Sign of the Apocalypse — I’m a Microsoft MVP

I got the email this morning congratulating me on being awarded the MVP designation from Microsoft.  I am now a SQL Server MVP.  Whoa!

So why SQL Server when all my knowledge and contributions were pretty much based around PerformancePoint Server?  Damn good question.  As I understand it, a group of us were nominated in the PerformancePoint Server category and in the queue prior to Microsoft deciding to discontinue PPS as a stand-alone product.  However, since the awards are “product based” when PPS went away they had to put us somewhere.  I am guessing that since PPS was a business intelligence product they figured it made the most sense to put us under the product that is platform that delivers BI for Microsoft — SQL Server.  If you think about it, anyone who successfully implemented PerformancePoint (Planning or M&A) had to deal with SQL or SSAS on a regular basis.  I am sure others might make a case that SharePoint would have been the better choice.  Who knows.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank a few others here at TGO Consulting for all their hard work.  Shout outs are in order for Grantley, Richard and most definitely Jerry.  All of them work on PerformancePoint with me and their knowledge and experience has contributed to my own.   

Finally a big thanks to those clients who took a leap of faith on PerformancePoint.  Without their ”unique” needs as a driving force, I never would have been driven to learn PerformancePoint to the degree I did. 

I am still wading through the materials that cover all the benefits of being an MVP.  What jumped out at me is that I think the award entitles me to stay free at Bill Gates’ house whenever I visit the Seattle area.  I could be reading things wrong though.  Can anyone confirm this for me?