASS I became a fan, FREE SQL Training on the internet!!! What a concept!  Of course it was to plug the PASS Summit, and if training was a no go you can guess what my chances of ever going to the Summit in 2009 were. ZERO.  This was as close as I could get, but closer than I’d ever been before.


So as the PASS Summit 2010 was gearing up there was another 24 hours of PASS.  I reserved conference rooms at my company, registered for the events, had a router for network connections set up, and I pumped up the “free” training to the other DBA’s. I worked for two days from there as the sessions were streamed. 
Jorge at SQL Sat Jacksonville


While talking with the other DBA’s that when the magic moment happened.  My friend Greg and my buddy Dan Taylor (@DBABulldog | Blog) said, “If you like the 24 Hours of PASS you’ll love SQL Saturday”.  What’s a SQL Saturday I asked?

A free event where Consultants, MVP’s, and SQL Community members set up tracks and have free presentations all day long.  I was stunned.  It was like I was a child hearing about “FREE CANDY” given out at Halloween for the first time.  Where was this? When was this? This weekend!  In Orlando!  I can do that!  I had to pay $5 for my lunch, but other than that no cost.  I almost felt like I was getting away with something.  As if someone would stop me at the gate and say, “Sorry Sir, you get to sit in the lobby only paying attendees get to see the sessions.”  It didn’t happen.  I got in just fine.


Tom Larock kicking
off SQL Sat OC 
It was everything I’d wanted.  Sessions on Wait Stats, PBM, CMS, Indexing, two deep dives one on partitioning and another on CPU!  I met DBA’s that understood my pains, issues with hardware stressed beyond capacity, aging relic’s with critical LOB apps that we couldn’t get new hardware for, 3rd party vendors with bad indexes, bad code, and little support.  People trying to find a way to survive with NEW insights and experiences sharing openly and free.  People who understood my issues without having to pretend that they actually understood.   


I met Tom Larock (@SQLRockstar | Blog), Argenis Fernandez (@DBArgenis | Blog), Jorge Segarra (@SQLChicken | Blog), Patrick LeBlanc (@PatrickDBA | Blog), and 1 half of my future law firm of Biguns and Balls Jack Corbett (@Unclebiguns | Blog).  There were more.  Lot’s more.  That could take me pages more.  The point is I made it and it was like coming home.


Jason and Steve at SQL Live 360 

That day started it off.  Without Kendal Van Dyke (@SQLDBA | Blog), Andy Warren (@SQLAndy | Blog), Karla Landrum (@KarlaKay22 | Blog), and Jack putting on this SQL Saturday 49 I’m not here today.  

I submitted to be a speaker at the next event I could, I started a blog (you may be familiar with this one), got on Linked-In, and even got a Twitter account.  That event, that one SQL Saturday lead me to presenting at 7 more the next year.  


Getting a spot in the 2nd chance track at SQL Rally, getting voted in by the community at the PASS Summit 2011, and being invited to be on the planning committee for SQL Saturday Orlando #85 the following year after I’d first attended.

Summit 2013 with the guys

At the end of SQL Saturday Orlando every year we stand up top of a stair case and throw out t-shirts and give away raffle items.  In 2012 Andy Warren looked at me while we were tossing out t-shirts and asked “How’s the view from up here?”  I grinned imagining about 50 different replies, but in the end it was a simple “amazing” that left my mouth.


My second job after college took me to Virginia.   A friend had recommended me for the position.  He met me at the airport, as I flew in for my interview, so I would see a friendly face.  I thanked him.  He told me “I showed you the door, you have to walk through it”.  He was right.  I did.  That job taught me a lot and led me new places.


SQL Saturday was the same way.  It showed me the door.  Walking through it brought me new acquaintances, some new friends, new ideas, to SSUG’s, the PASS Summit, Dev Connection in Las Vegas, SQL Live 360 in Orlando, two books, and a pretty awesome job at Pragmatic Works.
Summit 2013 - Karaoke at the Pragmatic Works Party
This is just the journey so far.  Funny how close yet far away 2009 feels. There is always the question, Dear Reader, of where tomorrow will take you.  We all start somewhere.  Everyone has to have the first time.  That brings us back to the question. 


Why should you go to SQL Saturday?  Because they can be life changing.  Hope to see you at one soon, click here to register for Orlando.

As always, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,


Brad

Thursday, June 26, 2014

It's not Business, It's Personal

Hello Dear Reader.  I find myself at this late hour unable to sleep.  Yesterday the slate of speakers for the PASS Summit was announced.  What should have been a happy moment was quickly darkened by the words of people that I know well within the SQL Server Community.

I would ask the MVP's and others in the SQL Server Community; Did you plan on intimidating new speakers yesterday?  

Because you did.  I have a few first time speaker that I've been working with. Not first time PASS Speakers, first time period.  Encouraging and mentoring them to get involved in SSUG's and SQL Saturday's.  At the beginning of the year I told one in particular that we should work on a plan so she would have the experience to submit to the PASS Summit this year.

Her first words to me when we spoke yesterday?  "Thank God I didn't submit, because the MVP's would be talking smack about me right now!"

Wonderful work growing the next generation of SQL Server Speakers.  Is this what community has become?

It seems every year with the speaker selection process the people I would normally count on as pillars in our community take the opportunity to bash the process.

If the process is broken so be it.  We should discuss that.  WE SHOULD NOT LEVEL PERSONAL ATTACKS.

That is ill befitting of the responsibility that we as speakers have in the community.

I remember what it was like to be a simple DBA that looked at speakers at conferences with awe and wonder.  Instead of being a community where we encourage new speakers, what.... we encourage new speakers as long as they all are from different companies?

By attacking Pragmatic Works and suggesting that the speakers did anything less than earn their spots, you demean the volunteers, my co-workers, anyone who works for my company, and you demean me.

There were a couple issues that occurred yesterday that compounded one another.  The presentation that occurred during the 24 Hours of PASS that I moderated, see Brent's blog.

Then Kendal a former board member who had knowledge of the process.  Who praised the volunteers and the way the process works, as noted by absentee presenters who didn't receive sessions this year how a speakers name did not guarantee a spot.  He instead implied that something improper had happened.  Here's his blog.  Until he accused me of having no integrity and not deserving my sessions it was a pretty interesting read, click here.

Here's the part to pay attention to: 
  • "3 Preconference sessions by Pragmatic Works employees are on the list, including one delivered by PASS Executive Vice President, Finance & Governance Adam Jorgensen who is also President and Managing Partner of Pragmatic Works. I know a lot of folks that work at Pragmatic and they're good at what they do, but having 3 precon sessions (where presenters usually make good money from the sales) selected for the same company as one of PASS's execs...smells. I'd like to give PASS the benefit of doubt on this one, but I'll it's very hard to ignore, even if Adam wasn't one of the presenters."

HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?


First I reacted in his comment sections.  I was mad and I called what he wrote Bullshit.  I stand by that.


I've reached out to Kendal.  I hope to talk to him soon.  This shouldn't be a conversation on Twitter or over the blog-o-sphere.  I know him, I consider him a friend, and this accusation is beneath him and regardless of the intention it is deeply personal to me.

I reached out to Brent.  Brent and I DM'ed very very ridiculously late at night.  Brent I can't thank you enough for taking the time to reply.  I hope to talk to you soon!

I completely understand Brent with the 24 HOP.  The reason I reached out to him was because of his comment on Kendal's blog.

In the comment's Brent had this reply:



We discussed 2 different issues over DM.  One is the transparency of the process the other was the selection.  Giving vendors preferential treatment, and that this wasn’t the case here.  Brent didn't have an issue with the Pragmatic Works folks having sessions and understood the level of community involvement that we have.

His issue was transparency.  I was really glad we could discuss this, in-digital-person.  Concerns like that should be communicated amongst friends so false insults do not fly.  I consider Brent a friend, it meant a lot that he made himself so readily available to chat.  It is what I would hope for in a friend.

This is how we should handle these things.  If you have a concern with something I'm doing, reach out to me.  

I remember well what it was like to be a simple DBA that looked at speakers at conferences with awe and wonder.  Seeing people like Brian Kelly and Andy Warren, both of whom I know, comment on this blog and not try to reign in the personal attacks is disheartening.  Andy’s were not inflammatory, but they also did nothing to suggest I or my other co-workers were above the board.

I understand I haven't been at this as long as you guys.  I'm not an MVP.  I've only been speaking the last couple years.  

As a somewhat new member to all of this, I would ask the people that are supposed to be respected Sr. members of the community to conduct themselves with a little more Integrity.

If you know me.  Yet you would say these type of things about me, how does that make new people feel looking at our community from the outside.  Do you believe it makes them want to volunteer and participate in it?


INTEGRITY

My father taught me as a child you only have your integrity once and you should not waste it.  This means something to me.  When I invest in something, I invest wholeheartedly.  I cannot love with half my heart.  I cannot commit to something while sitting on the fence. If I did not earn something then I do not want it.

The greatest things that we get in life are the things we struggle to achieve.  It is only through the labor of the struggle that the fruits of success are realized.

This year I have presented 26 times.  From New Hampshire, to Boston, to Puerto Rico, to Orange County CA, to Denver, to Phoenix, to Atlanta, to Portland, Tampa, Orlando, and more.  I have done deep dives, pre-con's, 1 day sessions, 2 day sessions, 5 day sessions, and this doesn't even include customer presentations.  This is all community.

I have evangelized to user groups and individuals about how they should get involved, present, participate.  I discuss with them how it will help them and help their career.

I would once again point to my co-worker who has not yet delivered their first SQL Community presentation said to me "And you wonder why new people feel intimidated.  I would hate it if they were talking about me".


IT’S NOT BUSINESS IT’S PERSONAL

We've all heard the phrase before "it's not personal its business".  It is typically used as the justification for doing some pretty crappy stuff.

There are some people out there that believe participating in the SQL Community is all about marketing.  That it's business.  Being out there and participating gets them business.  If it is business to them, fine.  It's not to me.  To me the SQL Community is personal.

Right now I am away from home.  I'm away from my kids.  I presented at a user group in AZ last night.  I didn't get paid for it, I didn't get "new" business leads.  As a matter of fact I spent 15 minutes of my 1 hour presentation encouraging people to volunteer.

Why?  Because I love this community.  I have received a lot in my life from the SQL Community.  I have a job I love, I've made new friends, and I’ve traveled to new places, volunteered in ways I never imagined possible.

I truly believe that within every person there is a story waiting to be told that we all want to hear.  It could be brought to life during a presentation on Professional Development, a passionate Deep Dive, or a harrowing tale of lessons learned in the trenches.  When I present I tell people there is a story in each of them that I would love to hear.  They just need to have the faith in themselves to present and the possibilities of what they can do from there are endless.

This isn't business to me.  I would never invest this much time into something I didn't love.  It's personal.

Suggesting that I submitted to the same process as anyone else and received preferential treatment isn't business.  It's personal.  And it's wrong.

I hope from here we can clear the air.  If anyone would like to talk to me about this I’m happy to.  From here on out though please separate criticism of the processes from those that are here for all the right reasons.

As always Dear Reader, Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad