Blog: Wes’s thoughts, articles, and insights

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My most recent posts

Data management is improvisation

By Wes Trochlil | September 16, 2026

Data management is improvisation I was listening to a podcast recently featuring TV writer Rob Long. During the podcast he said (I’m paraphrasing) that, in order to be successful, one needs to learn to improvise, because nothing in life ever goes as planned. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you want to make God […]

Who own the AMS company is like the weather…

By Wes Trochlil | September 9, 2026

Who own the AMS company is like the weather… When I work with clients to find a new AMS, one of the most common questions I get is: “Is the software company owned by private equity or is it privately owned?” While I think this is a legitimate question to ask and have answered, it […]

“As good or better than me.”

By Wes Trochlil | September 2, 2026

“As good or better than me.” I was recently speaking with a software developer working on AI and we were discussing using natural language querying in an AMS. I told him, “The biggest challenge you face is that the first time the AI is wrong, staff will never use it again.” He agreed but then added: “The […]

Documentation is insurance

By Wes Trochlil | August 26, 2026

Documentation is insurance In a conversation with a client about their data management needs, the client pointed out that if they lost one or two key staff members, so much institutional knowledge would go with them that the association would have real difficulty managing their AMS. I recommended that they should document all of their key processes so […]

It all comes down to fundamentals

By Wes Trochlil | August 12, 2026

It all comes down to fundamentals I’m preparing for a webinar that I’m presenting in a couple of weeks, on using data to improve marketing and communications. This is a presentation (in one form or another) that I’ve made for nearly 20 years, and it includes an excellent case study of one association that dramatically improved their […]

Older Posts

Technology philosophy #4 – Outsource when you can

September 20, 2012

If you’re like me, when you have some type of internal challenge with managing information within our organization, you may […]

Technology philosophy #3 – "Less, but better."

September 19, 2012

I first came across this line in the great Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. “Less, but better” was the […]

Technology philosophy #2 – Just because you CAN automate it doesn’t mean you should

September 18, 2012

Because I’m a tremendous geek and love software, I’m always open to exploring new software programs that may somehow make […]

New Article Posted – What's Plaguing Associations 2012 – The Dog That Didn't Bark

September 17, 2012

I’ve posted a new article on my website. For six years I have conducted a one-question, non-scientific survey of association executives, […]

Technology philosophy #1 – More effective, not just more efficient

September 17, 2012

Last month in Dallas I had the opportunity to speak at the AMC Institute on Technology Issues Facing Association Management […]

It’s Time For The Sixth Annual One-Question Survey!

August 27, 2012

Since 2007, I’ve been conducting an annual non-scientific survey of associations, asking them what their biggest data management issues are. […]

My favorite technologies – # 5 of 5 – Evernote

August 24, 2012

This is the last of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Evernote, quite simply, is a place to put […]

My favorite technologies – # 4 of 5 – Logmein

August 23, 2012

This is the fourth of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Simply put, Logmein is an online service that […]

My favorite technologies – # 3 of 5 – Dropbox

August 22, 2012

This is the third of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Since opening my consulting business over a decade […]

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