Ahmedabad SQL Server UG - February 2009 Meeting

This is the first time I am posting about the User Group activities in this blog. So, probably I should start with an introduction. I run a SQL Server User Group in Ahmedabad and we meet on every 3rd Saturday of the month.

We had a great time discussing some of the basic SQL Server topics this week. Pinal Dave did a wonderful session where he presented some very interesting points related to the way SQL Server Query Optimizer uses indexes.

My session was more of an interactive discussion. While writing my series of posts on SQL Server IDENTITY columns, I came across several interesting questions and I then compiled a long list of 65 questions. We discussed those 65 questions and their answers and the 'why-how' part of each of them.

Pinal has written a detailed post about the event. You can find his post here. You can find my post about the same here.

Finally, here is a group photo.

Networking - what does it mean?

The word "networking" is undoubtedly overused. Every interaction — face-to-face or virtual — is considered networking; every online community is a network; every meeting is a networking event.

But think of networking as more than a cliché or all-purpose panacea. The very heart of networking is relationship building, and the investment you make in developing a profound connection with someone will pay dividends, regardless of whether you are on the giving or receiving end. Networking is more than a transaction; it is a lasting bond with a natural ebb and flow. Some of these relationships move to the forefront during certain periods while others retreat to the background, but there is always a sense of reliance, dependability and trust at the foundation.

It is my belief that the best relationships cannot be sustained in a simply one-dimensional communication medium, and I have found my association to others deepens when there is dialogue beyond our initial connection point. A LinkedIn invite augmented by a personal email; a Twitter posting followed by a direct message; an in-person meeting fortified by email; or reacquainting with someone from the past with a phone call all seem to solidify my attachment to my "network.

Microsoft Virtual TechDays: Have you registered yet?

Keynote by Steve Riley 'First they came for bandwidth, now they want to make a difference' Steve Riley is a senior strategist and worldwide security evangelist in Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group. Steve specializes in the process of information security, including policies, networks, and hosts. Steve is a frequent and popular speaker at conferences worldwide, working to spread a better understanding of security science. Avail the opportunity to learn and explore how Microsoft products and tools can help you quickly address your most time-consuming development challenges. Join fellow developers, architects and project managers at this online event to: Learn about the latest Microsoft tools and platforms from technology experts; Learn about how to extend your expertise on technologies that you work on every day; and Interact with the best-in-class technologists attending the event. Please Note: This is an online event and you are not required to pay any fee to attend it. Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe| Update your profile © 2009 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use | Trademarks | Privacy Statement

Fly in Future

When asked about his outstanding performance on the ice, Wayne Gretzky replied, "A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be."

Where is your business focusing? I've found that one of the most powerful practices as an entrepreneur is to spend a day away from the office, dream a little, and envision my company 1, 3, 5 years into the future.

When I occasionally "fly into the future" it makes it easier to come back to the present, push through obstacles, and chart my course to the future I have envisioned.

Spend some time in the future and you'll be able to "skate to where the puck is going to be!"