Comments on: Be the surgeon

By: Anup Warrier

Anup Warrier — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:49:30 +0000

Great post and it helped me to think twice if I am on the right track or not.Thanks for that.

By: John Paul Cook

John Paul Cook — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:34:10 +0000

I have to ask, where does the nurse fit in to all of this? The nurse’s role really matters to me! 🙂

By: Andy Galbraith (@DBA_ANDY)

Andy Galbraith (@DBA_ANDY) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:19:37 +0000

I have heard this sentiment (or one like it) numerous times in my life, and I realize I have never done a good enough job of embracing it – I am too much of a generalist as my role through the last ten years has always been the production DBA that has to do a little bit of everything.
The question that comes to mind as I read your post relates to the hot new kid (relatively new anyway) in the certification world – the MCM. I was excited about the MCM when I first heard about it, partially because as I said, I am a generalist (generally a generalist anyway {-:), and I thought I could apply myself and take it down.
…and then I read the spec’s – must be a certified DBA and DBDeveloper.
Boom.
I have never considered myself a developer (maybe a T-SQL developer, but even then not a star) and seeing this made me cross the MCM off my list.
I am starting to ramble, but isn’t the design of the broad scope of things like the MCM contrary to "Be a Surgeon"? What makes more sense moving forward in a career – being the ultimate "know some about everything" as the MCM, or "Being a Surgeon"?

By: Rob Farley

Rob Farley — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:07:29 +0000

Argenis – thanks for the compliment, and you’re welcome for the post.
Greg – I’m flattered, but I think you’re probably closer than you imagine.

By: Greg M Lucas

Greg M Lucas — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:11:05 +0000

Funnily enough Rob, you were one of the people I was thinking about in the final paragraph of my T-SQL Tuesday #028 post. I know I’m not at your level but I also know that I’ll never get to your level if I try and become an expert in everything (and neither can anyone else)

By: Argenis

Argenis — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:29:51 +0000

Rob – I’d hire you as our SQL Dev Surgeon any time. I have some (a lot) code that needs an intervention.
Thanks for the post!