The year is already half over! How can I have sucked this much already?

After some talk and much thought, I’ve come to the realization that many of my goals were set simply because they were advice. Granted, good advice, but it turned out that I hadn’t been that invested in them as more than busy work. It’s sad and harsh, but I think it’s true. Much like marketing folks who want metrics but never use them to change the message. Big numbers and checking items off the list: it’s all self-serving, feel good stuff.

Starting Point

As you may recall, my goal list looked like this:

• Blogging: Blog twice a week. Blog every community-based event, such as T-SQL Tuesday. Video blog once a month.
• Speaking: Present once.
• Articles: Have one article published.
• Reading: Finish the Inside SQL Server series (the Ben-Gan one).
• Community: Participate in at least five events.
• Summit: If possible, go to the Summit.

Nice goals, but look at all those numbers. Twice a week. One article. Five events. Where’s the meaning? Where’s the feeling?

Renewed Focus

While the goals are measurable, I’ve decided to change things up so these don’t feel like items to check off the list. These are things that will continue to help grow my career and provide me with additional opportunities as a data professional.

• Blogging: I’d like to blog once a week, but that it be more substantive. I’m still going to participate in the community blogging projects because I like them and I feel that they are important. But there is no necessity because they’re happening. And video? How about I let the content determine the proper format. You may notice that I have a new blog theme: it’s going to allow me more flexibility to be creative in the kinds of content I can post here.
• Speaking: I’ve got number one lined up, so I want to up my goal to twice this year. Getting out to the community is important to me.
• Community: Five events are good. Right now I think I’ll hit six. Until the consulting mad money starts rolling in, I think it’s admirable, and I’m happy that I’m going to blow that goal out of the water.
• Certification: I’ve heard both arguments. “You can go to a camp: it means nothing!” “You have some experience and shown interest: it can only help you!” Right now, I’m subscribing to the second. I hope to complete the first two levels of the Developer line by year’s end.
• Play: This is all about growing my horizons and playing with new tech. Maybe picking up a language or two. I don’t know where it will lead me, and that’s the fun part. I never felt like I had the time or energy to do this when working at the foundation, and I’m not passing up on the chance to do it now.

Cut and Run

What about the Summit? It’s a nice goal, but it’s purely financial. I’d love to go and catch up with people, but it is expensive. I’m not too worried about the content because I’m sure I’ll catch what I want via SQL Saturdays or webinars.

The reading? I decided that learning shouldn’t be a codified goal like it had been. Trust me: there’s still plenty of reading going on every day.

My article? In figuring out where I want my career to go, I don’t think being published by SQLMag or Simple-Talk is going to give me a big boost. So I’m not worrying about it and I’m going to concentrate on the others that I think can help.

Call to Action

Going public with your goals can be a frightful thing, but I do suggest that you start a blog and do so. We still have six months to get these things going. So let’s get working! There’s hardly any time left!