I am extremely excited to announce that I have just received the Microsoft MVP award for SQL Server for 2014.

For those that know what this whole MVP thing is there isn’t much more to say other than the headline:

I must be doing something right!

and

Yay!

 

For others that may not know what this is all about, here is a little more info of why I am excited and honored to receive this recognition:

What is the MVP Award?

Simply put, The MVP award is an annual recognition from Microsoft of exceptional, independent community leaders who share their passion, technical expertise and real-world knowledge of Microsoft products. In my case it is SQL Server (Surprise!). Currently, per the MVP site, there are about 4,000 MVPs around the world in a variety of disciplines. Focusing in on SQL Server there are around 360 in the world and of that less than 75 in the USA. I have always been honored to be able to rub elbows with a lot of my professional peers with the MVP recognition, and am deeply honored to now be among the group that has been recognized by Microsoft for community contributions.

 

How do you get it?

To be considered for the MVP award you must be nominated by a peer, or Microsoft on the MVP site. Then Microsoft contacts you, asks a series of questions, and then asks even more in depth questions for you to answer in respect to what you have done for the community over the past year. A panel of Microsoft employees then reviews the contributions of each nominee for quality, quantity and level of impact on the community. I will say it is no easy thing, but the key is not to try to get the award, but to have a passion for the betterment of the community and focus on that. The MVP Award then becomes a very nice recognition and side benefit of making the overall community better.

 

It is not a certification or recognition of extreme knowledge.

Unlike a certification, there is no guideline as to how to get the MVP award. There is no specific plan to follow, to know what you have to do to ultimately “earn” an MVP award. Because of this it is not focused specifically on your technical skills within the discipline you are awarded for. This does not mean MVPs don’t know their stuff. MVPs are some of the most brilliant people with respects to Microsoft technologies that I have met. MVPs usually also excel in their knowledge of other aspects of Microsoft technology than just what they received the award in. I feel, in geenral, if you have an MVP at y our side, you are laughing because you will not only have amazing experience at hand, you will have a person ready to make sure you learn too. That is priceless.

[icon_box icon=”users” title=”Nominate Someone”] If you know someone you feel is making a difference in the community in respect to Microsoft technologies, or think you are making a difference and want to be considered for a future MVP recognition I strongly encourage you to visit the MVP nomination page. [/icon_box]