Gift Idea: Conference Pass vs New Gadget

Posted on | December 11, 2009 | 11611 Commenthttp://www.360flex.com/blog/2009/12/gift-idea-conference-pass-vs-new-gadget/Gift+Idea%3A+Conference+Pass+vs+New+Gadget2009-12-11+15%3A00%3A00Tom

As the holidays are coming up, we find there is the proverbial question: “What would you like for a gift?” I know for me, it’s a tough question. It’s not tough for me like it is for say my 5 yr old. He changes what he wants Santa to give him almost daily. No, instead, for me, I just can’t really say there is something that I want. Sure, there’s a bajillion new gadgets out there that would be neat, but it just seems silly to me to ask for one of those.

I’ve been pondering it though and I think there is something that I would ask for. In this new economy, one can really only depend on oneself for professional success. Gone, it seems, are the days where you could spend 30 years at a company, dedicating your life to help it succeed and where it would reward that dedication with retirement. My dad caught the tail end of that bus and had to retire “early” for fears of the company pulling those benefits altogether.

I know that there will likely not be Social Security for me. 401Ks just seem crazy to me because I don’t see how it differs from gambling in Vegas (at least Vegas has buffets!). No, the only thing that will pay for me to live it up in old age will be my hard work. I’ll need to create the future that I want to live in financially and professionally.

That’s why I think I’d ask for a conference pass as my gift. Yeah, I can hear all you naysayers out there, touting this as a gimmick to sell tickets. I’ll admit, it’s true. However, you have to remember, I helped start this conference for one reason: to help people better themselves by increasing their skillset in Flex and ActionScript. That’s still the reason why I work on this show. It may be my final 360|Flex as an organizer, but it won’t be my last 360|Flex ever. The vibe is too magical to miss. The community is too full of friends that I *must* see to keep my spirits high. The speakers are too amazing to miss from a learning perspective.

Therefore, if you find yourself wondering what to ask for (or give) that would be meaningful this holiday season, I’d suggest a pass to 360|Flex. While a new gadget gets boring after a few hours, a 360|Flex conference creates bonds and memories that last a lifetime. Don’t believe me? Check out what past attendees have to say. Here’s the registration site: http://360flex.eventbrite.com I hope to see you there in March.

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