11 Years as a Microsoft MVP
Tis’ the season for the Microsoft MVP annual renewal process…albeit a few days later than usual. For those on the outside of the community, you probably noticed the flood of Twitter and LinkedIn updates with people clamoring about feeling “humbled” and “honored.” It used to be that MVP awards were awarded quarterly (I earned my first in January 2012) with the renewal process also happening quarterly, but a few years back (in 2017, to be exact) the awarding of this Microsoft community recognition moved to monthly, but the renewal process happens annually on the first day of Microsoft’s fiscal year – July 1st. Unless there are “technical issues” and it is delayed a few days.
I am certainly grateful to be a part of this community which has become a huge part of my career, but the tradition of using the exact same phrasing is entertaining. In fact, I was recently interviewing a new MVP as part of my #MVPbuzzChat series, and she asked if the #humbledandhonored phrasing that everyone was using was some sort of Microsoft-approved social media template. I found that question very entertaining. No…there’s no template for responding to your renewal for another year within the program, but the words just seem to fit. I’m also grateful to my company, AvePoint, for being supportive of my community activities, which I realize that not every MVP benefits from (but hey, we’re hiring, so….). Much of my community activity happens evenings and weekends, like writing this blog post. But it’s great to have a company that recognizes the value of community and allows me the flexibility and sometimes the financial support to participate globally.
Regardless of the MVP award, I would still be involved in community, speaking at conferences, and generating content through my blog, my podcast, and my YouTube page. I’ve always been a “work out loud” person, and prefer to collaborate with others over individual contributor work. My latest About Me slide from recent events is a great snapshot of the kinds of things I am involved in right now. As always, if you’d like to connect, reach out to me on Twitter (@buckleyplanet) or LinkedIn and leave me a note.
