Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that the Salesforce University training and certification conference, now in its second year, is taking place in March—and I'm going to be there! Destination Success is an award-winning event with the sole purpose of getting you trained and certified in your chosen learning track. Let me break it down for you...

  • March 6th-10th at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, NV.
  • Five training paths: admins, developers, marketers, implementers and consultants—and new for 2017 (and my chosen track): architects.
  • Training, multiple certification exams, breakout sessions (including mine!), study halls, and networking all included.
  • $2,695 for a full conference pass.

When you think about it, that's a really good value. It’s less than a typical 3-day ILT course, but you’re getting more training, multiple certification attempts, and you’re in Vegas with other Salesforce enthusiasts like me. Plus—if you’re savvy—you should be able to convince your company to send you.

Here are the 5 main reasons why I’m going to #DST17:

1. The new Technical Architect learning path.

Yes, it’s time to get serious. Some of you know that the Technical Architect certification is a life's goal of mine. I've always wanted this certification, because it represents the pinnacle of Salesforce knowledge. Given that I'm already a technical architect at Google, there's probably very little the certification will realistically do for my career. But this certification isn't for my resume—this one's for me. I want to look back one day and know that I truly earned it.

2. I’ll be hosting a breakout session.

The Transition from Salesforce Administrator to Developer: Is it the Right Path for You? 
David Liu, ofsfdc99.comfame and now Technical Architect at Google, shares his experience of making the leap from the admin to the developer world. Join him for a 360⁰ exploration of the Salesforce career path that's right for you. He'll break down the pros and cons of each path, the different job prospects, and of course, their earning potentials–plus, the resources that can help you along the way.

There are many things I could have covered in my session, but I specifically chose this topic because it's so important in today's Salesforce world. The industry is evolving so quickly—the Salesforce ecosystem today is completely different than it was just a few years ago. What does this mean for our careers? How do we make informed choices to choose the right long-term career paths? We'll examine all these questions and more to give you the confidence to take that next step in your journey. And even though learning to code was the best decision I've made in my life, it might not be the best path for you. We'll definitely deep dive into the other side of things, too.

3. I’ve never regretted going to a Salesforce conference.

Every time I go to Dreamforce, I leave with this indescribable feeling of inspiration that I've never gotten anywhere else. Getting this high just once a year isn't enough for me, so I'm hoping that Destination Success can bring me back that feeling again. To me, it feels like Destination Success is more results- oriented—we're actually going to be studying, taking classes, and hopefully passing more certifications. We're also going to be in Vegas. Put these two together, and we've got all the right pieces for a crazy, epic, college-esque week.

4. I'll be surrounded by Salesforce experts...like you!

Not only will we have access to master instructors and subject matter experts, but I'm really looking forward to seeing many of you there, my fellow Salesforce super-fans. I'm going to be studying and taking all the same classes as you all, so I hope to meet you there. Don't be too shy to stop me and say hello. I'm sure there's a whole lot we can learn from each other.

5. It's VEGAS...Really, need I say more?

So, there you have it. Over 100 hours of learning and three opportunities to add to your certification portfolio, surrounded by people who really want you to succeed. But don't hang about. Last year's event was sold out. See you in study hall!

Don't miss your chance to attend the award-winning, life-changing, dedicated Salesforce training and certification event of the year! Join us (and David) at Destination Success. March 6-10, 2017. Mandalay Bay Resort. Las Vegas. Learn More and Register.