Skip to main content

Happy New Year Resolutions

imageHappy 2013! 2012 was a great year, and I hope that 2013 will be even better. To assist, I decided to create resolutions this year.  I don't usually create resolutions because I believe that they aren't maintainable.  Too often we hear of the gym membership that expired after a month due to disuse, the 20 pounds to lose that became 2 pounds, the bad habit that we were going to break... tomorrow…

But what I do like about new year resolutions is that the new year is a fresh start, a way to wipe the slate clean and wish for a better and brighter future.  To make sure my resolutions don't become those drift into the ether, I need specific tasks that will force me to accomplish this.

So with that optimistic outlook, my professional resolutions for 2013:

  • Blog twice a month. This will be my hardest resolution based on past history. ;)
  • Tasks:
    • Tell people I'm going to do this (DONE!)
    • Create an initial list of blog topics and dates - is there anything you want to read about?
    • Add task reminders to my RememberTheMilk list so that I don't forget
  • Learn more about PowerPivot, BISM, and DAX.
  • Tasks:
  • Learn more about Windows Azure SQL Reporting.  I haven't delved into the exciting world of Microsoft cloud options, and I want to be able to intelligently share the different options available to people.
  • Tasks:
    • Set up my own account to explore the options
    • Create a comparison chart of pros and cons for cloud versus traditional BI/reporting options
  • Explore EIM  integration of DQS, MDS, SSIS. Matt Masson delivers a great presentation that shows how to use these three products together to create an EIM infrastructure.  I believe the real power of these tools include using each product to create a full data ecosystem.
  • Tasks:
    • Find a realistic example and implement a solution
  • Employee Management Training. On the "soft skills" side, I need to learn more about management.  I've recently agreed to start taking on minions--er, I mean managing employees.  This is an entirely new skill for me.  Since it directly affects the development and career of others, I really don't want to screw it up.
  • Tasks:
    • Harvard ManageMentor training.  I am lucky to be part of a company that believes in training its employees by offering opportunities such as this.  I plan on utilizing this service this year
    • Read The First-Time Manager

I think that's enough to start 2013 off right.  What are your resolutions?
Jessica

Comments

Tim Mitchell said…
Good list! I share your struggle with blogging - I look at my own blog in years past, and I used to be much more active than I am now.
January 3, 2013 at 8:33 AM
Chris Nelson said…
I'm going outside the SQL Server environment and spend time exploring data analysis with Python and Linux. There's some real nifty tools and utilities that merit some exploration.
January 3, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Jessica M. Moss said…
Thanks everyone, and good luck with your own resolutions!

Jessica
January 10, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Unknown said…
Dipping your toes in the management pool is a bold step.. I am on a similar path with my company and look forward to it but there will always be 'challenges' with taking this task.. I hope it doesnt stress you out too much.
March 19, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Anonymous said…
You're a little behind on Resolution #1! ;)

s
May 23, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Unknown said…
Managment? Nooooo!!!! They will take a little part of your brain!

I plan to post my resolutions soon too, and the short form is read and learn more/write more. The slightly longer form is to use my non-day-job-time to do what I love and stop doing stuff I don't love.

Happy New Year!
January 9, 2014 at 8:19 AM
Unknown said…
Hmm, that "read and learn more/write more; do what you love" comment was from Louis (@drsql). Not sure how my Google Account came up as Unknown :)
January 9, 2014 at 8:21 AM
Unknown said…
Same resolution for 2014? Maybe just two blog posts for the year instead....
I look forward to something fresh as I click subscribe.
January 15, 2014 at 12:24 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reporting Services 2008 Configuration Mistake

To start working with the management side of SQL Server Reporting Services 2008, I decided to set up a report server and report manager. Unfortunately, I made a mistake while setting up my configuration that left me a little perplexed. Here are the steps I took to cause, track down, and solve the issue. Problem: I began by opening the Reporting Services Configuration Manager from the Start Menu. I clicked through each of the menu options and accepted the defaults for any question with a warning symbol, since warning symbol typically designate an action item. After two minutes, all of the warning symbols had disappeared, and I was ready to begin managing my report server. Unfortunately, opening up a browser and trying to open up the report manager resulted in the dreaded " The report server has encountered a configuration error. (rsServerConfigurationError) " message. Sherlock-ing it: I put on my sleuthing hat and went to the log file directory: C:\Program Files\Microsoft...
47 comments
Read more

Execute SQL Task Designer Limit

After migrating a package from DTS to SSIS, I had a problem with an Execute SQL Task. I couldn't change any characters in the SQLStatement property; I couldn't add any new characters; I could delete characters, but not retype them! After googling several variations of "integration services" "read only" and "Execute SQL Task", I deleted about half of the entry in a fit of frustration. Lo and behold, I could type again. Apparently, there is limit on the size or number of characters that can be entered in the SQLStatement property. From my experimentation, I came up with a limit of 32767 characters. The interesting thing is that the restriction only seems to be on the designer. If you set the SourceType to "Variable" and use a variable that contains more than 32767 characters, the task will execute. Also, if you use the "Direct Input" SourceType and modify the package XML to set the SQLStatement longer than 32767 characters, ...
10 comments
Read more

Manipulating Excel Spreadsheets in SSIS

Tom, an attendee at last weekend’s SQLSaturday Olympia , asked me how to refresh a spreadsheet from within SQL Server Integration Services. My first thought was to turn on the connection’s “Refresh data when opening the file” option in the spreadsheet itself and avoid the situation entirely; however, this may not always be a viable solution. Here are the steps to perform the refresh from within an SSIS package. First, ensure that Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel is registered in the GAC. If not, install the 2007 Microsoft Office system Primary Interop Assemblies . This will need to be done on any machine where you plan on running this package. Next, create a script task in your SSIS package that contains the following code (include your spreadsheet name): Imports System Imports System.Data Imports System.Math Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Runtime Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel Public Class ScriptMain Public Sub Main() Dts.TaskResult = Dts.Results.Success Dim excel...
52 comments
Read more