What’s Been Going On?

I realized it’s been a while since I posted something and there’s a few reasons for that the last couple of months.  I wanted to just drop a note so that people still know I’m alive and in fact working on a few projects.

VMworld 2015

Most folks by now know that I missed the US conference due to a death in the family.  The week before I was supposed to fly out we learned that my 98 year old grandmother was not going to make it much longer.  We spent two days driving back to NH, stayed for a week to be with family, attend the funeral, and help my parents collect her things.  We then drove two days back home as the conference was wrapping up.

I cannot thank my co-workers enough for helping pick up the VCDX workshop, the VCDX town hall and the VCDX unwrapped session.  It’s amazing to know you can count on people like Aidan, Nate, Joe, Matt, and Duncan to name a few to catch the ball when things happen.

That being said because Aidan and the guys clicked so well and the session scores were so high we decided to let things remain the same for Barcelona.  It allowed me to spend time this week with Karl Childs working on some 2016 strategy for the VCDX program.  I cannot discuss much, but I can tell you we continue to refine and advance the program, processes, and other aspects about this challenging way to certify people.

10th Wedding Anniversary

Julie and I had a trip planned after VMworld US to spend 10 days on a cruise to HI and then some extra time in Honolulu.  As it turned out we were able to still make the trip, but after the family stuff, a long weekend, 4 days of work, then flying out for PTO for 14 days it was pretty limited time to dive into much.  I can say that the trip was beyond words awesome and frankly…..I did not even think about work.

So for the most part much of august and most of september were shot to shit so to speak.

VMware Validated Designs and SISO’s

I’ve been working part of my time with a specific customer alongside the ISBU helping with the VMware Validated Designs as well as some certifications around them.  It’s not a huge chunk of time, but it’s some interesting work to say the least.  I’m trying to help inject some VCDX style thinking into these designs without making them something people can just submit.  By the way they would not be accepted as a VCDX Design for an application, so not even worth going down that road.

Q4 And On to 2016

Since diving back in there is a lot we are doing to add some VCDX content into the VMware Learning Zone and I am currently building some content to shoot some videos in early November in the studio.  We continue to look at updates to the VCDX Directory for more features, and may be using it to add some more pages in the coming months specific to VCDX.  We’ve broken the 200 mark for VCDX’s here in 2015, we’ve been successful with the VCDX advisory council, and this last round we had more applications than ever to manage.

That means Q4 into 2016 for me is about planning, process improvement, and continuing to look at how we scale the program.  Although I have been quiet lately, it’s not because there is nothing being worked on.  Q4 is actually the busiest for me as it relates to the VCDX program because we have to reflect on what worked in 2015, what didn’t, and put plans in place for 2016.

One example I plan on figuring out is how we do MORE of the popular VCDX workshops.  In 2015 we held more workshops than previous years combined on a more regulated, scheduled basis.  That being said, we also had a lot of people sign up, but the actual attendance was a fraction of the registrants.  We need to improve the signup process to drive more people to actually attend or it will become hard to justify holding them.

I hope to announce more of these dates, ideas, changes, and other things after Q4, but it’s all still moving forward!

About Chris Colotti

Chris is active on the VMUG and event speaking circuit and is available for many events if you want to reach out and ask. Previously to this he spent close to a decade working for VMware as a Principal Architect. Previous to his nine plus years at VMware, Chris was a System Administrator that evolved his career into a data center architect. Chris spends a lot of time mentoring co-workers and friends on the benefits of personal growth and professional development. Chris is also amongst the first VMware Certified Design Experts (VCDX#37), and author of multiple white papers. In his spare time he helps his wife Julie run her promotional products as the accountant, book keeper, and IT Support. Chris also believes in both a healthy body and healthy mind, and has become heavily involved with fitness as a Diamond Team Beachbody Coach using P90X and other Beachbody Programs. Although Technology is his day job, Chris is passionate about fitness after losing 60 pounds himself in the last few years.

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