Purpose Over Pipelines

If your problem does not include building a real-time, big data pipeline then I don't want anything to do with it...

Sometimes, we (data professionals) get so caught up in obsessing over tools and technologies that we forget to ask a more fundamental question: Why are we trying to use data in the first place?

Here's an analogy: If I need to assemble a piece of Ikea furniture, my first instinct is to grab my trusted cordless power screwdriver. I take pride in choosing the right tools for the job. But isn't the harder question deciding what furniture I need to buy in the first place?

The same applies to data projects. Instead of waiting for perfectly defined project requirements just to use a tool I'm familiar with, why not seek opportunities to shape the project from the beginning? Look for ways to help define the "why" and "what" — not just the "how."

It's in this shift — from execution to problem definition — that data professionals can drive more impact on business outcomes.