Business trip or pleasure? Why not both?

I have a friend who is able to work remotely to the point that he can go wherever he wants and is still able to be productive. He has taken full advantage of that perk, and has traveled to parts of the world and experienced things that many of us only dream about. Granted, he's a single …

Mentoring Month

This morning, I received two emails from two different organizations that talked about mentoring, including one that talked about an online discussion tomorrow and one that mentioned National Mentoring Month. I wasn't aware that there was a National Mentoring Month, so I Googled it to see what came up. I've been (and am still) involved in …

Goals for 2024

As I write this, we're already a few days into 2024. I hope everyone had a happy, festive, and safe holiday -- whatever holiday you celebrate -- as well as an equally festive New Year's celebration. For me, personally, New Year's Eve was a quiet evening in my living room along with my wife, and New Year's …

What is an “expert?”

Years ago, Chris Bell, one of my friends on the SQL Saturday circuit, gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me for years. He told me (and I'm paraphrasing here), "the definition of an expert is someone who knows something that you don't." When someone says someone is an "expert," most people conjure …

TONIGHT: Speaking for the Minnesota #PASS Group, Tuesday November 21 #PASSMN #UserGroup #SQLFamily

Reminder: I will be doing my job hunt presentation virtually for the PASSMN user group tonight! If you want to check it out, see my earlier post (below) for more information, including details on how to join! Hope to see you there! https://pianorayk.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/speaking-for-the-minnesota-pass-group-tuesday-november-21-passmn-usergroup-sqlfamily/?page_id=8301

Missing my #SQLFamily friends at #PASSDataCommunitySummit

I've been seeing a lot of social media posts from my friends who are attending PASS Data Community Summit, The Summit took place this week, and is winding up today. I had been selected to speak for four straight years, from 2019 through 2022. When you're selected that many times, you tend to start taking …

Worldstock #WorldPeace #UniteTheWorld #StopHate

For whatever reason, during my commute into the office this morning, my mind started wandering (as it usually does), and I started thinking about the conflicts throughout the world at the current moment: Israel vs. Hamas, Ukraine vs. Russia, and so on. And this is to say nothing about conflicts that have been ongoing for …

Speaking for the Minnesota #PASS Group, Tuesday November 21 #PASSMN #UserGroup #SQLFamily

I just confirmed that I have a speaking engagement next week! I will be presenting virtually for the PASS Minnesota SQL user group! My presentation will take place via Zoom next Tuesday, November 21, at 5:30 pm EST (note: the 4:30 time listed in the Meetup is CST). I will be doing my job hunt …

November Monthly CASSUG Meeting

Greetings, data enthusiasts! Our November meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13, at 5:30 pm! We will meet in person at: Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce, 90 4th Street, Troy, NY. Please RSVP at https://www.meetup.com/capital-area-sql-server-user-group/events/296535232/ if you are attending, so we can purchase an appropriate amount of food for everyone. Speaking of food, this month we …

Yeah, it’s been a while, I know…

No, I'm not dead yet, I swear. But it has been a while since I've posted anything substantive, other than user group meeting announcements (with another one coming later today -- stay tuned) and upcoming speaking engagements. I believe I have one in two weeks (I just sent out an email to confirm), and I …