You get what you need.

 “Do you really need this data?”  is a useless question 

Because 99 times out of 100 you’ll get a yes.  

Even if that data was used once three years ago to answer an audit question.  Or it helped satisfy a customer with whom you’ve parted ways.  Or it’s a redundant duplication of a something they already have. Or it represents an outdated way of looking at the business. 

Because it’s easier to say yes then actually take responsibility for giving something up. 

You want to make your users happy. 

You want them to know that you’ve heard them and have listened to their concerns. 

But you can’t both transform your business and keep everything you’ve always had.  Unless you never plan to finish your project. 

Instead, you need to understand what they are trying to accomplish.  And then determine what they need to meet those goals. 

And if you can deliver what they need to meet those goals, they might have a change of heart. 

Because while you can’t always get what you want, you can get what you need.