Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

AI is a journey, not a destination

By Wes Trochlil | April 15, 2026

AI is a journey, not a destination Lately I’ve noticed a lot of associations talking about AI like it’s a moon shot. “We need an AI project.” “We’re rolling out AI in Q4.” That language suggests AI is something you implement once and then check off the list. It isn’t. AI is a journey, and […]

Action produces information

By Wes Trochlil | April 8, 2026

Action produces information “Action produces information. If you’re unsure of what to do, just do anything, even if it’s the wrong thing. This will give you information about what you should actually be doing.” – Brian Armstrong, co-founder of Coinbase This is the great thing about data and why I’ve been in this business so long. […]

Why a single source of truth is so beneficial…

By Wes Trochlil | March 25, 2026

Why a single source of truth is so beneficial… The holy grail of data management is the “single source of truth.” As I like to characterize it, when someone asks “Where is the data about X?” everyone knows the answer and everyone gives the SAME answer. One of the most common challenges I hear from my […]

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

By Wes Trochlil | March 18, 2026

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should I’ve worked in and with associations for well over 37 years now. And one of the things I’ve always loved and appreciated about association staffers is their willingness to do whatever is needed to get the job done. But the problem is this “Yes, we can!” attitude can also […]

Data doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful

By Wes Trochlil | March 4, 2026

Data doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful “Your data doesn’t have to be perfect to be useful.” – (Borrowed with permission from Intellidata’s Slice newsletter.) In my experience, many associations hold themselves back from cleaning up their data, because they are overwhelmed with where to start, and they also think success can only be achieved […]

Older Posts

The Five Prerequisites for Implementing Business Intelligence

November 13, 2008

If you’re going to embark on a business intelligence initiative, you ought to have these five items in place before you do. More copy to go here explaining the finer points of Implementing Business Intelligence.

My Greatest Pet Peeve

November 11, 2008

One of my least favorite questions on the ASAE listserver is when an association membership professional says something to the […]

Business Intelligence Defined

November 5, 2008

Here’s a brief podcast (about three minutes) on my definition of business intelligence.

Why database PR is so critical

October 30, 2008

I’ve written in the past about the need for conducting a public relations campaign for your database. You can read […]

Why is Google so easy and my database so hard?

October 28, 2008

Did you ever notice that it’s easier to find information simply using Google than it is to find information in […]

New Article Posted

October 23, 2008

I’ve posted a new article on my website, entitled “Healthcare and Your Database.” Of course, if you’re already on my […]

Seeking input on a research study

October 22, 2008

I’m working on a research project to identify the factors that contribute most to the long-term success of an association […]

Trochlil on Business Intelligence

October 16, 2008

I spoke recently for the Association Forum of Chicagoland on Business Intelligence. Afterwords I sat for a short interview on […]

The Financial Crisis and Your Database

October 14, 2008

As I watch the world financial crisis unfold, one contributing factor that has arisen is that there is a “lack […]

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