I know it sounds crazy given my history. Yes, I did write about how to become an MVP, and I did run an April Fool’s post about becoming a Natural Keyboard MVP, and then I had to run another post to clarify because people thought I actually *was* a Natural Keyboard MVP.
Today, though, it’s the real thing. The announcement came down through official channels this time:
You could view the announcement yourself on Twitter, but you have to be following Zannabanana, and her feed is private. Because, you know, it’s, like, NDA and stuff. You wouldn’t understand.
Wait a minute – on second thought, this might be another one of those Twitter spam things. Maybe her feed was private so that I’d beg to get in, like a reverse psychology thing. I’m not saying I begged to her to approve my friend request, but – okay, so I begged. Maybe it’s like a honeypot – one of those fake things set up to attract no-goodniks like me.
Wait – I’m not saying Suzanna Moran is a honeypot. Because this might be legit. Of course, it might be legit AND she might be a honeypot. The possibilities boggle the mind – or at least my mind.
Assuming It’s For Reals
The last year of my life has been even cooler than the previous ones, and believe me, they’ve been pretty cool. In the last twelve months, I’ve:
- Traveled to England, Germany, Switzerland, and all over the US
- Attended the PASS Summit and PASSCamp Germany
- Co-authored a book with some of the smartest people I’ve ever met
(although it might have a pirate ravishing a woman on the cover – I haven’t seen it yet) - Helped build a wiki and syndicate almost 40 bloggers
- Started the PASS Virtualization Virtual Chapter
- And finally, been recognized as an MVP along with my former BBnB cohorts Jason Massie, Tim Ford, and Tom LaRock.
Two things have made all of this fun and worthwhile.
First, you, dear reader. I’ve always blogged in an effort to help other people do their jobs better, and interacting with you is a ton of fun. I love sitting down each morning and firing up email & Twitter because there’s so many genuinely great people in the community. Community doesn’t just mean developers and DBAs, either – there’s great people inside Microsoft like Andrew Fryer, Jimmy May, and Zannabanana (I think) who reach out from inside Microsoft too.
Second, Billy Bosworth, Christian Hasker and my coworkers at Quest Software who actually pay me to do this. I am so grateful for the chance to serve the community, and to get paid for it is cool beyond words. I really salute all those MVPs out there who have real jobs and yet simultaneously serve the community in so many ways – I just don’t know how you manage to find the time to work, write books, help others, and yet still maintain a family life. I do this stuff full time, and it still stretches me thin. Part of me even feels like I’m cheating, but if this job is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
My Pledges To You
I will never use the term NDA in public. It irks the hell out of me when people tweet from the MVP summit saying things like “There’s so much cool stuff here, and I’d tell you, but it’s under NDA!” That’s elitist and vain, and it makes people feel excluded. I pledge to keep my pie hole shut, and you can trust that I will because I see NDA stuff all the time at Quest Software anyway. I’ve seen amazing tools in development ever since I came here, but I don’t talk about it because it doesn’t do you any good. When it comes out, you’ll hear more than enough about it. Trust me, I work in marketing.
I won’t cheerlead products. I won’t gushingly praise anything from Microsoft (or anybody) unless it’s really great. I do genuinely cheerlead Microsoft stuff like SQL Server, Gemini, and the SQL Server Compliance Guide, but it’s because that stuff is killer. If I didn’t like where SQL Server was going, I’d pick up my toys and go play in somebody else’s sandbox. About a week from now, I’ve got a post scheduled that compares SQL Azure to Ikea furniture, and that should settle any doubts. (It’s not that bad of a review – after all, I did just buy an Ikea coffee table.)
I won’t censor myself. I got recognized as an MVP for – well, I’m not sure what I got recognized for, but I’d be an idiot to change anything now. It’s worked for me so far.
I won’t start coasting on my reputation. Because compared to the other MVPs out there, man, I’m a n00b. I’m still stunned to be in a group of people like Kevin Kline, K. Brian Kelley, Gail Shaw, Grant Fritchey, Christian Bolton, Jonathan Kehayias, I could go on and on. WTF, man? How did this happen? I gotta go track down Zannabanana and ask some tough questions.
But first – time to go update my profile on all my sites. I’M AN MVP, DAMMIT! WOOHOO!
32 Comments. Leave new
Congrats on your MVPness. I knew you had it all this time.
Congratulations…don’t forgot to visit that special place on port 119 🙂
Congrats!~
Congratulations. Certainly a well-deserved honor.
I don’t usually comment from home in the morning, but this is deserving, as are you. Congrats!!
Congrats Brent. ’bout time too.
Nice one and thoroughly deserved!
Congrats dude, this is way overdue and more than well deserved.
Thanks, and thanks everybody! What a way to start the day.
Congrats man, it was way overdue. Now I can say, “I knew Brent when he was underground.”
Congrats, well deserved, and a thank you from one of your fans!
Congrats, buddy. Way overdue and rightly deserved.
Congrats! It is about time they came to their senses. Now we just need to get you a MacMVP an you will be all set.
Awesome and congrats Brent! Welcome to the party. 🙂
Awesome, dude! You deserve it!
Now we can tell you about the sekrit MVP handshake and world-ruling meetings we hold under the full moon!
Congrats! Well deserved.
HAIL!!!!77…ahem…I mean congrats!
Congrats! Very Overdue for all you do for this great community!
Congrats Brent, I totally saw it coming. You deserved it
Hopefully in a few years I’ll be Jerry M _ _ as well (not MVP, and I’m already MCITP)…
Woo hoo!!!
Congrats Brent: My favourite of your pledges:
Good Job, Keep it real!
hmmm… What would SQL Azure be called if it were marketed by Ikea? Google Translate tells me HIMMELSBLÅ. and I think that’s awesome.
Congrats! And I totally get the “Is this a honeypot?” vibe- I just got the award for the first time this quarter as well (yay!), and to say the process is opague is a vast understatement.
Congrats Brent! It is very much deserved.
Congratulations, Brent. It’s good to see that you’re recognized for everything that you do for the community
Congrats, Brent! You’ve earned it!
Congratulations, Brent! Now you can’t make fun of MVPs anymore, so you lose your Natural Keyboard MVP status…
This post is truly inspiring. It only speaks of the credibility of the MVP Award – Quality people get the award. @BrentO certainly deserves the honor.
Well, this time I’ll wait for a couple of days to be sure that’s true.. 🙂
You have much MV… Peee-ness.
Congratulations! You deserve the MVP title, for a lot of reasons.
Wow, this is what I miss for being AWOL from twitter for a few days? Does this mean you’re giving up your MacBook Pro? 😛
Hi Sir..
many congratulations, Just go through your post and feelin like sain you congrats!!
And keep up the good work always you are very helpful and important for community.
Thanks
Congratulations…you totally deserve it! I assumed you were already an MVP. Btw, love your blogs…excellent work…you rock!
LOL!!! The things you find out later…. :~)