Salesforce coding lessons for the 99%Finally, Apex tutorials for point-and-click admins! Written by a self-taught Google engineer.
Salesforce coding lessons for the 99%
It’s been an incredible 3 months since I made a major life change and stepped away from SFDC99!
To say I learned a lot about myself during this time would be an understatement.
Many of you wrote me letters while I was gone. I read each one of them. You told me how SFDC99 helped you, your friends, and your teammates. I listened, with a smile. Some of you even told me stories about how this site changed your life and your career. These stories always warm my heart.
I learned that SFDC99 is probably the best thing I will ever do for this world, and I really mean it.
Ok David, rewind. So what the heck have you been up to these past few months?!
Here’s the full story:
I accepted a position within Google to lead a small engineering team. I believed that if I focused my energy in this role I’d be able to do what I love doing most – inspire people to achieve their dreams.
I still believe in that ideal, but I’ve learned that path isn’t necessarily for me. I found myself often wondering things like “How many people need to report to me before I can help as many as I can through SFDC99” while also thinking of silly new ways I could teach people through this site.
It became harder and harder to ignore these feelings in my heart. I couldn’t give my team the love they deserved because I knew this wasn’t my destiny. So, I stepped down.
What’s next for me I don’t fully know. The team has been gracious in offering me an engineering position, and that’s something I’m going to think about as I take a long break from work to relax, enjoy Summer, and try out some of these wacky new ideas I’ve been brainstorming for SFDC99.
Oh yeah, I’ll probably drink a lot of beer too. This one’s my new favorite:
Stay tuned for more updates soon!
David
David, welcome back.
This is Awesome news for all of us.
I was so sad to read of your post once again.
I always wondered how a person with your passion of giving back to the community could just walk away. Now, I guess we know. Without you we can’t imagine Salesforce. You are a true Hero & inspiration to every individual . Looking forward to your coming posts……. And hey plz do go again…….
=)
Hi David, really great to read that you’re continuing to help the Salesforce Community. Very much looking forward to this session! AM PDT would be my preference. Enjoy summer and lots of cold beers ;) Cheers, Oliver Hansen
David, I’m so glad you’re back! Your blog is so personally and professionally inspirational, I’m able to keep moving forward with my certifications and studying. I appreciate that you’re back helping the rest of us learn even more about the salesforce platform! Thank you for all the resources on this site.
I was so sad to read of your post moving away from Salesforce not long after I’d found SFDC99… Just saw the post for the live stream on twitter and thought ‘huh..?’ It seems the whole community is really glad to have you back – and I look forward to discovering more around here!
To say you were missed would be an understatement!
Glad to see another hop head on this site! Try Pliny the Younger if you ever get a chance! It’s epic!
David, We in this field, change people’s and organizations lives by fulfilling their purpose via configuration of apps (Salesforce) … Glad to see you coming……. I’m on vacation in Santa Cruz – Biking, hanging with friends. You Change Life by SFDC99 – the very essence.
Thank you for the great compliment Juergen!
Awesome news!!! Looking forward to a whole new SFDC99 2.0 v :)
Keep rocking David!!!
Welcome back David, as you can see above… you were missed! VetForce is still around and training if you have time for us as well :D
Russian River Brewery knows whats up… look forward to trying one of those when I get back up to the Bay/NorCal in a month or so
I am always dying to do more with VetForce honestly!!! Let me know how I can help!!
David, welcome back.
Awesome news. Some people go their whole lives without realising where their passions and strengths lie. You’re lucky to be there already. And we’re incredibly lucky to have you back sharing your time and knowledge without asking for anything in return. Can’t wait to see what you have next. You’re like the SF Obi Wan Kenobi. The Force is with you. Pun fully intended. :)
This is GREAT news! Excited to see what’s next.
Welcome back, David! Sink a Pliny or two for me!
Thank you Pat!! =) Will drink one tonight in your honor! LOL!
Glad to have you back, David.
Thank you Mario, means a lot from you! =)
Welcome back David! You’ve definitely become an inspiration and a lifeline to a whole lot of Salesforce breathing, Salesforce dreaming population :). We’re excited to have you back and look forward to your posts. Always do what you love, it will never feel like work :).
hahaha thanks Candy, you rock as always!
Glad you are back David. I assumed you left because you had gotten out of a tech and did a complete 180, I guess that wasn’t quite the case. Feel free to do a boot camp in NYC, I’d go!
Welcome back David !!!! this is probabaly the best news this morning for me !!
Glad I could make your day Wolfie =)
Welcome back!! I’m excited for us. :-)
LOL you’re right!
Don’t worry, I think you’ll like what I have cooking. Announcement soon!
David
Thanks so much for SFDC99! We are all greatful for having found the site.. Enjoy your summer.we’re so lucky that we all are tuch with you sir……thanks
This is good news for us and I hope good for you!!!!
David, Welcome back. I always wondered how a person with your passion of giving back to the community could just walk away. Now, I guess we know. Not very well. I look forward to seeing what’s next.
You were 100% right, HA!!!
Ah look who’s back!
Mayank!! Hey what have you been up to? =)
Preparing for my DEV 501 exam with your tutorials as the main reference. If I pass this one, there will be another ‘thank you’ email coming your way. =)
Alright Mayank!! Study hard I believe in you!
Thanks David. I passed the MCQ part of Advanced DEV 501 today. On to the next challenge!
Well done superstar!!
Welcome back David! Thanks to all your help I was able to land a new job as a Salesforce Software Engineer in SF and pass the first part of DEV 501. Let me know if you ever make it over to that side of the Bay and would love to connect at Dreamforce as well!
Adam I knew you were a superstar!!! Congrats!!! Woohoo!!!
Another interesting post. It’s always interesting to read your posts
Great to see you back, you’ve inspired me to getup and get out there in the Salesforce world, getting 3 certifications and leaving corporate sales to become a full time contract Salesforce Administrator/consultant. Without coming across your blog and the ‘anyone can do it’ attitude in it then I’m not entirely sure I would have made the jump by now – Thanks! Next is to crack on into my copy of Head First Java……
WOW!!
What a story James! So proud of you!
I’m sure your story and method would be very interesting to readers here – but that’s up to you if you want to share it!
Either way, WOW!!
just looked back to this :-) Thankyou! I was a little shy about telling a story – however now I’m now a contract developer for a global sass client keeping deep in learning, .. and booked onto my first ever trip over to san fran for DF17 – I’ll say hi and shake your hand in thanks!
Best
James
Thanks Jim. Will surely put an update!
Thanks so much for SFDC99! We are all greatful for having found the site. Maybe google could do something similar for inspiring training. Enjoy your summer.
I love you David! You are a star! Welcome back! I will be writing my 5th exams tomorrow making me one of the few people to get 5 Salesforce Certification in 5 weeks. It’s your blog that inspired me, I can’t thank you enough! Will keep you updated and yes! Lightening can strike in the same place three times!
Good luck Jeremiah!! WOW!!
If you ever want to tell your story afterwards, I’ll post it! You will inspire people too!
I did it David! I did it in 5 Weeks! Yes I want to tell my story. Yes I believe it will inspire others too! thanks a lot David! Will email it to you as soon as I finish writing it.
WOW!!!! Lightning struck three times!!!! Can’t wait to read your story!!!
Welcome back! We’ve been missing your inspiring soul. Happy 4th!
Woww.. Happy to see your post again and thanx for sharing your experience.. :)
Happy for you. Hope to see more updates from the site if that’s the direction you go. Happy 4th!!
So glad you’re back, welcome! Can’t wait to see what is in-store for the new posts.
Glad to have you back. I’m ready to work. Enjoy some time off but I know I’ll be a better SFDC developer with your oversize at SFDC99. Thanks for the update.
gotta proof read better. I meant oversight instead of oversize. David, I’m glad your back!
Time for me to hit the gym! =P
Glad!Surprised too but above All- Welcome back my Champ :)) Life is surely going to be more adventurous nd challenging than it was. Waiting for your next post dude:);)
God Bless!!
TC
That’s a SteveMo favourite :)
For good reason!
Looks like you’ll be seeing SteveMo at the MVP Summit, Geoff =) Congratulations sir!
Since you have some free time, here’s a thought: SF BOOT CAMP with David!
Mr. Q!?!? =)
One of my new ideas may be similar to that!
David
Love the bootcamp idea. If this is a possible project, may I please request that it can be done online and in class room settings. I’m in Nashville and would miss out on the fun if were only offered as a classroom experience in SF/Bay area.
You know I’ve put a lot of thought into a boot camp but I honestly don’t think there’s a big enough audience! Plus, to do it right it would have to be in person. So I’m going to try to find a good solution that meets somewhere in the middle =)
You also didn’t think we wanted Visualforce though :P
But I agree the rest of us will be very jealous if it’s only in Cali!