February Question: If you weren’t a DBA, what would you like to do?
Question of the Month | February 1, 2012 | 9:30 amSometimes its fun to think of what career you might have chosen if you hadn’t become a DBA. With this in mind, this month’s qustion is “If you weren’t a DBA, what would you like to do?” Tell us what careers you considered before becoming a DBA, including any crazy ones, such as becoming an actor, write, or Intenet tycoon. Use your imagination and have some fun with your response.
Post your responses to the SQL Server Question of the Month in the comments section below (at www.bradmcgehee.com if you are viewing this from a syndicated newsfeed). And don’t forget to enter your e-mail address when you post your response, so I can contact you if you win.
Because there is no right or wrong answer, this month’s winner will be selected randomly from all the entries that are received.
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This Month’s Prizes
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The prizes this month are an Amazon.com voucher worth US $50.00 and a license for SQL Virtual Restore with one year of support and upgrades. SQL Virtual Restore lets you mount your backups as live, fully functional databases – relieving 8 common causes of DBA Pain. Find out how. |
- August Question: What types of continuing education do you use to keep up with being a DBA?
- July Question: What Do You Think are the Most Common DBA Pain Points?
- February Question: Share with us your “best” restore disaster stories.
- April Question: Which high availability option(s) do you employ for SQL Server instances, and why did you choose them?
- November Question: What is your favorite, and not so favorite hardware to run SQL Server on?
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I would be an agronomist. I landed here by way of branching off of my masters degree into a collateral field of study in computer science. Computer science gave me some of the same gratifications that science and agronomy did, so I landed here. I landed in the dba role from working the systems side and being interested in the how of things working. It has been an interesting trip.
Back to a soulless infra job.. looking at exchange, file servers and any other product the boss deemed interesting..
SQL for life! <3
Teach science or maths, I think. University level, not school.
If I wasn’t a DBA and I could pick my full time job (and I’m assuming me and my family could live on the earnings), I’d be a full time children’s pastor. I’m technically part time now, but like Gail, I love teaching. Children have a ton of energy and get very enthusiastic when the “light goes on” and they learn or understand something new. That always motivates to keep at it. I know it’s not glamorous, but it is truly what I’d love to do after being a DBA/IT type.
Tourist guide, if can be called like that. More specifically related to extreme sports and mountainbiking. I enjoy a lot going to the mountain, talking about new tracks, sharing experiences, showing new routes to new friends and more
scuba diver. I think it’d be great to go diving everyday. Taking people on tours would be cool but also diving for commercial purposes would be fun too. Plus, Scuba Steve is awesome.
I’d love to go back to video editing and other multimedia. If not that, then a job working with my hands.
If I weren’t a DBA, I probably would still be an analytical chemist and enjoying my job a lot less.
I would be an owner of a sports bar.
I’d be a farrier. Outdoors and away from a desk – bliss! And I might get a bit less trouble from the horses…
I’d probably starve on my earnings, but it would be great to be a fishing guide or a resort owner on one of the walleye lakes in Minnesota.
I would be the 12th man on a NBA team.
I’d like to teach at either college or elementary school level. I don’t think I could handle teens or tweens….
Before I became a DBA I spent 10 years as a translator. But if I could be anything and still make a living wage it would be a forest ranger in a national park.
If i wasnt a DBA then i would have been working in my own construction company and was making plans and designs which still seems interesting to me and doing as n when require when finds the time from my busy dba Job.
Gasps … a developer !!!
I always wanted to drive the street sweepers in NYC
I wanted become a owner and driver of my own car, because driving is my passion.
I would be Posiedon, god of the sea, and make sea-quell statements.
If i weren’t DBA, i would like to be DBA
It is the only area of my interest from my college days where we had RDBMS introductory subject. and since those days i have only thought of databases, and talked of databases as my carrier….
I think i would have nothing else to do, if i weren’t DBA.
I’d be doing Bible translation and or tech infrastructure and support for Bible translators.
To earn money, I would make traditional archery equipment, i.e. bows and arrows, which is more a hobby now than anything.
If it were possible to make a living from it, I would like to be a pro pit bassist – playing double bass in shows…
As things are at the moment, it’s a very occasional thing – average three shows a year – and I keep on thinking that I’m not getting enough of it! The money’s very poor too – I would have to find some sort of day job too. The downside is that the pleasure I currently get from this work would be rapidly diminished by the stress of having to do it day in/day out – I have friends who have been driven to depression or alcoholism from the work.
Not sustainable long-term, but would be fun to do for a while – I think I’ll stick with the status quo, thanks.
If I weren’t a DBA, I would probably be either a science fiction writer or a personal chef. I already get to be a chef for the family, but it doesn’t pay very well.
I would definitely be brewing delicious beer.
I would play viola in chamber ensembles and string orchestras.
If i weren’t a DBA i would be a fulltime illustrator and making my own comic.
I just love the creative work,
A lumberjack!
I would be a wildlife scientist. I started out my freshman year in college but found by my sophmore year I could not pass biology. I was going to get my pilots license and go fly scientist around Yellowstone monitoring the wolf packs.
If I were not a DBA (and money was not an issue), I would want to try a career at being a guitarist in a Rock band. I have always loved music and playing my Les Paul is very, very relaxing.
I always wanted to go back to my village and continue what my father does and he is very good at that, which is farming. That was my last option if I couldnt be a DBA and I thought its an easy job. Now I realised me and my father are doing the similar job where in he is maintaining his farms and I am maintaining my databases.
And that’s OK!
(Reply to Andy Beaton)
If I wasn’t doing DBA work, I’d love to be a food critic / food traveler / food TV personality! I just love good, exciting, new and interesting food! Let me travel, let me cook, let me eat. That truely is a dream. And the $50 Amazon voucher? I’d probably spend that on (a) food related book(s) as well.
The DBA work is great paying but being a US Coast Guard licensed captain I would rather be out on the water. I would be doing new or used boat deliveries or working for Tow Boat US. Being outside and one with the environment is a great feeling…
If I weren’t a DBA, I would be a writer of fiction. But my family & I have to eat and pay our bills, so I’ll continue being a DBA … and that’s ok too!
If money were not a concern and if I weren’t a DBA I would be an explorer, a walking man through all the world…
A teacher full time. I teach 1 course a semester to keep my hands in the mix but I’d love to teach full time.
If I wasn’t a DBA, I most certainly be a woodworker!
A piano-player on a cruise ship
I would like to be a primary school teacher.
Sociable, team based, egoless, playful, open-minded, problem solving and learning in a caring, moral, supportive environment with 110% effort, defined hours & understood scope – just like a good IT job should be, IMO
wanted to become a developer nad ended as a DBA…no regrets
I’d be a travel writer so I could go to all the places i don’t have time to go to now. I’ll combine that with playing on the PGA tour.
I love football (NFL). So I would have tried to be a part of NFL Organization.
I grew up wanting to be a professional golfer. However, since that did not work out I am very happy with my IT career and growing as a DBA.
If I wasn’t a DBA I would own a cottage in the mountains and raise goats and farm. As an extra income I would rent rooms for rich business people who wants to get their hands dirty. Real labor.
I’ve been a programmer my entire life (just wired that way, I guess). Before I got a kickstart in SQL at SQLSaturday in Omaha back in August 2011, I was seriously considering becoming a personal trainer. I have turned my health around quite a bit over the last four years, including going from over 300# down to my current weight of 270#. Not to mention I’m a bit stronger now (getting close to full pullups/chinups, as well as deadlifting 480#, and squating with 400# on my back). Still playing volleyball @ 42 (competitive doubles).
I would play more live music, build surfboards, develop a brand, get into surf retail, maybe get into surf/marine photgraphy/cinematography, be more active in church and aboad, hopefully use all of it in some way to mentor younger guys, and at least teach the things I’m doing. I would probably relocate to a place even more conducive to all of these things as well as a cleaner, warmer ocean than central/southern California. If the need for money didn’t exist, forget surf brand development and surf retail, and add being a Maui resort kayak/snorkel concessionaire…
I would like to teach, at the college level preferably. Like some others, I am not sure I could handle the teen years. I have taught evening classes at the community college before and enjoy teaching and training new developers at work.
I have been in several other jobs other than a DBA but given a choice I would rather be a rock guitarist instead of a DBA. I do indulge in music even now as a hobby.
Go to this site, page down to the video of the full lap.
http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-zl1-performance-sports-car/
Me, a capable car, and a course is all I need.
No other traffic to slow me down.
And imagine getting paid for it.
That is a dream (job)!
Inspector!
I’d rather be driving Formula 1 race cars, or doing astrophysics research, or both!
I would be a teacher. Probably teaching something computer related.
If I would go back to my after-school times I would be a fashion designer or piano concert performer (my piano teacher wanted me to continue my education, but I’ve chosen math over music).
But if I think about this now I would probably be an investment advisor or do something trade related. It’s just something that makes your brain to analyze things.
Meteorologist.
Although I have not given any type of formal thought to this question before, yet I did not have to think long when I read his question. I love to sew clothes. I think this is in my genes. My mom, who is alive and back home, was an excellent seamstress in her time. I remember in my childhood watching my mom, pondering over an impossible short piece of cloth and finally figuring out what pattern will work and producing a magical garment without any flaws. It was just very mesmerizing for me. I will sit for hours watching her measuring and cutting pieces of fabrics, then matching the thread, ribbons and buttons to sew with it. I would ask her questions and sometimes when she thought she had good handle on the project she would let me help her. I cannot explain how much happier that made me. My mother got the formal education on sewing from the school where she was raised and came first in exams in her district. I, on the other hand, had not received any formal education in sewing because my parent thought that this will not help me pay my bills in my life. So they stressed me to pay attention solely to my school and my homework. But I would not miss any chance to create stuff from the left over fabrics that my mom would through in the waste basket. Though she never encouraged me but sometimes when I showed my creation to her, I would see a slight smile at the corner of her lips or an extra pause to look at my piece or sometimes just a slight brightness in her eyes. And that would confirm me that I had done a good job. But she would never praise verbally because she thought that will divert my attention from my education.
Fast forward to 5 years back, my husband bought me a sewing machine as a birthday gift. He knew that I love to sew. Now that my kids were older and I had a set career, I could indulge some of my free time to satisfy my hobby and passion. I have created several outfits for myself and people ask and I tell them my mom sent me from back home. I have created beautiful bed sheets and pillow covers. I send pictures of my creations to my mom back home. But it is not the same. I cannot see her lips curled slightly upward at the corner or that light of pride in her eyes.
So my answer to Brad’s question would be if I were not a DBA, I would be a Seamstress.
During university years, becoming a policeman crossed my mind … funny thing is that my first job was writing a software to help police dispatcher take and dispatch calls
This one’s easy – I’d be a chef.
I’ve always loved food, and (hard to be humble here) have gotten pretty damn good at making it over the last 3 decades. As my twitter handle, @SQLCheesecake, clearly shows, I have an affinity for cheesecakes, but I’m also well known for my lasagna & a few other delicious items.
I’m constantly told I’m in the wrong profession, but by those who don’t know my passion for I.T. Either way, I like to think I could still do both, somehow.
If i wasn’t DBA then i was working a same place i used to and was waiting for that company to be shut down and laid me off .
I was working as IT technician to check and repair IT Security systems from sensormatics. But i had basic knowledge of SQL and due to my friend’s encouragement i jumped into SQL DBA and i love it. And i got a chance to work in Hawaii(Real Heaven on Earth) for 6 month as SQL DBA.
I would be a carpenter.
If I were not a DBA, I would pursue my two favorite hobbies with much more zeal and vigor: brewing beer and theoretical physics.
A veterinarian – I love animals (at least my pets).
Thanks for everyone who participated in this month’s question of the month. It had, by far, the largest number of entries of all the questions I have asked over the past two years or so. The randomly selected winner this month is SQLMental, who almost became a personal trainer instead of a DBA. Don’t forget to answer the March question of the month.
I would be a professional Bass Fisherman. Fast boats(Fast Servers), hands on, intelligence, and adabability required. Just like a DBA.