A Cautionary Tale on Being Trendy

I remember when I bought by first smartwatch. It was 2000, I was 16, and I thought I was hot stuff.

After ending a vigorous game of Meerca Chase at Neopets.com, I headed over to eBay and headed to my favorite category: technology. 

I was struck by both how cheap and how innovative the merchandise was. I had previously bought a pair of Bluetooth headphones (wires? so 1999 ) and was looking for something to add to my tech arsenal.

I was browsing the category when I finally saw it. A smartwatch. At this time, I didn't even have a smartPHONE, and was enamored with the idea of trading in my rinky dink flip phone in for a phone of the future.

It was shipping from the farthest reaches of China, so I knew I had a while to wait for it. But I happily plunked down the $99.60 from earned from my after-school job at the pet store and waited.

And waited.

And waited. 

What happened on the day I got it and put it on.

"What are you gonna do? Talk into your wrist all day?" my Mom remarked instantly the moment I unboxed my new toy.

I had my Bluetooth headphones, which had remote buttons that were supposed to control the smart watch.  

"Who are you Dick Tracy?"

"Seriously, did you think this was a good idea? What if you don't have your headphones with you? You forget your lunch everyday, how are you going to remember those headphones and a watch?"

I promptly took it off and NEVER put it on again.

She was right, I begrudgingly admitted. The smart watch from China was intended to be a replacement for my phone, and the technology was not ready it.

Apple Watches are popular now because they extend the experience of a smartphone, not replace it. 

Here’s your takeaway - make sure you are doing something because it’s needed.

Your customers should tell you what they want, not the trends. Make sure that you are doing things because you know people need them, and not just because they would look amazing on a portfolio. Impact real change!