I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.
Today’s tip is to if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.
I’ve been working on growing SQL Saturday back to a series of events that make the world better for data professionals. My business partners and I started this idea, grew it, and gave it to the PASS organization. When they failed, I got the new owners to donate it back to the community and it runs as a 501.c.3 US chartable foundation.
At the beginning of 2022, I was hoping for 10 events. Early in the year, I wasn’t confident about this. As of a couple months ago, I was confident in 10 and possibly more. Now, we’ve got 8 on the schedule and 4 completed. A couple more might come about.
There are two things happening now that I can’t change. One is that a few people are upset about SQL Saturday, mostly because of the mismanagement by the PASS organization. I’m working to change minds, but I also know I can’t get upset by their emotions and feelings. All I can do is show that I run the franchise differently and hopefully get them to realize that.
The second thing is that a few people are still nervous about events. That is understandable, and I have worked to remember that my view of the world isn’t more or less valid than theirs, and I need to work with them. I have learned to accept their decision not to run events if they are concerned.