On Becoming an MVP

[McNiwram]

I was reading through the MVP site and found that there
is no real criteria to become one. I presume that the
frequency of help given by individuals in the microsoft
community newsgroup can accelerate one's goal of becoming
an MVP. Is this all there is to it? are there no
application forms or qualifications to become an MVP? I
am interested in becoming one but have no idea where to
begin...

My knowledge in excel is fairly wide (as I have been
using it for a lot of years) although I have been asking
questions in the excel newsgroups about macros lately
because this is an area where I need to improve on.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

I've seen a number of posts like this in recent months, and I must
confess that they always leave me scratching my head a little. I hope
that I don't put any noses out of joint by saying this, but... I
really do think that this is a pointless aspiration, *at least in and
of itself*.

MVPs are generally people who have put in a LOT of time in these
groups and elsewhere. HOWEVER, I think that it would be fairly rare to
find one who has put in that kind of effort just because they wanted
an MVP designation. They'd mostly do it because they enjoy helping
people. The fact that MS gives them a bit of recognition through the
MVP title is merely icing on the cake, not the cake itself.

Which raises the question, why exactly do you WANT to be an MVP? If
it's for the kudos, well... see the points above. And also bear in
mind that there are a lot of non-MVPs in these groups who are
generally well regarded too. If it's to improve your employment
prospects (and here I reach the crux of my argument...) you have to
bear in mind that no matter what you do, or how many questions you
answer in the newsgroups, the question of whether you become an MVP is
not, and never will be, something that you can entirely control. That
being the case, it would seem to me to be a better investment of one's
time to study for and get any of the multitude of certifications that
Microsoft offers for its products (MCP, MOUS or whatever it's called
this week, and so on). That way whether you get the designation or not
is purely down to your own efforts and an objective examination of
your skills.

If you want to participate in the user community through answering
newsgroup questions, then by all means do so. But my suggestion would
be to do so for the right reasons. Which, to my mind, are:
- Helping people with solutions to their problems;
- Helping people to do things more easily and with less effort, and
perhaps as importantly;
- Learning a little more along the way yourself through contact with
other users.

If an MVP comes from that, then it does, and if it doesn't, then it
doesn't.

*DISCLAIMER* No criticism of any person, MVP or not, is expressed or
implied in the above post. It's just my $0.02, discounted for
inflation and our cruddy exchange rate down here.

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

There are no hard and fast criteria and it has varied from year to
year and product to product as MS has grown the program. There are,
AFAIK, no application forms or qualification requirements.

In my experience, people who are awarded MVP status aren't usually
trying to do anything special to get the award, they participate in
the "community" because they find it interesting and really enjoy
helping others.

My advice would be, if you have that interest and find that
enjoyment, continue posting. Stretch a bit in your replies, test
your solutions, and risk being wrong - you learn a lot, and for
longer, when others brutally point out your flaws (hi Harlan!). If
you find you like it, an MVP award may or may not come, but you'll
get a lot out of it. I didn't start participating to get an award,
and I'd still be here if I weren't renewed.

Disclaimer: I'm a Mac MVP rather than an XL MVP, but I post about
80% in the Excel groups and 20% in the Mac-specific groups. Each
product group seems to have a somewhat different approach to awards.
And in any case, only MS speaks for the program - the opinions above
are my own.

 

[Ken Wright]

Of the regulars in here (Whether MVP or not), I can't say that I would have believed any of them
do what thay do simply because they would like to be an MVP. What really drives their continual
posting (IMO) is simply enjoying using a product, having the drive to want to learn that product
to the best of their ability, and getting a real buzz out of helping others.

What many don't realise though, is that just because you don't have MVP tagged against your name,
it doesn't mean you can't help, and I must admit to getting a bit irked when someone puts a
subject line up saying "Need MVP help", or "MVPs Only". There are some really great folks in here
that do not have an MVP tag, and the group would be a much much poorer place without them. This
group has been a fantastic learning experience for me, and continues to be so, practically every
day. I don't need someone to pay me to do this, in fact I'm amazed that I can get out what I do
without actually having to pay for it. The real benefit in my eyes, is that rather than just
reeling off some text book examples, you actually get to deal with real problems, and across a
wide area of disciplines. That level of realism is what really does it for me, and if I said I
didn't get a real buzz out of doing something for somebody, and then having them say "How the hell
did you do that?", I'd be lying.

 

[Don Guillett]

It is Ken's attitude that makes you a MVP

Of the regulars in here (Whether MVP or not), I can't say that I would have believed any of them
do what thay do simply because they would like to be an MVP. What really drives their continual
posting (IMO) is simply enjoying using a product, having the drive to want to learn that product
to the best of their ability, and getting a real buzz out of helping others.

What many don't realise though, is that just because you don't have MVP tagged against your name,
it doesn't mean you can't help, and I must admit to getting a bit irked when someone puts a
subject line up saying "Need MVP help", or "MVPs Only". There are some really great folks in here
that do not have an MVP tag, and the group would be a much much poorer place without them. This
group has been a fantastic learning experience for me, and continues to be so, practically every
day. I don't need someone to pay me to do this, in fact I'm amazed that I can get out what I do
without actually having to pay for it. The real benefit in my eyes, is that rather than just
reeling off some text book examples, you actually get to deal with real problems, and across a
wide area of disciplines. That level of realism is what really does it for me, and if I said I
didn't get a real buzz out of doing something for somebody, and then having them say "How the hell
did you do that?", I'd be lying.

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL2K & XLXP

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
Attitude - A little thing that makes a BIG difference
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- --

 

[Paul Corrado]

"Stretch a bit in your replies, test your solutions, and risk being wrong -
you learn a lot, and for

longer, when others brutally point out your flaws (hi Harlan!)."

It's good to know that he wasn't just picking on me

 

[Bob Phillips]

The good thing about Harlan (who said that?) is that he is not
discriminatory - he picks on everyone!

Bob

 

[David J. Braden]

Paul,
Harlan spares no one. It is part of his charm and entertainment value,
and perhaps his curse. God help those who live near him. <g>

Keep posting, please. We all learn a lot from each other, and, to my
mind, these Excel groups are simply wonderful. I know that Harlan
wouldn't participate as keenly, and as deeply, as he does were he to not
also find great value in posts and subsequent threads.

We have been a vibrant community for some time now. And compared to many
other NGs I have seen, a darn nice one. However, if you slam Macs, I
will hunt you down <bg>.

Regards,
Dave Braden
(MVP-Mac)

 

[Andy Wiggins]

Can we vote for Harlan to become an MVP - that would really annoy him

--

Regards
Andy Wiggins
www.BygSoftware.com
Home of "Save and BackUp",
"The Excel Auditor" and "Byg Tools for VBA"

 

[David J. Braden]

Great idea! It actually *would* annoy him. And of course, he would get a
lot of pleasue out of it. So, we have to plan this more carefully.

Harlan has a mighty thick skin and obviously remarkable inteligence.
Should we opt for Napalm? <g>

Kidding aside, I truly appreciate what he brings to the table math-wise.
His social skillset needs some major surgery, but then I am hardly one
to judge in that arena.

Highest regards, Andy, and thanks for your *great* contributions to the
Excel community.
Dave Braden

 

[Phobos]

Most Vicious Professional?

<g>

P

 

[Cindy Winegarden]

As the others have said, we read here to learn and post here because we have
the volunteer spirit. For me, answering questions allows me to experiment
with things I would never encounter in the course of my job so it has really
rounded out my skill set.

 

[David J. Braden]

ROTFLMAO!

With proper funding and police protection, I will gladly slide over to
Berkeley to scope out this nut.

You have to admit, if Harlan is the biggest pain in the rear for our
Excel groups (and he can be, though I see him as a colleague), then our
MS-Excel community is doing a seriously great job. We are vibrant,
nutty,very creative, and in my years with the NGs, always willing to
help folks through often very, very deep problems that often transcend
what Excel, as a package, has to offer.

One thing that gets lost, IMO, is the incredible dialog that these NGs
foster that works in the background. I don't know how to measure this,
but think that MS would be amazed at what goes on "behind the scenes" as
a result of these NGs. Folks are just helping out each other in a way
that seriously apeals to my unrepentant hippy ways. If you don't yet
know what I mean, hang in there.

Regards,
Dave Braden

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

"Stretch a bit in your replies, test your solutions, and risk being wrong -
you learn a lot, and for

It's good to know that he wasn't just picking on me

I really don't think he's ever "picked on" me, though his style of
correction is an acquired taste. At one time, I cringed when I saw
that Harlan had replied to one of my posts, anticipating being taken
to school. Now I look forward to it - I don't always agree with him,
but he's almost always on point.

I used to be given *much* worse when I was a young submarine
officer...

 

[Phobos]

I used to be given *much* worse when I was a young submarine
officer...

Are those stories about the Navy true then? <bg>

P

 

[Phobos]

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you...

<g>

<groan> I should have seen that one coming! <g>

P

 

[David J. Braden]

ROTFLMAO

DaveB

Virtuous. Virtue such as mine is a terrible thing.

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

Virtuous. Virtue such as mine is a terrible thing.

not Vitupertive? or is that a virtue?

 

[Phobos]

Virtuous. Virtue such as mine is a terrible thing.

I've noticed! Still here then? <g>

P

 

[Hotbird]

so what does MVP stand for?