Tag Archive: SQLskills

Not joining SQLskills as an owner after all

Written on February 14, 2011 by in SQL Server

Almost ten years ago, some friends of ours (Erika & me) went through a rough divorce.  We’d always thought they were completely happy, and their divorce took us completely by surprise.  The more we learned about their breakup, the more curious we got about the success prospects for our own relationship.

Toilet seat - up or down?

Don't You Dare Get Married - Period!

We stumbled across the book Don’t You Dare Get Married Until You Read This: The Book of Questions for Couples.  We dutifully filled out our own answers in the margins of the book, and in the process, we learned a lot about each other.  I was shocked at the number of issues I’d never even considered, but thankfully, almost all of our answers meshed perfectly.  Almost eleven years on, we’re still happy together.

When Kim, Paul, and I started working with our lawyers to merge our businesses together into SQLskills, I was reminded so much of that book.  Lawyers asked us all kinds of questions and provoked some pretty surprising discussions.  We were all blown away by the kinds of things that can tear companies apart – well, all of us except the lawyers, who see this kind of thing all the time.

Along the way, we discovered things about ourselves, our businesses, and our goals – things we hadn’t even thought to ask ourselves.  We unearthed situations where we had major incompatibilities, and we figured out that we might not be the best 3-some to meet at the altar.  It’s better to figure this stuff out before you get in front of the priest.

I’m still going to be doing classes & consulting with Paul & Kim, but instead of joining SQLskills as an owner, I’ll be going on my own to gradually start my own brand.  We’ll be friends with benefits, though.  Paul says I can keep the sheep costume.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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Changes to the Microsoft Certified Master of SQL Server Program

Written on November 9, 2010 by in Microsoft Certified Master, SQL Server

Microsoft just announced major changes to the Microsoft Certified Master of SQL Server program. I’m excited about the new direction of the program, although I’m a little biased – I helped with the program’s changes to reach the right audience.

The Original Microsoft Certified Master Program:

  • $18,500 entry fee for 3 weeks of training (and possibly certification)
  • MCITP: Database Developer 2008 and MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 required first
  • You had to show up onsite in Seattle for 3 weeks straight
  • Three written multiple-choice exams onsite during the training
  • One six-hour final lab

This setup had a few problems. It was tremendously expensive – both in terms of the entry fee and the 3 weeks of downtime. It was hard to schedule 3 weeks off in a row even if you had the vacation or your company was willing to eat that expense. You might not have needed all 3 weeks of training, and you might not have been able to travel around the world to get it.

Bottom line – having the training and the certification as an all-in-one package just didn’t scale, and that’s evidenced by the fact that only a handful of us outside of Microsoft were able to pull it off. I know a lot of people who are more technically qualified than I am, but they couldn’t justify the Master program. So how could we get more qualified people to be Masters?

The New Microsoft Certified Master Program:

  • MCITP: Database Developer 2008 and MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 still required
  • Certification and training is totally separate
  • Initial written multiple-choice exam – $500, and can be taken at Prometric testing centers around the world
  • 6-hour lab exam – $2,000, and can be taken at select secure Prometric testing centers around the world

The two biggest barriers to entry – a huge initial price tag and 3 weeks of lost work time in Seattle – are now gone! It’s now easier to prove that you’re a Microsoft Certified Master of SQL Server. (Note that I did not say it’s easier to be one, because it’s still very, very, very tough.)

Since the training is now separate, it’s up to you how much training you want to get, and who you want to get it from. If you’re already an expert on some subject areas, maybe you’ll only get training on the areas where you’re weak. Perhaps you’ll choose to get the training in chunks – one week’s worth this year, one week’s worth the next year, and then make a run at the exam. I would advise trying not to pass the lab exam cold, because this is most definitely not the MCITP.

To help you get up to speed, Microsoft partnered with SQLskills to provide dozens of hours of video training online completely free. Bob Beauchamin, Kimberly Tripp, Paul Randal, and I recorded some of our best presentations on internals, CLR, storage, performance tuning, and more. You can watch our free Microsoft Certified Master online courses all in the comfort of your cubicle. (That link may not be live yet – check again later in the day.)

If you want more personal, interactive training, you’ll be able to get it from more places. I’d argue that you still want to get it from the most qualified, highest rated trainers around. You want to get it from people who aren’t just experts at training – you want your instructors to be hands-on consultants who live this work every single week. When we’re not training or helping the community, we’re consulting in some of the toughest environments around. Yes, of course I mean SQLskills – we’re offering a series of events around the United States in 2011 to give you Microsoft Certified Master approved training. We’re the only trainers that have been involved with the MCM program from the very first rotation, and we’re the best people to help you achieve the highest level of technical certification on SQL Server. You can check out our upcoming SQLskills Immersion Events here.

I really passionately believe in where the MCM program is going. There’s going to be more people recognized as Masters, and that’s a good thing, because there’s a lot of really qualified people out there. I’m not worried about the MCM becoming the next MCITP – a certification seen as having too low of value due to the braindump factor – because I was a contributor to the new MCM program. It’s a seriously high bar to pass, but I believe a lot of you can do it.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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I’m Joining SQLskills.com

Written on June 29, 2010 by in SQL Server

I love working with the community. Blogging, webcasting, and answering questions are a big part of who I am, and I wanted to be able to spend more time doing this stuff.  For years, Paul Randal and Kimberly Tripp of SQLskills.com have demonstrated their commitment to helping educate SQL Server professionals everywhere.  They share knowledge – not just basic knowledge, but truly advanced topics – on their blogs, at events, and on Twitter.  I don’t know any other consulting firm so dedicated to helping the public.

I love helping businesses solve tough SQL Server problems. In my spare time, I’ve been doing performance tuning, health checks, and staff training for a growing number of clients.  I didn’t want to start a consulting practice on my own because it’s so much work, and I’m lazy.  Paul and Kim have set a high bar here too – SQLskills is a widely respected consulting and training company that provides the best services to some big clients.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

I love training and mentoring SQL Server professionals. I keep working to refine my presentations to make the learning experience more enjoyable and more involving.  When I attended the Microsoft Certified Master program, the first week of training on database internals and performance tuning was the highlight of the course.  I had a great time in the class and I learned a ton.  And of course, Paul and Kim led that training.

I hate losing. Last year at the PASS Summit Celebrity Quiz Bowl, Kevin Kline and I were in the lead, coming down the home stretch, when Kim and Paul came out of nowhere, got every question right in the last two categories, and stole our lunch money. I would have been really angry except that I was amazed Kevin and I scored any points at ALL when we were up against those two plus the team of Grant Fritchey and Joe Webb.

I want to do more of what I love, so I’m joining Paul and Kim at SQLskills. In the last couple of months, after I achieved the Microsoft Certified Master certification, my steady stream of small side jobs has turned into a torrent of tuning and training.  I got to the point where I had to start letting things slide in my life, and I had to turn down some clients in order to have enough time for the people I love.  I’ve had a great time at Quest Software and I’ll miss my coworkers dearly, but something had to give.  I decided to go into consulting full time, but I didn’t want to do it on my own – I’m all about community.  I wanted to join forces with people I respected, people I knew personally, people I enjoyed spending time with.  Paul Randal and Kimberly Tripp are exactly those people.

And I know I keep beating this drum, but you should be used to it by now: get out, blog, present, get involved with the community, and invest in your career.  Just three years ago, I went to the PASS Summit for the first time and I ate every meal alone.  I saw the “insiders” in the community, and I wanted to become a part of it too.  I took ownership of my career, invested time and money in myself, and didn’t rely on anyone else to pave the way for me.

And man, does it pay off.  Today, I’m on top of the world.

You can learn more about the consulting, training, and upcoming events at SQLskills, and if you’ve got questions, feel free to contact us.  Kim, Paul, and I are some of the most approachable people in the SQL Server business.  We want to help you succeed, and we’re here for you!

I, for one, welcome my new Quiz Bowl overlords.

Update: you can read Paul’s announcement over at SQLskills, and ask him why on Earth he’d take a chance on this bozo.

Brent Ozar

Brent specializes in performance tuning for SQL Server, VMware, and storage. He's one of the very few Microsoft Certified Masters of SQL Server, a published author, and a Microsoft MVP. He likes travel, Jeeps, Apple gear, jokes, and writing about himself in the third person. Read more and contact Brent.

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