I'm writing this sitting at the PASS Data Community Summit. It's been a fantastic event. I gave a community session on Azure DevOps. I was able to help Redgate launch a new product. I've received a bunch of hugs from VERY dear old friends. I've met a ton of people. It's been great.

Allow me to take a moment to tell you how I got here.

In 2005, I attended my very first PASS Summit. I went to sessions. I went back to my hotel. I went to one, exactly one, party where I just happened to talk to a couple of volunteers who helped run the event. After speaking with them a bit, my life changed. I started volunteering. I wrote articles. I wrote a book. I presented sessions. I become an MVP. And I got the best damned job I ever had. All from a single conversation.

You never know.

You simply don't know what it's going to be, but it's going to be something. So, a couple of lessons here. You have to put yourself in the situation where you can have that critical conversation. Please, look for and take advantage of those opportunities. Also, you simply don't know how you're going to affect others. You may think you're just hanging out and drinking with a new acquaintance, but you might be changing someone's life trajectory.

You never know.