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Interview with Brent Ozar

Almost a month ago Brent Ozar did a blog interview with me regarding the Database Corruption Challenge so I thought I would return the gesture and do the same for him. I ended up going to the Bellingham SQL Server Users Group (PASS Chapter) to build the list of questions. The members of the group helped build the questions, and here is what we came up with, including responses from Brent.

Brent is a Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified Master of SQL Server, and published author. He lives in Chicago and is the founder of Brent Ozar Unlimited.

Question: For the self-taught or accidental DBA where do you suggest they start to improve their SQL Server Skills?Brent Ozar

Brent: DBAs get in the most trouble when they assume the backups are working. They’re probably not. Go set up a development server or VM, and restore last night’s backups onto it. Figure out what it would take to go live on that newly restored server. Rehearse it a few times, get confident in it, and then build a little checklist with the length of time it will take. Show it to your manager as proof that you’re working to keep the company’s data safe.

After that, it’s so tempting to get caught up just poking around in metrics. Go to your manager or your top power user and ask, “What do you want to do, but the database is holding you back?” These are the people who will give you a raise, and these are the reasons they’ll give it to you. Help them help you.

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An Awesome Day at SQL Saturday Redmond

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Yesterday was SQL Saturday Redmond. It was a great day, I learned lots, met some great new people, and had a chance to catch up with some old friends. When most people hear about SQL Saturday for the first time, they probably think to themselves “spend all day on a Saturday in technical presentations”, however SQL Saturday is much more than that. The presentations all all great, don’t get me wrong here, but the biggest value that I see is in the people that you get to know, and the things you can learn from the vendors. There were at least 6 people that I know online through Twitter, Fitbit, LinkedIn and other online sites that I had the opportunity to meet in person for the first time this weekend.

SQLSat393FriendsPicture Credit: Thanks Jimmy May (@aspiringgeek)

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SQL Saturday Redmond

Yesterday I blogged about submitting to SQL Saturday Denver, which is about 5 months away, after writing that post, I realized that I haven’t even blogged about SQL Saturday Redmond which is occurring in just over 2 weeks.

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SQL Saturday #393 Redmond marks just 3 years since my first time speaking at a SQL Saturday #108 in Redmond. So lets take a look back, at Feb 5th, 2012, it was my first time presenting at a SQL Saturday ever, I had discovered this cool new query tool called the Common Table Expression, and I prepared my presentation. I practiced my presentation once before Saturday, and I was ready. Did I mention, that this was also my first time every attending a PASS event, or a SQL Saturday, and I was presenting. I was in the morning time slot after the keynote, and boy was I nervous. Over the next year I presented at I few other SQL Saturdays, and finally a book publisher, Joes 2 Pros noticed my presentation and asked me if I wanted to turn it into a book. In 2012 and 2013, I turned it into a book, which was released the same day as SQL Saturday #212 Redmond, where I again was selected to present on Common Table Expressions, this time I had books to give away as a prize.

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