Happy Valentine’s Day! Have you seen this labr-adorable gem kicking around the interwebs?
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-1097 aligncenter lazyload" src="http://tcbfundraising.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/201601_1534_hgadg_sm.jpg" alt="201601_1534_hgadg_sm" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://tcbfundraising.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/201601_1534_hgadg_sm.jpg 300w, https://tcbfundraising.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/201601_1534_hgadg_sm-100x100.jpg 100w, https://tcbfundraising.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/201601_1534_hgadg_sm-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Just too sweet for words, right?
And anybody who’s ever raised a Labrador puppy knows that was a split second of cute amidst a fury of scrambling, petting, biting, jumping and many other gerunds as well.
Last time we talked about data needing rules and structure. Now we talk about data needing love and attention. Just like a Labrador puppy in training.
Once the rules – a Data Styles Manual or guidelines – are in place, it’s not enough to have them if nobody’s following them and making sure they work.
Data, left to its own devices, will get unruly. It’ll misbehave. And I hear you thinking, “It’s not a really a thing. Data, or a database, is an inanimate object.”
Entropy, though.
entropy (theory) A measure of the disorder of a system. Systems tend to go from a state of order (low entropy) to a state of maximum disorder (high entropy).
The more information you add to a system, the more likely it is to begin to degrade. The more you expect of it – or don’t keep up with it – the more likely it is to re-create the messiness that caused the issues to begin with.
The more you ignore a Labrador Retriever, the more likely they are to misbehave. The more instructions you give (No! Stop! Don’t! Quit! GET DOWN!) the more likely they are to just do their own thing.
Both need attention – love and caring. TLC.
<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-1121 aligncenter lazyload" src="http://tcbfundraising.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/barclay-graduation-1.jpg" alt="barclay-graduation-1" width="225" height="337">
Training helps. A lot. When you work with a reputable dog trainer, you start by learning how your dog processes information – they’re not born speaking human.
Neither are databases. Know what you’re doing when you dive into a database. Beginning to think the same way a database processes information is a huge help.
And both can smell fear.
Other ways to show some love to your database?
Keep it clean – always follow the standards for entry and clean up
Keep it limited – only a (very) few people should have actual access to enter/edit data
Keep it Up-T0-Date – whenever there’s a patch or an upgrade to the system, do it. Your CRM provider is doing that for a reason.
Keep it Current – when you get new information about a record, don’t wait. Change it then.
Regular NCOA and email appends
Regular wealth screenings
They say when you’re training a dog to set aside one block of time that is just you and the dog. It builds trust, bonding, sets expectations.
Data’s the same way. If you’re at all fearful of your data or your database, set aside a block of time once a week, twice a week, whatever your schedule will allow and show your data some love.
Comments