So I subscribe to the idea that the only way to improve is to dive in on the deep end. Sink or swim.

With that in mind I sent in an abstract to RMOUG and actually got it accepted. Now, this is a conference I used to attend every year when I lived in Denver. I know the quality they have in most presentations nad I know that lots of people with “important” names in the community attends. I have to up my game and give myself a chance to be embarrassed. It scares and motivates me in equal amounts.

Talking about that feeling, I watched the quick presentation at the OOW 2016 – “EOUC Database ACES Share Their Favorite Database Things”. I was impressed by how they managed to keep those presentations to just five minutes and still get a great message across. I figured that would be a great thing to practice. I’m going to the DOAG conference in a week and before it starts there is a day for user group leaders. I’ll attend that and on the agenda there is a 30-minute slot with 4-minute presentations. Even less than they gave the ACED presenters at OOW. Not really knowing what I’m getting myself into, I tossed my name into that ring also.

Hopefully I get to make a try at that too. There will be just a few days of prep. Maybe that is just as well so I do not find time to chicken out. Standing in front of all the group leaders in Europe with just a couple of evenings to prep will be nerve-wracking. But again, if one wants to improve, one has to test those wings.

Hopefully I’ll get through those without too many scars. I look forward tremendously to both conferences for the meetings as well as for the chance at possibly present at both conferences.