How do you shop for the type of person who’s notoriously work-obsessed? Even the shiniest new gadget may not be sufficient to get an entrepreneur’s attention.
A briefcase is too obvious, a business card holder is boring and chances are, they already have a smartwatch. And while you’d love to give them a super talented software engineer or app developer, that’s just not looking feasible. Sure, a handle of good whiskey, a Starbucks gift card or a deep tissue massage are nice ideas, but also somewhat generic gifts for someone who values innovation.
There are endless items out there that could make an entrepreneur totally ecstatic. And since you can’t seem to drag them away from their mobile devices, you might as well give a useful distraction.
To help them stay on top of it all... No matter their venture, entrepreneurs have a lot of moving parts to keep track of. The Nimbus Personal Dashboard ($99.99) can help them keep tabs on everything as well as prioritize, making it less likely they’ll forget an important meeting, miss a crucial tweet or lose sight of stock data. It can display social media networks, email, calendar, weather forecast and even traffic reports. Plus, the four-dial dashboard is also compatible with Fitbit and any other products in the Quirky + GE line.
The best part is that each gauge can be personalized on their mobile device so that the info that’s most relevant or important to them is easily accessible at a quick glance.
For collecting ideas… Some people simply prefer jotting down notes the old fashioned way - on paper. But for an entrepreneur who is constantly generating ideas, it can be tricky to keep track of it all that way. And what if a sudden bout of inspiration goes to waste because you lose the page?
Enter the Evernote Moleskine Notebook ($29.95), which digitizes those notes so they’re quickly accessible and easily searchable. The user can write notes by hand, and then snap a picture of each page to transfer the text to their iOS or Android smartphone app.
For some motivation… A younger or budding entrepreneur might appreciate the thought-provoking book “Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work,” by Steven Pressfield ($11.83). Meant to be a guide that “navigates the passage from the amateur life to a professional practice,” it’s a helpful reference as someone transitions into the often-overwhelming business world. It’s about the inner odyssey every entrepreneur faces, how to deal with the challenges that will inevitably arise on the route from amateur to pro and harnessing your individual power to build your own dreams.
Another worthy read for those launching tech startups is “The Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Products That Win” by Steven Gary Blank ($11.99). It made Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of must-reads for 2014.
For some swagger… Who says entrepreneurs can’t be stylish? After all, in order to make people believe in your business, you need to present yourself in such a way that commands respect, and also demonstrates your unique vision. And nothing says “I’m ready for anything” quite like USB Drive cufflinks ($100).
This sleek little accessory set, which comes in silver, gunmetal and gold, can be engraved for an extra charge, and will definitely come in handy for formal networking events or other special occasions. And since they each have a built-in 4GB USB drive, the wearer is totally prepared to retrieve key documents or other materials in a pinch.
Plus, they’ll look pretty cool whipping it out when they need to access or store a file.
For tuning out distractions... Working from home, an airport, or a co-working space means unavoidable noise, which can make it pretty tough for an entrepreneur to concentrate.
That’s where the Bose QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones ($299.95) come in. It took more than 30 years of research to produce this design, which was just released in September, and it shows: These headphones feature even more effective noise reduction and audio performance than previous models.
That makes them invaluable for drowning out the Taylor Swift booming from their co-worker’s earbuds, passengers’ conversations on a flight or whatever else might compromise their attention, no matter the environment. Best of all, an inline remote and mic allow them to easily take calls with select iPhone, iPad and iPod models and smartphones.
For staying productive in winter... Entrepreneurs are typically ever-connected to their smartphones, tablets, etc. But with frigid temperatures on the way, how are they supposed to keep their fingers from freezing over?
Fortunately, Isotoner SmarTouch gloves ($44-$80) make it entirely possible to stay connected without compromising comfort. They’re touchscreen compatible, water-repellant and ultra warm. As an added bonus, the non-slip grip means less likelihood of shattering that iPhone screen.
