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 laugh, tell him what you're doing tomorrow."
And so it is with managing data. No matter how much we plan, whether it's a new system implementation, a new process, or just collecting a new set of data, what we plan and expect and what actually happens are rarely the same. And sometimes they are radically different!
And so we have to learn to improvise. We have to be flexible enough to react to what actually happened, adapt to it, and continue moving forward. After all, we're seeking success, not perfection.
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Don’t miss obvious engagement data
Don’t miss obvious engagement data What I’ve experienced with my clients over the years is […]
All data requires active management
All data requires active management It’s a simple fact of data management that is often […]
Documentation is critical for consistency
Documentation is critical for consistency There are so many reasons why documenting your data management […]
Consumer demands change and technology changes
Consumer demands change and technology changes When I work with clients on the selection of […]
Why I write
Why I write Thirty years ago, I started a new job as director of membership […]
DAN – The Data Analytics Network
DAN – The Data Analytics Network I’m a huge fan of users groups (both internal […]
Process before technology
Process before technology In a conversation with a client recently, I was reminded (yet again) […]
Opting out and communication preferences
Opting out and communication preferences Last week’s newsletter discussed the need for associations to collect mobile […]
Are you collecting mobile phone numbers? You should be.
Are you collecting mobile phone numbers? You should be. Are you collecting (and using) the […]
Spend less time on data management and more on higher value activities
Spend less time on data management and more on higher value activities Data management is very […]
