In three years I went from a complete unknown to a popular blogger, speaker at PASS Summit, and a SQL Server MVP. Along the way I saw my yearly income triple. Is it because I know some secret? Is it because I am a genius? No! It is just about laying out your career path, setting goals, and doing the work. It’s about building your personal brand and stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s about overcoming your fear of taking risks. If you can do those things, you will be rewarded. I will discuss how you too can go from unknown to well-known. I will talk about building your community presence by blogging, presenting, writing articles and books, twitter, LinkedIn, certifications, interviewing, networking, and consulting and contracting. Your first step to enhancing your career will be to attend this session!

1. James Serra
Data Platform Solution Architect
Microsoft
JamesSerra3@gmail.com
JamesSerra.com

2. In three years I went from a complete unknown to a popular blogger,
speaker at PASS Summit, and a SQL Server MVP. Along the way I
saw my yearly income triple. Is it because I know some secret? Is it
because I am a genius? No! It is just about laying out your career path,
setting goals, and doing the work. It's about building your personal
brand and stepping out of your comfort zone. It's about overcoming
your fear of taking risks. If you can do those things, you will be
rewarded. I will discuss how you too can go from unknown to well-
known. I will talk about building your community presence by blogging,
presenting, writing articles and books, twitter, LinkedIn, certifications,
interviewing, networking, and consulting and contracting. Your first
step to enhancing your career will be to attend this session!

3.  Business Intelligence Consultant, in IT for 30 years
 Microsoft, Data Platform Solution Architect
 Worked as desktop/web/database developer, DBA, BI and DW
architect and developer, MDM architect, PDW/APS developer
 Been perm, contractor, consultant, business owner
 Presenter at PASS Business Analytics Conference and PASS
Summit
 MCSE: Data Platform and Business Intelligence
 MS: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
 Blog at JamesSerra.com
 Former SQL Server MVP
 Author of book “Reporting with Microsoft SQL Server 2012”

4. Agenda
 Why build your brand?
 Goal setting
 Always Be Learning
 Blogging
 Presenting
 Articles/Books
 Twitter/LinkedIn
 Certifications
 Interviewing
 Networking
 SQL Server MVP
 Consulting/Contracting
 Final thoughts

5. Don’t be a nobody!

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• Don’t have the time: Figure It the %$&* Out!

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21. James Serra, Data Platform Solution Architect
Email me at: JamesSerra3@gmail.com
Follow me at: @JamesSerra
Link to me at: www.linkedin.com/in/JamesSerra
Visit my blog at: JamesSerra.com (where this slide deck is posted under “Presentations”)