This month’s invitation from Mike asks us to write a couple of notes – one to our past self, and one from our future self – focused on what we were concerned about, and what we should be concerned about. I love it, and it’s been itching away at me all week.
So onto the messages. First from 2025 back to 2020 Andy who graduated from Accidental DBA a couple of years prior and is loving life tending to his small herd of servers…
Hey 2020 Andy 👋
It’s been a hell of a year eh. Great work starting that blog, it was a leap to put yourself out there. It’s only the start, there’s much (much) more coming for you. I know, a little ominous.
You’ve had a couple of years as a DBA, which was a solid move. After over a decade with the business, you’re feeling in a strong position. Let me tell you the feeling of strength is actually from familiarity, not your capability. And you know it. It’s crossed your mind and I know it’s a scary head-space to be in. How do you really stack up in the outside world? Are you enough? Do your skills transition? Is your experience valuable?
The short answer is Yes, you are.
The real danger is staying in the same position. Always wondering ‘what if’. Trust me, you will step out, progress, and add value. And strangely, the dominoes will be set into motion over an argument about a chair; which you won’t even be involved in. No spoilers, you’ll understand when the time is right.
That’s the good news. However…
What you should really be afraid of is being hamstrung by what you know instead of picking your head up and seeing what’s happening in the wild. (Spoiler 😮) SSRS won’t be around forever. The skills you need now won’t carry you for too long. There’s that whole ‘cloud’ thing you’ve neglected, right? It might be in your blind-spot where you’re at, but for others it’s front and centre.
I know there’s a lot going on for you right now. Starting the blog was a big step in the right direction, but it doesn’t stop there. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine out there, just don’t wait as long as I did.
Andy
The last 5 years have seen some big changes and big shifts in my life. Making that leap from an organisation I’d grown into and breaking through the imposter syndrome was a dramatic change. It opened up a lot of opportunities which I’m so thankful for. One day I might head back to thank the chair personally. Or share the story. Either or.
So next up! A note which could be delivered from my future self to Andy in 2025. As I get older I get more impatient with myself so there’s a slightly more dystopian angle from future-me. I may turn into a proper grumpy old git, heh.
Hey 2025 Andy,
Let’s get straight to it. Stop taking the scenic route.
You’ve seen it with the cloud and folks think AI has arrived, but it accelerates. The next 10 years change the landscape for data professionals irreversibly. Analysts using spreadsheets will go. Engineers who build pipelines will be a rarity. Traditional DBAs are near-extinction. Deep technical expertise will remain, and the ‘Competence Canyon’ will be left in the gap they once filled.
Which side will you be on?
Re-read what you said to your past self – get your head up, see what’s happening, and get stuck in. Gone are the days where your career would lead you down the path for progression. Continuing to coast won’t bring meaningful change.
So listen up.
Here’s what I’ll tell you. AI models will no longer be sprawling monolithic know-it-alls. They’re small, focussed, and optimised. Models are interconnected with each other like APIs. Organisations supplement their own models with 3rd party ones to provide deep, tailored insights. A new type of data integration awaits – familiar but fundamentally different.
AI models become the new self-service points for end users. Their adoption is huge, and data is their lifeblood. But generic models miss a core component – context. How do you catalogue, classify, establish lineage, and surface your data in ways that models can understand?
These are the new challenges for data professionals: a new breed of integrations and the need to surface context – both of which turn models into data sources that empower insights.
What’s left of the developers and engineers are the architects, integrators, and specialists who evolved to solve the new challenges.
AI is the catalyst for the coming shifts in the social, economic and technical landscapes. It will impact professional and personal lives across the world. Stay a step ahead, avoid falling into the canyon.
Hang in there, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. But fun as hell.
Andy
Well that was something. I must say somewhat cathartic to get those thoughts out of my head which have been swirling for the last few days.
I’ve enjoyed the thought-provoking nature this month. In particular, having a letter from (rather than to) my future self helps to focus on what specifically will happen rather than a watered down version of what could be if posed differently. It hits a different way, which really itches at the brain. Bravo.
Flicking back to T-SQL Tuesday #100 which Mike referenced was certainly eye-opening. A varied read with broadly accurate predictions. I’m hoping for similar insights from the community and look forward to scouring this month’s contributions.
Andy Brownsword 