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

New Article Posted – Are you a Control Freak?

March 8, 2013

I’ve posted a new article on my website. What happens when someone on your staff is stealing money? And what can […]

More Best Practices: Creating and Executing Exception Reports

February 26, 2013

Here’s a quick (under three minutes) video from me, via TMA Resources, on creating and executing exception reports.

Too many choices? That's why you need a consultant

February 13, 2013

In the book “Switch” by Chip and Dan Heath, they tell the story of a jam sale conducted by gourmet […]

Everything takes longer than you think it will (especially hiring!)

February 11, 2013

I am, admittedly, an incredibly impatient person. It’s one of the reasons I LOVE the internet; instant gratification. I can […]

Why transactional databases don't make good data warehouses

February 8, 2013

Very often I’m asked by my clients: “Why can’t I get a report out of my database comparing year-to-year data […]

Either you'll test it, or your customers will

February 6, 2013

During the implementation phase of a new association management system, one of the most critical phases is the testing phase. […]

How NOT to apologize…

February 5, 2013

We all make mistakes in our work. As the old saying goes, it’s not the mistakes you make, it’s how […]

Did you expect them to just KNOW how to do it?

February 4, 2013

I was once on a tour of a plant where conveyor belts were being manufactured. I noticed that one of […]

All choices involve trade-offs

February 1, 2013

The economist and political writer Thomas Sowell once wrote: “There are no solutions, only trade-offs.” What Sowell means, of course, […]

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