3 Lessons I Learned During CES
It’s no surprise that CES is one of the most anticipated events every year, as brands from all around the world show up to show off their latest innovative concepts. I had the pleasure of attending my first ever CES with Dell this year and while I knew it was going to be a good time, I didn’t expect to have also learned some key life lessons along the way. I guess it’s true what they say, every opportunity is an opportunity to learn right?
In addition to attending CES with Dell, I was also a speaker on the She Means Business panel, moderated by Grace Kao of Instagram. Alongside Amy Nelson of The Riveter and Lindsay Silberman a fellow lifestyle blogger, we discussed our experiences as female entrepreneurs and business owners. It was such a thrilling experience, although I have to admit that I was so nervous and unsure of whether I’d do well. Fortunately, I did well and I’d like to think we all did an amazing job. This experience actually taught me the first of the three lessons I learned during CES, which is to speak on what you know and learn more about what you don’t.
I know what my story is, it’s easy for me to talk about how I got here and what I did, but not everyone has the same journey so you can’t assume that people can automatically relate. I answered presented questions to the best of my own knowledge, but never assumed I knew more than anyone else. I listened intently to Amy and Lindsay’s stories, wanting to know more about each of their own path. I realized that the majority of the time, we’re all eager to talk but hardly patient enough to listen. Since then, I now make sure that I actively listen and guess what? My conversations are a lot more engaging and interesting than before.
The second lesson I learned during CES was actually from the Dell Experience. Dell’s XPS 13 is a beast of a machine, which is not only efficient but increases my productivity when it comes to grad school work and editing photos. Not to mention that it’s small, which makes it easy to travel with plus the 13.4-in touch display makes it perfect for working on the plane too. As impressive as the XPS 13 is, what had me drooling the most was Dell’s concept devices, the Concept Duet and Concept Ori. It’s from seeing these two concept devices that I realized that you can really create whatever it is you need, and that is my second lesson learned. Obviously it takes a lot of money to create devices like this, but take this overarching idea and apply it to entrepreneurship. To create the opportunities you want, you start off by listing out what it is you need. The Concept Duet and Concept Ori answer the need for improving productivity while decreasing the need for extra devices. Granted these are just concepts and not guaranteed to actually be released/produced. However, the idea still stands that you start off by knowing what it is you need first, then create the opportunity by drawing up proposals and locating companies to partner up with based on your needs. Not saying you’ll nail every single pitch you make, but you’ll surely stand out if you have a clear picture of how you and that brand can work together.
I ended CES with a good night’s sleep despite having FOMO on missing out on Drake. However, I learned that you have to trust yourself and listen to your body, and this was the key to surviving CES. Long days are common for events like these, so understandably, taking time to rest and recharge can be hard. However, I learned that even an hour is better than none when it comes to self-care. Fortunate enough to have had an amazing team taking care of us at CES, who scheduled in a visit to the oxygen bar and massages in during the little time we had to spare. It was just enough to keep us going and a good reminder to never forget to take care of you (no matter where you are or what you’re doing).
Big thank you to Dell for taking me along to CES, for this unforgettable experience, and for the lessons learned.
