Goals for 2018

First Goal

One of my goals for 2018 is to get my MCSE for SQL Server 2016. Prior to March 31, 2017, the exact certification name was called MCSE: Data Platform. Microsoft has since changed things up and now call it, MCSE: Data Management and Analytics.

The process of attaining the MCSE certificate is straight-forward:

First: You must get your MCSA in SQL Server 2012/2014, or SQL 2016 Database Administration, Database Development, BI Development, Machine Learning, BI Reporting or Data Engineering with Azure. (I plan on getting it in SQL 2016 Database Administration).

In my case, I will have to pass the following two exams:

70-764 – Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure (Book I will use)
70-765 – Provisioning SQL Databases (Book I will use)

Second: Once I get my MCSA by passing the two above mentioned exams, I have to pass one more exam to get my MCSE. There are multiple exams and paths you can take, but I will take the below exam:

70-473 – Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions (Azure)

Second Goal

Another goal of mine for 2018 is to do more presentations. I submitted a session for SQLGrillen in Lingden, Germany called:

3 Lessons Learned in Successful Consulting

The talk is about 3 lessons I learned that helped me become a much better consultant. These lessons helped me go from thinking like a regular “9 to 5 DBA” to diving into the world of consulting.

All speakers will be picked after the submission window closes on 1/31/18. The SQLGrillen event is 6/22/18 – 6/23/18.

Very exciting!

[UPDATED 3-25-18]

First Goal Update: I passed the 70-764 exam on 3-26-18. Now I’m studying for 70-765.

Second Goal Update: Unfortunately I didn’t make the cut for SQLGrillen. I did, however, get accepted to present at the following SQL Saturdays:

SQLSaturday #740 – Orange County 2018 (see schedule)

SQLSaturday #720 – Albuquerque 2018 (see schedule)

SQLSaturday #734 – Dallas 2018 (see schedule)

SQLSaturday #743 – Pensacola (see schedule)

I’m extremely excited, honored, and nervous, to present my session at the above mentioned SQL Saturdays. I will be posting update blogs later…

[UPDATED 4-18-18]

You can read about my first presentation at SQLSaturday Orange County here.