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

Amazon continues to set the standard

May 17, 2011

I’ve owned a Kindle 3 since last October and have really enjoyed it. I don’t read it every day, but […]

New Article Posted – Get Lazy! Understanding Workflow Automation and Scheduled Tasks

May 17, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. One of the reasons I’ve always been attracted to technology is because I’m […]

PayPal Pleasantly Surprises Me!

April 28, 2011

I recently had to process a refund through my PayPal account (first time ever!). The account I was refunding from […]

New Article Posted – "Why can't we just buy Access?"

April 18, 2011

I’ve posted a new article on my website. For any association staffer who has been through the process of trying to […]

Manage Expectations By Establishing Them Clearly

April 14, 2011

I ordered a hand exercise product online last week. It was from a website that I stumbled across, and the […]

Are your lousy systems affecting staff retention?

April 12, 2011

I was working with a client on the selection of a new data management system. In one of our early conversations, we talked about the “costs” involved with maintaining the current database. The usual costs came up: direct costs like…

The REAL Test of a Good Idea…

April 7, 2011

…is in its implementation. Growing up I had a good friend who was a bit, how should I say, reckless. […]

Why "Finance" People are Difficult (and Sometimes Should Be)

April 5, 2011

I started work with a new client last week, and while talking to my contact about the staff I would be interviewing, my contact said: “Sally is our finance director.

Reports vs. Queries – What's the difference?

April 4, 2011

I’m always struck by the confusion that these two terms can create. This becomes most evident during software demos, when vendors are presenting their software to my clients. Clients will ask about…

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