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
The best ideas are stolen
The best ideas are stolen I don’t remember where I first heard it, but someone said […]
It’s all about expectations
It’s all about expectations One of the most critical contributors to the success of a […]
Either you test, or your members will
Either you test, or your members will If I was forced to choose the single […]
But are you really willing to change?
But are you really willing to change? When any organization is making a change in data management […]
Two tips for data conversion
Two Tips for Data Conversion I’ve written a lot about data conversion over the years […]
Who should “own” the database?
Who should “own” the database? One of the most common questions I get from my […]
What makes you weird?
What makes you weird? When I work with clients on selecting a new association management system, one […]
Why “AMS Consortiums” Don’t Work
Why “AMS Consortiums” Don’t Work About once a year I will get a call from […]
Your vendor will disappoint you
Your vendor will disappoint you I follow politics as a hobby. A past publisher from […]
Learn how to lose
Learn how to lose “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to […]