Simon D (8/22/2011)

---

I am a big fan of the annual PASS event, not only for the reasons you mentioned, but for a perhaps less-obvious one as well: the focus and isolation. Even more than the content and knowledge, I find that time is the most valuable commodity, and the week away (out of the office - waaaaaay out of the office) spent focusing solely on SQL Server is invaluable to me.

Each year when I make my case for budgeting for PASS (and I'm lucky to have progressive-minded bosses), I include the value of the time spent in isolation, away from the stresses/distractions of day-to-day routines where I can do nothing except learn, code, discuss, and question SQL Server issues.

My fiancee chuckles at me ("most people go to conferences and spend time OUTSIDE of their hotel room"), but it's true that when I'm done my conference sessions, I retire to my room (with room service, mind you) to apply the things that I've learned throughout the day. I always bring along copies of our production databases and other projects we're working on, to see if I can apply new techniques, etc. I guess it doesn't hurt that most days it's rainy outside in Seattle, and so I can get at least a few hours of work in.

My guess is that if I didn't take advantage of the focused and isolated time away from the office, PASS would be half as valuable. I fear that with local 1-day events, I wouldn't get the chance to replicate what, for me, has become the annual staple of my career training/development.