1. Learn Extended Events well enough to where I never need to use Profiler/Trace again. That is, as long as I am working on a SQL Server 2012 instance.

2. Learn PowerShell 3.0 formally and comprehensively instead of the bits and pieces of Microsoft documentation, random blog posts and hacking around that helped me pickup the very small amount of PowerShell 1.0 and 2.0 I have in my toolkit. The end-goal is to make all my T-SQL admin scripts server-aware via PowerShell starting with log shipping and database backups. I just purchased Don Jones' new book so I know what I'll be doing during lunch every day in January.

PS 3. Almost forgot, develop a working knowledge of Analysis Services. It is one of the few areas of SQL Server (that have been included in more than the newest release) that I have not worked with. The new shop (started 3 weeks ago) is said to be ~5% Analysis Services and I have an opportunity to "pick it up as I go, as time allows." It's obviously not front and center on my mind but it is a nice situation to be in...maybe I'll find time in Q2 😛

Thanks for the post, Steve.

Happy New Year!