Honest thinking about technology decisions.

Don't focus on the data, focus on what the data tells you. I don't care if you have 1 GB of data or 1 PB of data, if you can't turn that data into information and then knowledge, your data initiatives aren't going to succeed.

Big data doesn't have to require big projects, big budgets or big teams, especially when starting out.

I caught this hummingbird outside my office window today. He seems to really like getting his photo taken.

I captured this Bald Eagle perched on a tree across the creek from our rental near Glacier National Park.

if you want a great data analytics culture, build a great communications culture. You can't have one without the other.

I captured this Big Horn Sheep perched on the roadside guard at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park.

Best practices aren't enough. You need to have the smarts and creativity to know to better align yourself and your strategy with market conditions.

This is a capture taken at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park along the north side beach

Mount Grinnell from the Swift Current Lake Boat

I captured this photo at Lookout Point on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs Arkansas. Captured with Canon 5D and Canon 24-105L.

Open data allows organizations to take the fullest advantage of the world of big data.

I captured this polar bear at the Albuquerque Zoo. Captured with Canon 7D Mark II and Canon 100-400 L Mark II handheld.

We are just the keepers of the data and need to think about systems and processes that allow the organization to use that data.

Today’s data challenge is the same challenge that has plague organizations for years. If you don’t use data to truly understand your business and make changes based on the analysis you do, you are wasting precious time and money. Data (and the analysis of that data) is useless unless you actually use it.

You can collect and analyze all the data you want but if you don't use that data for something more than taking up storage space and processing time, you are wasting money and time.