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

Should your customers be able to cancel online?

August 18, 2011

Working with a client recently, I was surprised to learn that the association allows individuals who are currently registered for […]

ASAE Annual Re-Cap

August 10, 2011

I just returned from the ASAE Annual Meeting in St. Louis, and wanted to share some quick thoughts on the […]

DC Budgets and Sacred Zombie Cows (R)

July 26, 2011

The current debt ceiling debate going on in Washington right now has me thinking about how associations manage their budgets. […]

New Article Posted – Are we really insane?

July 25, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. Albert Einstein is supposed to have said the definition of insanity is doing […]

Success is measured by….?

June 20, 2011

According to this poster, which hangs in my childrens’ school (and I’ve seen it in other schools, too), success is […]

New Article Posted – No AMS Ever Failed on Selection

June 16, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. There is a classic management aphorism that no strategy ever failed on design; […]

The path to the best database

June 14, 2011

Here’s a good article in ASAE’s recent Associations Now Technology Guide supplement, including some good advice from yours truly.

How much data is enough data?

June 13, 2011

A database manager recently asked me how to get her staff to enter more data into the database when collecting […]

You love me, you really LUV me!

May 24, 2011

I get high praise from my clients for the work I do, but this one takes the cake:

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