Just start. And it’s never done.
Last week I had the opportunity to lead a panel discussion about data clean up at the quarterly NetForum Users Group meeting. (Quick plug: If you're not a member of your AMS users group, join now! And if there isn't a users group, start one!)
At the end of the session, I asked the participants to offer some final words of advice. I was coalescing thoughts of my own and arrived at these two suggestions about doing data clean up:
- Just start.
- It's never done.
Both are simple, but oh so hard.
If you're not already cleaning your data in some manner, today is the day to start. And don't try to do it all; just pick one thing and clean.
And always remember: data cleaning is never done. Data that isn't actively managed will become stale over time. So either you're cleaning it, or it's getting worse.
So what are you waiting for?
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Using the Pomodoro Technique for data management
Using the Pomodoro Technique for data management I’m a huge fan of the Pomodoro Technique, […]
You need a PLAN to deal with duplicates
You need a PLAN to deal with duplicates Here’s the thing about duplicate records: No […]
Asking for more is a good sign…
Asking for more is a good sign… A client who had recently implemented a new […]
Take action…
Take action… “The greatest wisdom not applied to action and behavior is meaningless data.” – […]
The Rule of 100 and 1,000 revisited
The Rule of 100 and 1,000 revisited I’m finding that the “Rule of 100 and […]
You gotta wanna
You gotta wanna Long ago I heard a training consultant say you can’t train people […]
Be careful not to overbuy
Be careful not to overbuy I recently spoke with an association of ten staff that was […]
When is the best time to clean your data?
When is the best time to clean your data? One of the most common questions […]
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Do the benefits outweigh the risks? As the economist Thomas Sowell points out, there are […]
Painting the Bridge
Painting the Bridge According to this article, the Golden Gate Bridge is painted continuously year-round. […]