What value does data modeling contribute to an organization, and how can that value be increased? Starting with analogies from Native American storytelling traditions and drawing on his experiences as an officer in Toastmasters (the International public speaking organization), Larry shows us how we can be data modeling Shamans. We can use data models to bring people together to solve business problems, reengineer inefficient business processes, forge agreements on data meanings, create new business opportunities, and promote data quality and reuse. Drawing from a host of disciplines, from storytelling to cognitive behavioral therapy, from landscaping to Human-Centered Design, from business process reengineering to domain-driven development, from Agile to object-oriented design, Larry weaves all these threads together into a compelling narrative of using data to get us successfully from where we are now to where we want to be! If you're a data professional, the bad news is that change is inevitable. But the good news is that change is not only possible, but fun! Larry's book shows how to navigate the shoals of business and technology change, from Agile development to NoSQL databases to Domain-Driven Development to microservices to cloud computing. The Journey starts here.