"Little by little, a little becomes a lot."

I don't know where I first read it (a google search says it's a Tanzanian proverb; I'm dubious), but I love the phrase, especially as it relates to data management.

One of the many challenges of data management is that it can be so overwhelming. Even the smallest organizations have tons of data. Where to begin when it comes to cleaning up and maintaining?

They key is to just start somewhere, and to build in small habits for data cleaning. These small steps, little by little, will lead you to much cleaner data over time.

And with cleaner data you'll move into the cycle of virtue (click here to read all about that).

And cleaner data begets cleaner data!

Where to begin? Consider these baby steps or weeding the garden. Soon a little becomes a lot.