Challenge Yourself

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Challenge Yourself

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

SSC Guru

Points: 736270
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September 30, 2014 at 1:07 am

#311224

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Challenge Yourself

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Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 1

Another way is to offer yourself as a book reviewer. It is surprising how many of us qualify in one field or another. This can also lead to book authorship in the longer term.

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

Robert.Sterbal SSCrazy Points: 2855 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks for the ideas.

One thing I find invaluable is when people are willing to podcast their lectures, provide notes and in an ideal world transcripts. Makes for a great blog post!

akljfhnlaflkj SSC Guru Points: 76202 More actions · Answer 3

akljfhnlaflkj

SSC Guru

Points: 76202

September 30, 2014 at 7:19 am

#1749126

It's the "getting started" part that is tough.

MiguelSQL Hall of Fame Points: 3112 More actions · Answer 4

very inspirational post, thanks.

I've been thinking about blogging for a while, and the most compelling reason is career development and a way to showcase my work.

however, the most powerful excuse is my perceived lack of originality. I don't seem to have original ideas, and anytime I think of a subject, there is already a more complete, accurate and better blog than what I ever would be able to write.

I do a lot of the "teaching" at work with the junior DBAs, but I'm always relaying on someone else work and showing them articles and using them as tools (thank you SQLServerCentral!). So I feel intimidated with the vast amount of knowledge here and afraid I won't be able to come up with a original idea... let alone to come up with biweekly or even monthly installment for a blog.

Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 5

MiguelSQL (9/30/2014)
very inspirational post, thanks.
I've been thinking about blogging for a while, and the most compelling reason is career development and a way to showcase my work.
however, the most powerful excuse is my perceived lack of originality. I don't seem to have original ideas, and anytime I think of a subject, there is already a more complete, accurate and better blog than what I ever would be able to write.
I do a lot of the "teaching" at work with the junior DBAs, but I'm always relaying on someone else work and showing them articles and using them as tools (thank you SQLServerCentral!). So I feel intimidated with the vast amount of knowledge here and afraid I won't be able to come up with a original idea... let alone to come up with biweekly or even monthly installment for a blog.

Don't forget that you can always tailor your posts to your needs, making sure that you reference (with both links and attributions) work that you draw upon. If you are using different aspects of different blogs (but pulling it together yourself) then your blog post is your own.

I would like to commend you on not wanting to plagiarise nor wanting to repeat existing posts. However, don't forget that a tutorial is different to a post detailing a feature. They may have similar content and both impart the same information but they are not necessarily the same.

So write. 🙂

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

Robert.Sterbal SSCrazy Points: 2855 More actions · Answer 6

You can always run a post by a few trusted friends before you publish it to see if there is an obvious concern.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736270 More actions · Answer 7

MiguelSQL (9/30/2014)
very inspirational post, thanks.
I've been thinking about blogging for a while, and the most compelling reason is career development and a way to showcase my work.
however, the most powerful excuse is my perceived lack of originality. I don't seem to have original ideas, and anytime I think of a subject, there is already a more complete, accurate and better blog than what I ever would be able to write.
I do a lot of the "teaching" at work with the junior DBAs, but I'm always relaying on someone else work and showing them articles and using them as tools (thank you SQLServerCentral!). So I feel intimidated with the vast amount of knowledge here and afraid I won't be able to come up with a original idea... let alone to come up with biweekly or even monthly installment for a blog.

You don't need an original idea. If that were the case, BOL and MSDN cover much of what others are talking about in their own voice.

Talk about what you know. Your blog isn't necessarily a vehicle for everyone in the world to learn something. It's more about showcasing who you are for your next potential employer. They want to learn if you know something, not if you impressed the rest of their potential candidates.

MiguelSQL Hall of Fame Points: 3112 More actions · Answer 8

Gary Varga (9/30/2014)
I would like to commend you on not wanting to plagiarise nor wanting to repeat existing posts. However, don't forget that a tutorial is different to a post detailing a feature. They may have similar content and both impart the same information but they are not necessarily the same.
So write. 🙂

Stealing others people work is wrong, no matter how you slice it. However, building up on others work and use it as a crutch is OK, as long as we mention our sources... got it.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor (9/30/2014)

You don't need an original idea. If that were the case, BOL and MSDN cover much of what others are talking about in their own voice.

I guess I haven't though about it like that. Dave Pinal is one of the most prolific bloggers for beginners, and most of what he writes can be found on BOL. But what he does is amazing...

I guess I'll have to get up my lazy behind and start writing... and contributing to this amazing community.

Thank you for encouraging words.

Miguel

Miles Neale SSChampion Points: 13147 More actions · Answer 9

So what you are saying, at least as I read it is that it really does not matter how deeply your blog penetrates the blogosphere, what matters is that you write something. The reasons I take away from this are;

1. You learn something better technically

2. You improve your communication/writing skills

3. You offer help and encouragement to those who find your blog

4. You show little if any fear in openly discussing technical issues and solutions

5. And you extend your resume to illustrate better who you are, and how you do it

Then I guess we should ask ourselves, where is the negative here?

M.

Not all gray hairs are Dinosaurs!