UPDATE: My Pluralsight course is now live!

It’s hard to believe that 2015 is halfway over. This is the first year that I have been an independent consultant, theoretically working part time, but I have been busier than ever. In addition to the consulting work, I wrote a book, Expert T-SQL Window Functions, during the early months of the year. It was my main activity in January, actually.

Once the book was completed, I dove headfirst into recording my first Pluralsight course. I just completed recording this course yesterday. I am waiting to hear from my editor if there is anything else needed from me, but I think I am done. This is a big deal for me. I am hoping that recording courses and teaching in-person classes will be my main work-related activities in a few years.

Writing books and recording courses is a ton of work, but work that I find very rewarding. I don’t know if it takes a special talent, but I find that I keep getting better at it the more that I do. I guess it is “practice makes perfect.”

If you are interested in learning more about becoming an author and will be attending the 2015 PASS Summit, be sure to check out my session on writing technical books. Yes, that is correct. I am speaking at PASS Summit again this year!! I didn’t actually expect to speak this year. Shhhh, don’t tell the Program Committee, but this makes three years in a row for me.

A couple of years ago, I realized the reason that I was put on this earth and why I was given the talents that I have. I am here to help other people, many who have not had the opportunities that I have had, to have a chance at a technical career. I am especially interested in helping women, people of color, or anyone else who could use a break. I am really happy that I am a mentor with the Coder Girls program. Most of the women in the program are learning to code with the CS50X course from EdX. I am helping those women who are interested to learn T-SQL. I will probably also teach SSRS as well.

I was recently asked to participate in a “Speed Mentoring” event with the Women’s Economic Stability Initiative through the St. Louis YWCA. This program helps single mothers with job training in traditionally male careers. I got to talk with women working on degrees for architecture, automotive repair, diesel mechanics, and computing. It was such a fun evening, and I loved watching these women “geek out” while talking about their fields.

I decided that, after spending six months working on SQL Server content, that I need a break. I am going to try, I said try, to not agree to any book projects or new courses until at least November. I have lots of things to catch up on, and my office is a mess. I will continue to volunteer, speak at events, and write blogs. In fact, I have a great idea for a blog series. Details to come…