This is the wrap up for TSQL Tuesday #38.  We had a good turnout this month with some new faces and with some regulars.  In total, we had 22 entries.  All of the entries this month were very good.

The topic was on “Standing Firm” and can be found by clicking the image to the left.

Stay tuned to twitter for future TSQL Tuesday announcements and news via the #tsql2sday hash tag.

Rob Farley (blog | twitter) - Running Goals: In his opening paragraph Rob says “Peer pressure can be useful at times, but I also find that it can make me even more stubborn.”  WOW!  I can really relate to that.  Then he proceeds to recount a story from his past that would be hard for a lot of people to overcome.  I know I would have a hard time with not being able to lift my children.  Now Rob is running and plans to keep going and improving.  Excellent story!

Jim McLeod (blog | twitter) - Environment: Jim also decided to write about fitness and exercise, specifically cycling.  Jim ties planning into his goal to cycle more and stick with it.  Then he ties that into SQL Server.  ”Put together an environment that supports and encourages you to stick to your resolution.”  Plan ahead whether it be with certification or cycling, and not just for the happy times but for the rough times as well.

Thomas Stringer (blog | twitter) - Lucky 13:  Like many cross country runners, Thomas wants to hit it hard.  Then he wants to maintain the pace.  The principle is to set out to do something and build up a routine.  Routine becomes habit – and eventually becomes easier.  Thomas is setting out to learn something new every day.  That is a good goal.

Robert Davis (blog | twitter) - Disaster Recovery Resolutions:  This month Robert happens to be providing a month long series on Disaster Recovery.  In keeping with that theme, he has offered up several resolutions every DBA should make.

Koen Verbeeck (blog | twitter) - Resolving an SSIS Performance Problem:  Koen reached Defcon 2 (not really – but you should read it) when presented an opportunity to troubleshoot performance problems in an SSIS package.  The problem seems pretty typical – package works and then starts slowing down over time.  Part of the reason for that is due to four bullet points that Koen discusses.

John Sansom (blog | twitter) - Take More Ownership:  John hits on a big button in his contribution this month.  There are problems within our database environments.  Often times these problems are allowed to coexist.  While they cost time and money and raise frustration levels, how many times do we step up and offer a solution to the real problem?  It’s a good story – check it out.

Matt Velic (blog | twitter) - Stuck:  Matt is a thinker and he was stuck in a rut of late.  Matt enjoys thinking about decisions – a lot.  This was contributing to him being stuck.  He reveals some quick tips about how to get unstuck and to enjoy life just a bit more.

Steve Jones (blog | twitter) - Resolute:  Many people have a hard time standing up for what they want or believe.  They have a hard time saying “no.”  We sometimes joke about DBAs being a stop in the flow in work because we say “no” too much.  I think we probably do not say “no” enough.  And Steve points out plenty of ways that we need to learn to say no more often.  It is all about life balance.  How many times do you say “no” to a new project when you already have a full plate?

Julie Koesmarno (blog | twitter) - Tribute to Mum:  Julie, like her mother, is a WIT/Engineering.  We learn   about some of the personal life of Julie as she gives credit to her mother for being a role model as she grew up.  Now, Julie wants to help be an inspiration to others as her mother was for her.

Chris Fradenburg (blog | twitter) - Avoiding the Repetitive Mess of a Disaster:  Chris is the first of the first timers that participated this month (we had a few – woohoo).  Besides the bottle of gel soap that must be used every time he washes his hands, he is trying to improve his environment by reducing the manual repetitive tasks.  This is a good story about a disaster encountered on the first day on the new job.

Wayne Sheffield (blog | twitter) - Learning:  I did a fair bit of arm twisting to get Wayne to participate this month.  He was having a bit of writers block.  Then a topic fell into his lap and it should provide a month of writing for him.  Wayne discusses how is looking to learn and also provide a series of articles on PoSH to help others learn.  It should be out soon!

Alan Dykes (blog | twitter) - Solid Skills:  Alan is pretty much a self taught SQL Developer.  He has recently resolved to sharpen his skillset.  He learned from reading another post about how performance can vary by using a different tsql solution (e.g. NOT EXISTS versus LEFT OUTER JOINS).

Robert Pearl (aka Bobby Tables) (blog | twitter) - HealthySQL:  Some more arm twisting on this one.  Bobby has an excellent idea and it is something we should resolve to do every year as Data professionals.  Too often we get into the break/fix mode rather than the preemptive strike mode.  Regular maintenance (like you should do with your car) keeps things running longer and with less overall cost.

Hemanth.D (blog | twitter) – Firmness of Purpose:  Hemanth is the second of our first timers to participate this month.  Hemanth goes back and explores the past a little and how community ties in with the #SQLFamily.  Hemanth wants to be more resolute in the upcoming year when faced with an issue and ensuring the issue is resolved.

Mickey Stuewe (blog | twitter) – Spoons:  Mickey introduces us first to Neo and his effort at bending a spoon.  Then she correlates that to her writing ability.  For her to write is like trying to bend a spoon with her mind.  So she uses other tools to accomplish the goal.  She shared a couple of tools of which I think I will try the mind mapping tool.  That might mean some bizarre maps though.

Ed Watson (blog | twitter) – Speaking of Resolve:  Another first timer to the party (iirc), Ed shares his resolution to start speaking more at the local level.  Ed was more prone to flight than fight when it came to public speaking.  He talks about his experience and what he did in 2012 to start speaking publicly.

Jeffrey Verheul (blog | twitter) – Standing Firm:  Jeff had already planned out his goals by the time TSQL Tuesday rolled around.  After he had written some goals, he ran into a rough patch.  Based on that week, he has chosen to stand more firm and improve all that much more.

Ana Mihalj (blog | twitter) – Getting Involved:  Another warm welcome to another first timer.  Ana is from Bosnia and Herzegovina and has been working on blogging and getting involved in the community for the past year and a half.  Now she wants to step up her efforts.

Ken Watson (blog | twitter) – Not an Average Accidental DBA:  Ken shares a story on how he transitioned from a jack of all trades to being a DBA.  Ken is not enamored with being an average DBA and is working at something about which he is passionate.  He chased a dream and it is working out for him.

Tim Ford (blog | twitter) – Bring out your Dead:  You’ll get it once you read his post.  Tim is bringing back #Learn365.  If there were two themes this month it was exercise and learning.  Learn365 is right up that alley with learning.  Go check it out.

Chris Yates (blog | twitter) – Hoops and Databases:  We have a baller among us.  Chris talks about the resolve he had as a High School athlete to be a better ball player and make it to the Collegiate game.  That same resolve is applicable to being an Exceptional DBA.  Practice your craft and stand firm in your determination to be an Exceptional DBA.

My entry (twitter) – A Firm Foundation:  I shared a story that relates to disaster recovery and database consistency.  In that article, I also explored the immediate impact of changing the page verify for your database (plan cache).