Sanders Says

Top 3 Gadget buys in 2008

Here's my next installment of "best of 2008" lists:  Gadgets. 

I'm an electronic gadget kind-of guy. I love how a gadget can solve a problem. I'm a traveling man also, so gadgets are pretty important to me. I'll buy over a dozen a year. Some rock, others sputter. 

Here are 3 gadgets that changed my life this year: 

USBConnect 881 (ATT-3G)

This handy gadget changed my life. I'd be the first to admit that the internet connection speeds can be slow, but more often than not, I online in two minutes anytime/anywhere (with no login and no reconfiguring my outgoing email, etc.) Oh yeah, and it's got better mobile security too!  

It saves money on hotel internet. My only complaint is that sometimes I have to unplug and reinsert the antenna for it to find reception in hard to reach areas (like airports).

Korg MM1 MetroGnome 

If you like to keep good time while playing an instrument, this is a fabulous solution! 

This fits neatly into your ear and gives you metronome clicks for the full tempo range. I use it while playing acoustic guitar. It keeps the click private and improves your playing at the same time. 

My only beef is that you only get every 2 or 4 beats to choose from (no 92BPM for example). 

A great gift for your favorite musician friend!

Panasonic SFR-S7 Video Recorder

This is hands down, the top gadget of the year for me. This is the smallest camera you can get that maintains good picture, image stabilization and great sound. 

You'd be shocked how good the video turns out on YouTube (check out this interview and this one from Hawaii). It also takes decent pictures. Buy a mini tripod and BOOM, you can video blog all you want. It fits in the palm of your hand, because it uses SD memory cards instead of MiniDV tapes.   

Buy one for yourself!

Give a loaded IPOD for V-Day

I have a fool-proof plan to WOW your business partners this Valentine's Day.

From your best customer to your favorite employee, you can get serious brownie points with a little time and money. When you were younger, you made mix-tapes for your friends and family. They reflected the music the two of you shared in common or gave you opportunity to introduce them to new music.

Here's how you bring this into the 21st century:
1. Pick a list of six people you do business with that you want to give a V-Day gift to.
2. Call or email them to find out which type of music they like.
3. Buy six IPOD 1Gig Shuffle players
4. When you get them, load them up with music based on your first step.
5. Wrap it up, with a handwritten card and deliver it to them.

I've done this dozens of times and it always thrills people. No one has too many IPODs, and the new shuffle is portable and has no moving parts (so you can take it to the beach). Your recipients can also delete what you put on there and load their own later.

If you have time, try this out. Otherwise, stock up on these shuffles and use them to say thank you to people that have done extraordinary things for you.

Last minute holiday gift solutions!

Are you really finished with your holiday shopping? Are you running out of time and can’t stand the thought of fighting traffic at the malls?

Here are six different gifts you can buy in a few clicks. Consider these my gift tips for this season.

Books for a business colleague:
Go Put Your Strengths To Work by Marcus Buckingham
The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Music for a friend:
Rodrigo y Gabriela (a fantastic acoustic guitar record)
Sky Blue Sky by Wilco (my pick for rock record of 2007)

Gadgets for those who have everything:
IPOD 1 Gig Shuffle
(Load it up with music and give it as a 21st Century mix-tape. Even if they already have an IPOD, no one has too many shuffles!)
The Kindle
(Amazon’s amazing new e-book reader. A must have for a gadget head)

Click through at least one of these suggestions and my blog will get credit from Amazon for your entire purchase. I’m donating 100% of my affiliate fees for December to my favorite charity, The National Urban Debate League. So start a last minute shopping spree through my blog and help me give back!

Buy your children their own domain

When I was growing up, the most thoughtful gift I would get from a family member was a savings bond.

Remember? If you waited ten years, it was worth $100.00. It also taught me how to save and think about investing.

Today, there is a new opportunity for you in thoughtful gift giving: The gift of a personal domain. In other words, buy your kids their name-dot-com as a gift.

My ownership of www.timsanders.com is an asset to me. It is a valuable piece of real estate that gives me tons of shortcuts in digital life. My son, Anthony, has his own name-dot-com. Years from now it will be one of his prized possessions.
(Fair disclosure: He bought it for himself.)

You should immediately go to NetSol and see if your children's names are available as a doman. Try to get .com or .net if possible. Buy them for ten years and then present them as a gift to your kids! You'll be surprised how much they appreciate it!

PS -- I bought my mom her own domain (she's in her early 90s, so I don't yet know what we'll do with it). So use your imagination.

Give a biz gift without your name on it

Today I received a great gift from an executive at Accenture. He brought me in to speak to his leadership team a few weeks ago. His gift, a silver serving tray from Neiman Marcus, was special because it lacked one thing: his company's brand.

When you get a "gift" from a business aossiciate that has his company's logo on it, you have just entered a quid-pro-quo marketing execution. You get a piece of swag and by wearing it or using it publicly, you are a marketing agent. On a scale of 1-10, you might feel a 5 when you get a branded gift. Absent the brand, especially if its thoughtful, you will feel and 8 or a 9 most likely.

The birth of unbranded gift-giving in my life:
A few years ago I was visiting Italy on behalf of Yahoo. I brought some nice sweaters for my hosts, complete with the Yahoo logo emblazoned on the front. When I presented these as gifts, I was schooled in the church-and-state line that a true gift doesn't cross. My host kindly said, "is this a gift I give to you, this free advertising?" I got it. From that point forward, I offered Yahoo branded items as "swag" with the understanding that it was a win/win exchange -- not a gift. When I gave gifts, I bought things that I thought they would like and included a simple card.

In the end, the best marketing for your company is delivered when you create an emotionally engaging experience, using the platform of the holidays (their birthday, a milestone, etc.). When the cake, the shirt, the tray or the pen set has your company's brand on it, you decrease the chance of creating that surprise and delight that comes in receiving true gifts.

So be careful if you are about to raid the swag (stuff we all get) closet at your company for last minute gifts. You might be better advised to visit a chocolate shop or even Best Buy.

Know the time, in style.

I got a Concord watch for my birthday from Jacqueline this year. I just love it. It makes me feel like I'm keeping time, in style. Over the last few years, I have developed an appreciation for watches as a form of expression -- and not just function.

If you are still trying to find a holiday gift solution, give a watch some thought. When you shop for watches, take their mutiple roles into account. No one ever has too many watches. There's a great watch for any occassion. You can drown in watch listings on Ebay. You never know, watches may someday be the new shoes.

Gene Stone, is one of the foremost experts on watches. You might say he wrote the book (The Watch) on the subject. Watches have a rich history in our culture, watch this YouTube video interview he gave on CBS. I found the piece to be really informative and well produced.

Recommended last minute gift idea: The Watch by Gene Stone
If someone on your list has a watch obsession, buy them Gene's book -- it is a great coffee table/history/fast read type gift that will keep on giving.