Eliminate to optimize

Eliminate to optimize

So much of data management is habit (both good and bad) which is why I love James Clear's Atomic Habits. Implementing better data management habits can help you improve the quality of your data.

Here's another quote from Clear that applies to data management:

"More effort is wasted doing things that don’t matter than is wasted doing things inefficiently. Elimination is the highest form of optimization." - James Clear

Where does this apply? Here are just a few examples:

  • Do you actually use all the demographic data you collect during the join process?
  • Do you produce a printed directory that no one uses?
  • Do you mail printed membership cards or attendance certificates that no one uses?
  • Do you produce periodic reports or memos that no one actually reads?

My experience with clients is that most organizations have one or more processes in place that simply aren't needed anymore. They can be eliminated. And as Clear states, elimination is the highest form of optimization.

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

My advice? Stop doing that

May 11, 2022

My advice? Stop doing that! There is a classic TV sketch featuring Bob Newhart as […]

Is a college degree really required?

May 4, 2022

Is a college degree really required? I saw a job listing last week for an […]

Small actions become big wins

April 27, 2022

Small actions become big wins I’ve written before about how data accretes, the idea that […]

Try not to OFFEND your members…

April 20, 2022

Try not to OFFEND your members… I recently received an email from an association where I’ve […]

How will you use that data?

April 6, 2022

How will you use that data? One of the beauties of technology today is how easy […]

Pennywise and pound foolish

March 30, 2022

Pennywise and pound foolish One definition of the phrase “pennywise and pound foolish” is to […]

How you respond matters

March 23, 2022

How you respond matters Very recently I wrote that I measure customer service by how […]

Your one non-renewable resource

March 16, 2022

Your one non-renewable resource For any project, the three primary resources are time, money, and […]

No system is perfect

March 9, 2022

No system is perfect When working with my clients on the selection of a new […]

Ask your members to update their info

March 2, 2022

Ask your members to update their info One of the greatest data management challenges any association […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top