Tech is the New Black: How Wearables Can Help Set You Apart

This post is sponsored by Samsung.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In the boardroom or on the street, first impressions matter; technology can help you make good ones, setting you apart from the crowd. Wearables, for instance, provide utility and functionality while letting those around you know you’re up to speed and dedicated enough to leverage tech tools to meet your goals. Carrying other mobile technologies—tablets and smartphones, for example—show potential clients you (and, by default, your brand) are invested in agility and understanding of your role in the digital marketplace. That digital marketplace, by the way, is stacked with options, so standing out means combining robust computing capability with the versatility of mobile (and the sleek look of fashionable tech)—a mix the new Galaxy Book nails. Let’s dig deeper.

What Our Tech Says About Us

Early adopter. Wealthy and connected. Super geek. Super sporty. All of the above. Tech isn’t just in fashion, it tells us tons about what a person values, how fast they operate, and how open they might be to the new digital world. I once had a co-worker who used a two-year-old smart phone that wasn’t—gasp!—the latest generation. She was often teased by her co-workers and tech-side employees requested to partner with “more connected” teammates when working on shared projects. It was all in fun, but still. All that, just because of her choice of phone!

So, what does your tech say about you? And why does it matter? In your personal life, you might find it easier to connect with new people if you have a new gadget to show off or mutually gawk over. You might even find you become more popular the more new tech you find. After all, there’s a reason so many people wait in long pre-order lines to get the next generation smart phone, or sign up in droves for updates on the release of the new Galaxy Book. It’s cool. It’s wanted. And it makes them cool and wanted in return.

Tech in the Workplace

In a business environment, the issues are similar, but I’d argue the stakes are even higher. As noted above, seeming off trend in the tech age can give the impression you aren’t keeping up with your job or industry, either. To make matters worse, many enterprise companies deploy tech to sales reps or employees serving in other customer-facing roles, and sending them into the field with antiquated tech does more than make a poor tech fashion statement—it makes a statement about the agility of that business (and not a good one). Would you want to do business with a person or a company that does not have the proper tools for the job? I don’t think so.

So, what’s a person to do in the age of tech fashion, especially when trying to make a strong first impression with customers or executives?

1. Embrace your tech personality. There are so many options in wearable tech, from solar panel backpacks to fitness bracelets and spy-like phone watches. Choose your tech to align with the things that you care about—the things that make you YOU. It will send a clear message to those around you that you know who you are, and you’re on the cutting edge of what you value.
2. Realize your tech is part of your persona. Most of us would consider our smart phones a wearable because we never put them down—the same can be said of ultra-portable tablets that enhance productivity and let us work the way we want, whenever, and wherever we want. Know that the more closely you hold onto your tech, the more likely people will associate it with YOU, no matter how new, old, or trendy it might be. It’s a reflection of you, and people are taking note. Choose your tech accordingly.
3. Know your tech will be judged. Just like we evaluate one’s status on cars or shoes, in the new digital age, you will also be judged on your phone and gadgetry. Good or bad, know that carrying old and outdated tablets and phones may reflect poorly on you or your judgement in the eyes of your leaders, customers or coworkers. Getting passed over for a promotion because you don’t have the latest smart watch? It’s possible in the digital landscape, especially if tech is part of your job. Now, there are two sides to the story. You can also be judged positively for leveraging the proper tech. For example, toting around a tablet instead of a clunky laptop to work remotely? That shows you prioritize capability and aren’t afraid to adopt tech solutions that simplify your life.
4. Know where you stand. It’s OK if you don’t value tech the way some early adopters do. Have strength in your convictions, but be willing to accept the cold hard truth noted above.

Wearable tech isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s become even less clunky and even more fashionable than ever before. The versatility of wearable tech transcends smart watches and the like, reaching larger tech staples like mobile phones and tablets. There’s something about having so much capability in such a small package that makes doing what you need to do, wherever you need to do it—all the while making those ever-important good first impressions on friends, colleagues, and clients—effortless.

Additional Resources on This Topic:
Wearables are About Better Experiences—But Can They Stop Being Ugly?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Samsung. The opinions and text are all mine.

Photo Credit: henning.wenk Flickr via Compfight cc