MVP number 12

Chatting with a friend this morning, he commented that the July 4th holidays and delayed announcements about Microsoft MVP renewals had thrown him off. He had largely ignored social media on July 1st and 2nd thinking that the deluge of social posts from new and renewed MVPs would be over, and was not aware that Microsoft had delayed their annual renewal announcements and the much-sought-after confirmation emails until the 6th.

If you participate in the Microsoft ecosystem, then you’re well aware of the renewal cycle that is going on this week, and all of the social commotion that it creates. Let the #humbled and #honored drinking game begin!

I’m definitely grateful to be able to continue as a member of this amazing technical community, and thankful to Microsoft to continue to support (or at least tolerate) my antics. As I’ve said countless times, I’d do what I do regardless of the award (blogging, interviews, speaking, pontificating on the future of technology), but having the award and the access to Microsoft and this community is fantastic, no doubt.

I’m also grateful to work for a company, Rencore, that supports my MVP activities (with 3 other MVPs, including our CEO), and to be on a board of directors for a technology site, TekkiGurus, alongside many other MVPs and RDs. The key to this support is not about maintaining the award, but about supporting the community. Both Rencore and TekkiGurus recognize that supporting the community and their MVPs has many benefits, including visibility and awareness across potential partners and customers, a stronger connection with the Microsoft product teams, and increased job satisfaction for their MVPs. In other words, it’s a win for the MVP to be supported, it’s a win for the company, and it’s a win for Microsoft.

I was just reading my original blog post from when I won my first award back in January 2012, and love the takeaway that I shared from being a Microsoft employee – something I had heard numerous times from managers, about how “you own your own career.” Microsoft has awarded me as an MVP for 2023-2024 based on the work I did in the past, but what I do with this designation and how I build upon my career going forward is entirely up to me. As I stated then, “Microsoft has set up the framework, provides tools and access and recognition – but you have to do something with it.”

I love that. And I have plans for this fiscal year. Plans as an employee of Rencore, sure. Plans as a director and author on TekkiGurus, of course. But also plans to do some things purely for the community. So get ready.