2010 SQLPeople Person of the Year

Introduction

Back in 2010, I started recognizing the SQLPeople Person of the Year. It’s been a tradition ever since.

“But Andy, you’re writing this in 2010.” Yep. Good eye, Pep.

The Award Goes To:

Steve Jones (Blog | @way0utwest).

I am not a DBA – I’m a database developer. I joke and say I look like the world’s greatest DBA when there’s no contention, the jobs are finishing successfully, queries return data quickly and accurately, and the backups succeed. But anyone looks like the world’s greatest DBA when that happens, don’t they?

The truth is: Everyone looks like a rock star when things are going their way. We all experience “Midas Moments” where everything we touch turns to gold and things just fall into place, one right after the other. Live long enough and you realize those times are rare. They are to be cherished and not taken for granted. And they are definitely the exception and not the norm.

I’ve learned to not envy people during these periods in their lives or careers. I’ve also learned to not estimate their technical or business prowess on their apparent success during these times. Instead, I measure people by how they act when life hands them crap.

I firmly believe how one conducts oneself during a crisis, when wronged, when maligned, and when mistreated says way more about what’s inside than anything else. I’m not going to rehash the PASS Board 2010 Elections debacle here. Within days of being rejected by the PASS Board 2010 Nominations Committee and the PASS Board – and not allowed to appear on the slate of candidates for the PASS Board in 2010 – Steve delivered The Long Road as the keynote to SQL Saturday #28 in Baton Rouge.

If you’re looking for an example of what it truly means to be a community person, you can stop looking right there. You’ve found it.

Throughout this episode and his entire career (so far as I know), Steve has conducted himself thus. He has served the SQL Server Community – and by this I mean the SQL Server Community at large, not a subset of the Community – tirelessly. He’s sacrificed, taking time away from his family to attend and share at community events. And remember, Steve’s wife travels a lot as part of her job.

During this dark time, Steve continued to exude who he is at heart – a community person.

Conclusion

For these and many more reasons, Steve Jones is my 2010 SQLPeople Person of the Year.

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