Recently, I caught my during a kickoff with a new client saying, “Hello I am John, and I love SQL. If SQL Server asked for more heart I will not say no!” That’s right folks I am a very lucky guy. Everyday I get to wake up stroll on down to the basement and do what I love to do. I get to work with databases and work on some really cool projects that improve my skills as a Senior DBA database architect. Every once in a while, even I need to be inspired and reminded that its okay to not get everything done today. Therefore, I make sure I watch the SQL Someday presentation by Thomas LaRock (blog | twitter) at last years SQL Inspire event created by SQL People for SQL People at least once a quarter. I always try to remember the following quote, “There are seven days in a week and someday is not one of them!”
“There are seven days in a week and someday is not one of them. Someday may never happen, there are somedays that already happened and you never knew it and somedays that might still become true.”
Lessons Learned
I am a driven person. I am a goal setter and I like to accomplish my goals and move on to the next ones. Sometimes I am so locked in on my next goal I am not spending time appreciating the goals that were accomplished. I also need to remind myself that even though I love SQL and the SQL Community there are other things that I love. Someday may never happen, someday might have happend and I didn’t know it and someday may actually happen. I can easily think of an occasion where someday happend and I missed it. The biggest benefit of working from home is that I can go on a walk with babybeluga and my wife if I can step away from the computer at 6pm. Each night I continue being plugged in at 6pm is an opportunity missed to spend some special time with my family. Therefore, I need to make a better effort to stop and align myself towards whats important. This doesn’t mean I cannot accomplish everything it just means that Someday might not be today. Someday might never happen and I am perfectly fine with this as long as I prioritize everything correctly and make sure I get to the items in life that really matter the most to me.
SQL Inspire On Demand
If you missed the first SQL Inspire event in 2011 I have some good news. All the sessions were recorded and are available to view for free online. The following are videos on demand that you can watch to get Inspired and find that extra bit of motivation needed to help you get to the next level.
- Telecommuting and the Virtual Office: Making the Case to Convince your Boss by Robert Pearl
- Finding Balance by Steve Jones
- SQL Someday by Tom LaRock
- Navigating the New Job Market by Michael Coles
- Big Data, BI, Big Deal! by Andrew Brust
- DBA to CEO by Michael Corey
- Professional Services 2.0 by Brian Moran
I hope this post leads you to some great material to help keep you inspired. I also hope someone can learn from my lesson and make sure your work life is balanced towards your long term goals. Have you noticed any somedays that were missed? If so, please feel free to share them with us.
