Oracle performance firefighting is a unique time in your life. Most people never get a chance to experience the highs and lows of firefighting. How many times in your career will you be able to celebrate a dramatic and company-critical performance firefighting success? Probably not that many. So when you have survived a firefight, take some time out and celebrate.

When the ancient Greeks went to war, their campaigns were brief. The armies operated in the summer, because they needed to be home again in time for the harvest and gathering of grapes and olives. One battle always settled the business.4 A war was specifically designed to be of limited scope and be done with quickly. At that time, governments couldn't run a deficit or borrow money to finance a long, drawn-out campaign. If wartime spilled into harvest, both sides could starve! Everyone knew this, and their tactics were based on doing only what was absolutely necessary.

Just like the ancient Greeks, DBAs should use performance firefighting techniques only when necessary. You don't need to go through deep firefighting performance analysis everyday. If you try to do this, you will probably quit, change groups, or become a manager.5 Take time to celebrate and time to rest. Then your performance firefighting career will be long and glorious!