Open Keyboard

In a post I made a while back, (I'm Just a Squirrel), I referenced being asked to propose a session for Novell's BrainShare 2008. Well, to update you, I was chosen to present a session on migrating NetWare to Linux along with a Novell consultant from Germany. We just completed the final draft and will be submitting it to the designer on Monday, March 3rd. The session will be presented on March 17th and 20th, at 3:00 PM and 2:30 PM, Mountain Time, respectively.

When I was first asked to speak at BrainShare, the first question out of everyone's mouth, I told was, "How much are they going to pay you?" Pay me!? For what?! (Novell does give you a free pass to the event, but you still have to provide transportation and lodging) As a long time Novell evangelist, to speak at a Novell event as an authority on a particular topic is an honor in itself. Compensation never entered my mind. The same goes for the articles I write. Novell gives authors "points" that can be redeemed for goodies, like iPods, jump drives and such. Even if they didn't reward points, I'd still submit articles. People, with a business background, just don't get the concept of doing something and not being paid.

My background is in the field of Science. In the Science community, the law is "Publish or Perish". You can be the best, highest paid, most disciplined Dr. Whatsoever, but if you've never published anything, you just another bum off the street, to your colleagues. And that's why I don't expect compensation for my articles or presentations. I want my name out there. In the IT community, when I meet someone and they say, "Mike Faris?", "You're articles have helped me to understand how Widget Manager is configured on Linux. Thanks.", it gives me a real warm feeling that I've actually helped someone who was looking for it. And ... For FREE!

There are technical support type web sites that require payment for searching a knowledge base. I think that's absurd and have found their solutions to be inaccurate and outdated. They rush to get solutions out there, probably untested, because they have a "bottom line." Yet, when you go to web sites that have free forums, you get many more individuals contributing to a resolution and even chastising those who give half-assed answers. Puzzling. Helping others for free...

I enjoy the work, as I have stated in the past, it's the recognition in my community and actually helping others that keeps me going, not compensation. Look around, there are thousands of others who stand beside me.