My mentor, Dr Neil Postman, founder of media ecology and a student of Marshall McLuhan, wrote in 1982 that our reliance on data causes us to stop thinking. We activate thinking through ideas and education. I add to Dr. Postman’s equation workforce diversity. In the next few days and weeks, every time you hear or read the word data, ask yourself ‘what is the idea behind the data?’ How is it adding to your knowledge and the knowledge of your colleagues, clients and stakeholders?  You’ll learn my answers and how you can ask the right questions in my new 3-minute ThinkTank, Data vs. Ideas: Is it a Competition? Also listen to my recent 3-minute ThinkTank, Battle for the Soul of Media.