One of my very favorite pieces of advice to give clients is “Don’t do that.”

Client: “We’re going to migrate all of our current data into the new system.”
Me: “Don’t do that.”

Client: “In order to learn more about our members, we’re going to ask a dozen questions on the membership join form.”
Me: “Don’t do that.”

Client: “We’re going to add several special rules and customizations to take care of the ten members that have these issues.”
Me: “Don’t do that.”

Client: “We’re going to buy a new AMS because no one on staff knows how to use our current AMS.”
Me: “Don’t do that.”

Client: “We’re going to pay our vendor to have several reports and dashboards built because the board finds them interesting.”
Me: “Don’t do that.”

Perhaps one of the greatest values an outside consultant can bring to your organization is the ability to say “That’s not a good idea, and here’s why.”

So before you do that next thing, ask yourself "Should I?"