Let me tell you a secret about working with SQL Server.  Anyone can do it.  I’m not going to imply that it’s easy.  You can’t do it in 24 hours and it’s certainly not for dummies … but it can be done.  The cool thing about the SQL Server community is that there are a lot of people out there (myself included) that spend a lot of time helping folks coming into the community learn new skills

One great way to take your SQL Skills to the next level is SQL Saturday.  SQL Saturday is a free, one day event where SQL experts come together to share technical presentations on every aspect of SQL Server.    There could be anywhere from 20 to 50+ different sessions covering topics related to database administration, development, business intelligence … even professional development.  Did I mention it’s all free?  SQL Saturday’s are scheduled all over the world.  Today I see events in South Africa, Curacao, Dublin, Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil and Columbia as well as dozens of locations all over the U.S. and Canada.

I guess the bottom line here is that if you’re working with SQL Server you should think about going to a SQL Saturday.  Even the most casual ‘accidental DBA’ (or ‘accidental analyst‘) will find things at SQL Saturday that they can take back to work and start using the following Monday.  You’ll learn technical tips and tricks and you’ll make connections with people that do what you do.  I love attending and speaking at SQL Saturday (I’ve been a speaker at 10 SQL Saturday’s so far).  If you see me on the schedule or in the hall, say hello!