Like many of my fellow Oregonians, I love a good hike. A walk through the woods clears my head, adjusts my attitude and centers me. As I get further down the path, I leave my cares behind and embrace my inner explorer as I look forward to discovering what is around the bend or over the hill. For me, any day spent on the hiking trail is a good day, even when the occasional bear pops up to say hello.
Okay, I know this sounds geeky, but I get a similar feeling from data management. Solid data management practices provide a map so I am focused and not wandering off course. Sometimes what I learn takes me down a new path of learning and exploration that leads to better decision-making. Other times I run into a “bear,” and realize I need to take a minute to reassess and take appropriate action. Sometimes that action results in a change of course, but I am prepared to go where the data leads me, even if it is not where I expected. And sometimes that unexpected detour leads to wonderful surprises, like a new point of view or a direct trail to a goal.
So in closing, and I mean this in the nicest of ways, go take a hike.