I’ve been sharing my Sitecore basics via this blog since 2011. Today, I’m super happy and surprised that, I’m writing my 200th blog post. (Double century is really special – You can understand that I’m coming from Cricket playing nation 🙂 )
This would have not been possible without following people:
All those great souls who inspired me to write!
Great souls like you who kept reading my blog and appreciate what I did – Which motivated me to keep going. As starting Sitecore or any blog is easy. But to keep it going needs more efforts. Would have used this time doing something else. But I feel grateful that I invested my time on this blog which helped lot of Sitecore Souls across the globe!
Some Stats:
This post will make posts count to 200 All time viewsAnnual Site statsTotal followersThis is my favorite – Could contribute on larger part of the earth in some way!
Summary:
Total posts : 200
Total views : 519518
Total visitors : 254007
Total words : 107450
Perfect day [Thanksgiving] to write this blog. I’m Thankful for:
Those who taught me Programming
Those who taught me Sitecore
Those who inspired me to blog
Those who read my blog and kept me going
Hope this post inspires you to start your blog or restart your blog which you haven’t updated since quite some time.
Happy blogging! 🙂 – Start your blog, might not for others. But for your self! [At times, I find solution from my old post 😉 ]
I’m sure you will be very pleased to know that, your very own Sitecore Basics blog author has been announced as Sitecore MVP for 2015. Continuously third year, and yes yes, It’s Hat-trick! (Maintaining success takes more efforts than achieving it) Cordially thanks to you! (Yes, you!) for inspiring me by your comments, visits, and reads on Sitecore Basics blog! Also, Thanks to everyone who directly or indirectly inspired me. To share more!
When I won Sitecore MVP Award first time. I’ve never thought. I will be able to do Hat-trick! It all started, with just a single thought. “Why there are No MVPs from India. We are such a huge country. But not a single MVP?”. Then the journey starts. Was not knowing the MVP process at all. But as someone rightly said. A will will find a way. And so as I! And finally got my first MVP Award. Once I got it. Then I took two challenges.
Share as much as I can, and also share MVP Process awareness, and inspire people to be an MVP [“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy“]. So, they don’t face similar challenges what I faced. So, shared my first blog on MVP Basics here.
And because of two challenges, I shared as much as I can. And because of those efforts, Have been able to continue my Sitecore MVP Nomination for 2014 – next consecutive year as well!
And this one is special, because :
This year was super-duper busy with responsibilities, Exploring some unknowns:
But as I used to say earlier, The more busy I’m, The more learning I’ve — This year explored Sitecore from different View — Learn lot of new things – TDS, Glass, DMS and so on
Explored Sitecore 8.0
I had the lot of learnings and in-spite of being busy. Couldn’t resist my self from sharing my learnings with you!
If it happens [As it happened] it will be Hat-Trick!
Presented in Virtual User group Summit and started Sitecore User group India – Earlier, I was just writing blogs and sharing knowledge with internal teams only. But these experience has revealed new way to share things with you!.
From Horizontal Integration/India[HI]’s Point of view:
We’ve been able to get Total 8 MVPs [7 Technology and 1 Digital MVP] this year
Out of that From India [Where overall, 6 MVPs got selected] we’ve been able to get 4 Technology MVPs – That’s awesome!
http://paper.li/kiranpatils/1378702752 — Daily update on Sitecore, Generating paper using following sources — Twitter (#Sitecore, @Sitecore,#SCBasicsDaily) Facebook (#Sitecore),RSS Feed (Sitecore/Sitecore MVP RSS Feed)
http://tinyletter.com/sitecorebasics — Weekly newsletter on Sitecorebasics combined from same source as paper.li. But shortlisted must read an article gets delivered to reader’s e-mail box. Currently it has 28 subscribers!
As we all know, nothing big can be achieved by a single person. There are a lot of others involved to make things happen. And same holds true in my case as well. This award would have been impossible without lot of people’s support and wishes! Would like to cordially thanks to each one of them!
Hope to see you in next year’s Sitecore MVP list Still have questions? Feel free to drop me a line! Will be happy to help you to be a Sitecore MVP 2016! 🙂 (Because God helps them, who helps others!) And this story will clear a fog : Tale of Two Seas
Wish you luck! Still then Keep reading, Keep learning, Keep sharing! (Because Knowledge shared with others is not CUT-PASTE, It is always COPY-PASTE)
A big Thanks to all my readers/visitors! I would like to share the joy of celebrating a great milestone with you all. The blog hits 1,00,000 views! It’s absolutely encouraging that over 1,00,000 people have visited this blog and few of them might got solution for their problem, for which they might struggled a bit with strict deadlines.
Today, When I look back [At times you should take a step back and look back, You will learn a lot!] when I started blogging during March 2011, I was learning Sitecore [And till date I’m learning!] and while doing so thought why not share my learnings with you! So, it will be beneficial for everyone! As most of you agree that, in this era starting a blog is easy [Few clicks and your blog is ready!]. But in the same era, It is not easy to keep it updated, you’ve lot of other distractions to lose the momentum. But thanks to God for pouring focus in me and to you(my readers) for motivating me, Because of you this happened.
Thanks to each and every visitor for contributing in to this count. so, all credit goes to you! — Thank you again!
Memories of my earlier milestones are still in my mind’s cache — quick links for you!:
Here’s the Stats summary which would like to share with you:
Quick Facts
Total Posts : 115
Total Comments : 222
Total Categories : 33
Total Tags : 61
Average Visits per Day : 124
Thanks to all who inspired and appreciated my work – Yes I am saying thanks to you – My friends,readers and daily visitors! This wouldn’t have been possible without you!
Thanks again! Keep Sharing, Because Sharing is Caring!
I’m sure you will be very pleased to know that, your very own SitecoreBasics blog author has been announced as Sitecore MVP for 2014. Continuously second year! (Maintaining success takes more efforts than achieving it) Cordially thanks to you! (Yes, you!) for inspiring me by your comments, visits, and reads on SitecoreBasics blog! Also, thanks to Sitecore development team who developed such a nice environment to work on, Sitecore support team members who are always there to answer our questions in tough time and sharing their technical expertise with us! Thank you Sitecore!
After getting listed in Sitecore MVP 2013 list, the feeling was awesome and thought to push my self more to share more in 2014 and target to achieve Sitecore MVP Award 2014. It really feels great to be a part of such an elite group!
You are new to the Sitecore World/Would like to know more about Sitecore MVP Award and have following questions?:
What’s the Sitecore MVP award all about?
What’s the process?
How to get nominated?
What’s the selection process?
What are the benefits?
I had same questions and have already written detailed post on it. I would suggest you to give it a read here
So, a question might come to your mind. What all you’ve contributed in 2014. And it is really a good question. Here it is:
Blog: Writing regular posts on my Sitecore blog at : https://sitecorebasics.wordpress.com/ [It got 107 Posts, 31 Categories, 53 Tags, 79,405 Page Views, Average 100 Visits per day, 203 Comments, 31 Categories, 53 Tags].
Sitecore Daily Paper :http://paper.li/kiranpatils/1378702752 — Daily update on Sitecore, Generating paper using following sources — Twitter (#Sitecore, @Sitecore,#SCBasicsDaily) Facebook (#Sitecore),RSS Feed (Sitecore/Sitecore MVP RSS Feed)
Sitecore Weekly Newsletter : http://tinyletter.com/sitecorebasics — Weekly newsletter on Sitecorebasics combined from same source as paper.li. But shortlisted must read an article gets delivered to reader’s e-mail box. Currently it has 43 subscribers till this point of time!
Guide on Sitecore Troubleshooting Path — This guide will help you to troubleshoot Sitecore challenges which you may face. e.g. CM/CD/PI is slow, CM/CD/PI is crashed, CM/CD/PI is slow etc. : https://sitecorebasics.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/sitecore-troubleshooting-path/ [Total Views 177, Total Embed Views 1947 views]
As we all know, nothing big can be achieved by a single person. There are a lot of others involved to make things happen. And same holds true in my case as well. This award would have been impossible without lot of people’s support and wishes! Would like to cordially thanks to each one of them!
Hope to see you in next year’s Sitecore MVP list! (Eager to know how to be Sitecore MVP, give this post a read here. It explains the Basics of Sitecore MVP Award). Still have questions? Feel free to drop me a line! Will be happy to help you to be a Sitecore MVP 2015! 🙂 (Because God helps them, who helps others!)
Wish you luck! Still then Keep reading, Keep learning, Keep sharing! (Because Knowledge shared with others is not CUT-PASTE, It is always COPY-PASTE)
UPDATE : Wrote this post in the year of 2013. It has been ~6 years and trust me it gives me great satisfaction, When I meet people first time and they say – Thank you, your post helped me to become Sitecore MVP and get few of my questions answered. Recently in one of the Sitecore group lot of folks asked me same question and it motivated me to write this post. AFAIK, this post is still relevant in today’s time. Just few additional sources where you can contribute e.g. Sitecore Slack channel, Sitecore Stack exchange . But underlying Mantra is same Sitecore MVP is a reward of your passion to share your Sitecore knowledge with community! Post 2013, Sitecore and few of the community members have done a great job sharing their learnings on How to become Sitecore MVP. Here’s the consolidated list. So, this post becomes one source for all aspirant MVPs.
I’m sure you will be very pleased to know that, your very own SitecoreBasics blog author has been announced as Sitecore MVP for 2013. Cordially thanks to you! (Yes, you!) for inspiring me by your comments, visits, and reads on SitecoreBasics blog! Also, thanks to Sitecore development team who developed such a nice environment to work on, Sitecore support team members who are always there to answer our questions in tough time and sharing their technical expertise with us! Thank you Sitecore!
It was my dream (really!) to be a Sitecore MVP, and today it really feels special when got awarded as Sitecore MVP! (Just a note : Chase your dreams, dreams do come true! – Sachin Tendulkar. And trust me it does! So, ask yourself now what’s your dream? If you have a dream, wake-up and start doing actions and keep refreshing your dream in your mind. Which will keep you awake! and I guarantee that one day it will be true! If you don’t have any dream, then do dream it! Because it’s better late than never!)
During this time so many people asked me:
What’s the Sitecore MVP award all about?
What’s the process?
How to get nominated?
What’s the selection process?
What are the benefits?
You also have the same set of questions? (Honestly, I also had before!) So, this questions inspired me to write this post. In this post will cover following things:
Just a note : I follow one formula to understand anything from basics and that formula is “W-W-H” it stands for What-Why-How. You take anything in life and apply this formula, it will work! (It works at-least for me! I hope it will work for you as well!)
What?
In this section we will cover What is Sitecore MVP?
The Sitecore MVP Award is given to exceptional community leaders who foster the free and objective exchange of knowledge by actively sharing their real-world expertise with technology users.
The Sitecore MVP Award celebrates the most active Sitecore community members from around the world who provide invaluable online and offline expertise that enriches the community experience and makes a difference.
Worldwide, Sitecore counts more than 5000 certified developers, and more than 15,000 active community participants. Of these participants, there are fewer than 100 active Sitecore MVP’s.
The Sitecore MVP Award is awarded for the period of one year. The period can be extended by re-nomination.
Source — Sitecore MVP official document
The Sitecore MVP program recognizes the top technical community leaders of Web Content Management Systems. The Sitecore MVP award honors the most active Sitecore members around the world who share their knowledge through their invaluable involvement within the Sitecore community. Lars Fløe Nielsen, Senior VP of Technical Marketing, states that, “Sitecore MVPs are technology experts who inspire others to learn and grow through active participation in the Sitecore technical community. The MVPs share the same passion for technology and a demonstrated willingness to help others innovate and advance the use of Web strategies.”
So, basically, to get awarded as Sitecore MVP you need following qualities (You already have?!):
Passionate about Sitecore
Ready to share knowledge
Ready to help others
Ready to contribute to the community
Inspire others to learn and grow through active participation in the Sitecore technical community (Lead by example!)
Why?
Why someone would like to be Sitecore MVP?
Sitecore MVP Lead – All Sitecore MVPs have a Sitecore MVP Lead, a Sitecore employee who is the MVPs’ dedicated point of contact with the Sitecore MVP Award Program. The Sitecore MVP Lead is the MVPs’ advocate, keeping them informed of news, events, and opportunities within the MVP Award Program and in Sitecore, both locally and around the world.
Sitecore MVP logo – The Sitecore MVP may use the logo on their business cards, email signatures, on their company’s web site, on their personal blog and on social network web sites. Also, Sitecore MVP’s may use the logo on speaker listings.
Sitecore Developer Network – The Sitecore MVP may be promoted on the Sitecore developer network, with their area of expertise, their sponsor’s reason, image and a description of who they are and what they do.
Access to technical resources (requires NDA) – Sitecore MVPs get privileged access to a number of technical resources such as:
Technical previews of Sitecore software as well as first releases of modules. Pre-release.
Full access to the Sitecore developer network and download section.
Sitecore MVP Product Feedback closed circuit community forum allows Sitecore MVPs a direct channel to submit comments,suggestions related to Sitecore technologies.
Sitecore MVP Private Newsgroups provide forums for Sitecore MVPs from around the world to share ideas on Sitecore with Sitecore employees.
Other privileged resources.
Events – The Sitecore MVP will receive invitations to significant events in their region.
How?
If someone has decided to be a Sitecore MVP? Then how one can achieve it?
In order to receive the Award, Sitecore MVP nominees undergo an evaluation process. A panel that includes Sitecore technical marketing and sales, the Sitecore product group teams and Sitecore marketers evaluate each nominee’s technical expertise and voluntary community contributions for the past year. The panel considers the quality, quantity, and level of impact of the Sitecore MVP nominee’s contributions, including:
General (technical) advocacy
Contributing to the Sitecore community via blogs
Contributing to Sitecore Developer Network forums
Helping others on online communities like Stackoverflow
Visiting and/or Contributing to the Sitecore User Groups
Writing and/or publishing content such as white papers and articles
The Sitecore MVP is internally awarded in January, and the award list will be published on the Sitecore developer web site with a description of the individual and with a list of achievements.
Source — Sitecore MVP official document
Apart from above list, I think your following contribution will also help community and will be getting considered:
So, a question might come to your mind. What all you’ve contributed. And it is really a good question. Here it is:
Blog: Writing regular posts on my Sitecore blog at : https://sitecorebasics.wordpress.com/ [92 posts, 183 comments, 51,933 hits, and lot of blogs and forums referring to this blog].
Let’s see the flow diagram of becoming Sitecore MVP process:
As shown in above diagram, there are mainly three main entities involved in this process, you, your knowledge and Sitecore! Let’s understand it step by step!
Step 1 : The first and most important step is you need to decide that you would like to be Sitecore MVP! If you’ve done that trust me, rest of the steps will automatically follow!
Step 2 : Second step is learning Sitecore (Follow Sitecore blogs, Subscribe to RSS feed, follow Sitecore champs on twitter, be active on SDN forums etc.) and sharing what you learned! (Blog, forum, module etc.) Whatever it is big or small! Advance or Basic! Just share it! [Because Knowledge shared is knowledge gained!]
Step 3 : Once you’ve started contributing then it’s time to nominate yourself. You can’t directly nominate yourself. It should be done via your company if it is Sitecore certified partner (Thank you Investis for recommending me!) OR Sitecore Employee(Thank you Kimberly McCabe for recommending me!). Sitecore starts accepting Nominations in November.
Step 4 : Once you’ve been nominated then Sitecore Panel will evaluate your last year’s contribution. If you got selected then you will get an e-mail in January.
Step 5 : Receive your Sitecore MVP award — Well done! Time to celebrate and time to start working again from step 2 because this award’s validity is only for this year. You’ve to re-nominate yourself for next year!
So, basically you need to start sharing your knowledge as much as possible then in November, when nominations gets opened. Nominate yourself. And cross your fingers [But please don’t forget to learn and share during this time as well!] still the result gets announced! Wish you luck! (I’m sure, you will do it!)
As we all know, nothing big can be achieved by a single person. There are a lot of others involved to make things happen. And same holds true in my case as well. This award would have been impossible without lot of people’s support! Would like to cordially thanks to each one of them!
Hope to see you in next year’s Sitecore MVP list! Wish you luck! Still then Keep reading, Keep learning, Keep sharing!
Sitecore basics! 