With over 15 years of experience, I consider myself a data quality expert.  However, I know data quality is a marathon and more than just a dash. 

In the long run, it’s not how fast you can go, or even how far you have come.  We all go through different stages. 

My current stage is social media, which is evolving me from an analog kid into a digital man—a modern data warrior with a mean, mean stride.

Some will sell their dreams for small desires, but my motivation cannot be crushed, because as my vital signs demonstrate—data quality is such a Rush.

Data Quality is such a Rush

From the very first data record, all the way down to the very last  
Data quality is such a rush  
You’ll feel like the peak will never pass  
Seeing bad data, you grab a scrubbing brush

But focusing on cleansing alone is so one-sided 
Defect prevention must also be provided 
Although not every data future may always be pre-decided 
Between cleansing and prevention your time must be sub-divided

Unstable data condition 
Unreliable business decision 
A symptom of corporate life 
Requiring mental and environmental change 
Atmospheric enterprise disturbance 
Caused by the uncontrolled data flux 
Of human interface and data exchange

Although the business impulse is pure 
Sometimes data circuits get shorted 
By internal incoherence 
Signals get crossed 
And the balance distorted

This is about more than just optimal business performance 
This is about more than just another technical spark 
This is about more than just the bottom line 
Or taking another gamble on a lucky shot in the dark

Although everybody has got mixed feelings 
About both the function and the form 
Everybody needs to reverse their polarity 
Everybody has got to elevate their norm

You need to leave out the fiction  
And face the fact that this friction  
Will only be worn by persistence  
You need to leave out the excuses and conditions  
And with your courageous convictions  
You’ll drag this data quality dream into existence

It’s a test of ultimate will 
The heartbreak climb uphill 
But you’ve got to pick up the enterprise pace 
If you want to stay in the competitive race

What your data quality says about your company 
Is what decides if your success can become reality 
Catch the gist, dispel the myth 
Solve the mystery, catch my drift?

Always hopeful, yet discontent 
You know resistance to change will never relent 
You know changes aren’t permanent 
But change is

When your data quality is under observation 
You’ll closely monitor every technical station 
You’ll pick up scraps of critical information 
You’ll become adept at business adaptation

But enough of me giving speeches, because they’re oh so droll 
I’ll leave you alone now and let you rock and roll 
Although I’m good at teaching, sometimes I’m an impatient man 
But I know that you’ll do the very best that you can

From the very first data record, all the way down to the very last 
You’ll feel like the peak will never pass 
Whether expressed with a fervent scream or in a quiet hush 
Data quality is such a rush

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This blog post was the result of an accepted challenge.  For details, click: Challenge Jim