Let’s start with a background.
I went to school for physics. Â I discovered that I hated advanced mathematics. Â I switched to computer science. Â All of you in the know, stop laughing.
After school, I took a job as a systems administrator at a college. Â Well, at a university. Â Well, at a very good university. Â I was a fresh out, and they asked me questions like, “Do you know Windows?” Â And being that I’d built my own computers and installed Windows 95/98, and had logged in a few times to an NT domain, I said, “Of course! Â I’m a windows expert!”
I believed that for all of about 4 hours my first day.
What I discovered very quickly is that I didn’t know anything about Windows. Â What I did know was how to install a workstation operating system and software. Â What I did know (but I didn’t realize then) was how to troubleshoot problems with the operating system and software. Â What I know now (that I only realized fairly recently) is that the ability to troubleshoot, to see problems in an environment (ANY environment), identify them, categorize them, research them, and solve them… THAT is a skill. Â One that far too few people actually have (but often claim they do).
But I’m not here to toot my own horn. Â The opposite, in fact. Â I want to paint a picture here for you, the reader, so that you understand where I’m coming from before you walk down the SharePoint path with me. Â I have 10 years of Microsoft Windows and Active Directory experience. Â I’ve built and upgraded and migrated Windows NT/2000/2003/2008 domains. Â I’ve created robust group policy schemes. Â I’ve deployed software. Â I’ve dinked around on Cisco networking equipment. Â I’ve imaged hundreds of computers. Â I am capable of troubleshooting any of those systems. Â I installed SharePoint 3.0. Â Once. Â And then never really used it. Â Now you have the background.
I am now, currently, a SharePoint Administrator. Â I interviewed for the position and told them, up front, that 1) I didn’t know anything about SharePoint, and 2) I didn’t think that would be a problem. Â I have learned a great deal more about SharePoint in the last week than I knew a month ago, and a month ago, I’d learned a great deal more than I’d known initially.
This blog will hopefully outline my trials and tribulations, my goofs and gaffs, and my successes as I build out the SharePoint infrastructure here. Â I’m not sure how anonymous this will remain, but for now, I’ll leave specifics out.
really… I waited how many years for this update? 😉
Comment by Athena — December 21, 2010 @ 11:40 am
A lot. And you liked it. 😉
Comment by phil — December 29, 2010 @ 7:22 am