"It's more than I have, but less than I want."

These are words uttered by a client of mine recently when looking at new data management software for their organization.

There is some deep truth in both parts of that sentence:

1. "It's more than I have..." Obviously if you're going to make a system change, you should be getting "more" than what you have now. This should include things like simplifying/automating processes and allowing you to capture and analyze more data about your members and customers.
2. "...but less than I want." When I work with my clients we look at things from a "blue sky" perspective first. "If you could have anything you want, what would it be?" The purpose of the exercise is to make sure we're thinking as big as possible, because I've found clients can often be self-limiting in their perspective, due to what they're experiencing with the status quo. But by definition, "blue sky" means we'll be asking for things we probably won't get. And that's ok, as long as everyone understands that going in.

In almost all cases, when my clients changes systems they get more than they have but less than they want. And it's important to keep in mind that as long as the "more than I have" is a fairly dramatic improvement over the status quo, then it's ok that you didn't get all that you wanted. Life is about success, not perfection.