Over the years working with users I have created various databases. One trait seems to be in evidence during this exercise – people generally want more detailed information than they can realistically maintain. In other words, there seems to be a slippery slope going from needed information to secondary "nice to know" but nonessential information.
Today I purchased a small $20 vacuum cleaner that came with a registration form. The form in length is printed on legal size paper and contains scores of "nice to know" marketing related questions in fine print. Needless to say I took one look at the form and tossed it in the trash. To carefully fill out the form, I would require payment of at least $10. In short, the list of questions reflect management's comprehensive perspective, but not the perspective of the one who must supply the information. Thus, despite good intentions, management obtained no information rather than some essential information due to negligence of the Golden rule and realistic expectations.
In my own lists, I find it much easier to put down a set of priorities than to keep them. In fact, though I faithfully refer to my list of priorities daily, the Holy Spirit will not infrequently overrule them and send me out to follow its own urgent agenda. So on a daily basis, I conclude that in the end it is preferable to give up set plans for spiritual imperatives--however stressful and upsetting this can be to one's need for ordered efficiency.
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