As Thanksgiving in the US approaches, I'm reminded of the importance of gratitude, in life, and yes, in data management.

I'm grateful for the amazing advances in technology over my career for many reasons, but here are just a couple of examples:

1. Back in the mid-90s, I managed a staff of six individuals who were responsible for taking over 5,000 orders annually (by phone, fax, and email). Now 80-90% of that work is done by the customer online, and almost alll of that staff has been redirected to higher-value activities that help advance the association's mission.
2. Online collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom) allow me to work with clients all over the world without having to hop on an airplane, rent a car, stay in hotels, and jam all my meetings into a narrow slice of time. The result is easier scheduling, better quality meetings with clients, and more time with my family.

Yes, there are plenty of dark sides to technological advances, but I'm grateful for all the positives it has brought to me personally and to the world in general.

Best wishes to you for a great Thanksgiving!