Genealogists need genealogical and analytical skills

I really like this quote by Tony Burroughs. It demonstrates why we need to pursue learning everything we can in the field of genealogy, and the reason for my emphasis on genealogy education.

“Access to billions of records will not guarantee genealogical success any more than walking into a library will make people smart. Genealogists will still need genealogical and analytical skills to solve complex problems. Success in genealogy is based on available records, access to resources, knowledge of history, analytical ability, technical skills, genealogical skills and persistence. If any one of these ingredients is lacking, or is not of a high enough skill level, difficult genealogical challenges will go unsolved, often for years.”

Tony Burroughs, “Commentary: Tracing Michelle Obama's roots -- and yours,” CNN.com/Living, October 14, 2009.