Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Blog post themes over 20 years…

By Wes Trochlil | August 5, 2026

Blog post themes over 20 years… I’ve been writing blog posts for nearly 20 years now. WordPress tells me I’ve written over 1,200 posts. So I asked AI to analyze my 1,200+ posts and give me my top three themes. Here’s what it came up with: Data management and data quality – these posts emphasize that data management is […]

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing!

By Wes Trochlil | July 29, 2026

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing! A client in the middle of their AMS implementation said to me: “I’m getting a LOT of feedback from staff about what the system can and cannot do. Is that good or bad?” My response: “Feedback means they’re actually in the system and using it! That’s a good […]

Doing the reps…

By Wes Trochlil | July 22, 2026

Doing the reps… I’m helping a client with the implementation of a new AMS. During a recent call, their internal project manager said “I’m still not as familiar with the system as I’d like to be. I need to get in there more often and play around.” I responded: “That’s exactly right. I suggest you […]

Add one, remove one

By Wes Trochlil | July 15, 2026

Add one, remove one In the world of home-organizing, there’s the “one in, one out” rule. Simply put, for every new item that enters your home, one similar item must leave, helping to maintain a constant level of possessions and prevent clutter accumulation. This would be a great rule for database managers when considering adding new fields […]

Spring cleaning, all year long

By Wes Trochlil | July 8, 2026

Spring cleaning, all year long I talk frequently about “weeding the garden,” the idea that proactively managing your data, consistently, over time, is a better practice than trying to clean up the data in one big effort once every couple of years. But beyond the data itself, weeding the garden should also include making sure all […]

Older Posts

Sometimes what you’re using IS the best option

May 21, 2025

Sometimes what you’re using IS the best option I love technology and I’m inherently lazy, so I love it when […]

Do they hate the system?

May 14, 2025

Do they hate the system? When an association asks me for help finding a new AMS, I always ask if […]

Artificial Intelligence is the next revolution in data management

May 7, 2025

Artificial Intelligence is the next revolution in data management I’ve been in the data management business for over 35 years […]

There’s always gonna be something

April 30, 2025

There’s always gonna be something I’ve been consulting for 26 years now and I’m still sometimes surprised to learn that […]

Eyes wide open and affirmative decision-making

April 16, 2025

Eyes wide open and affirmative decision-making When I work with my clients on any type of project, whether it’s selection […]

Honoring an industry legend

April 9, 2025

Honoring an industry legend I’m taking a break from my usual data management tips to acknowledge the passing of an […]

Never burn a bridge

April 2, 2025

Never burn a bridge My children have reached the age where they have, or are, entering the professional workforce. One […]

You CAN compete with the big guys…

April 2, 2025

You CAN compete with the big guys… In my experience, associations often undersell their actual ability to provide high level […]

Join (or start) your users group!

March 26, 2025

Join (or start) your users group! Today’s message is simple: If the AMS you’re using has a users group, you […]

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