Airports, coffee shops, hell, even your own damn house — everybody’s noisy. You slap in something like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort II, and suddenly the world shuts up. That’s power. Forget pretending to meditate, noise-canceling earbuds are modern therapy. Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the budget version, but don’t kid yourself — you know you want the Bose.
Smart Organization / Cable Management
Nothing screams “rookie” like a desk tangled up like Medusa’s hair. A BlueLounge CableBox hides the shame. Call it cable management, but it’s really reputation management. Clutter-free desk, clutter-free mind — or at least it looks that way on Zoom.
Docking Stations / Charging Hubs
Your laptop ports are crying, but you keep jamming in another dongle like an addict. The Anker 647 docking station or even some 20-in-1 monster keeps everything connected without looking like you hacked it together in a basement. Think of it as your tech butler: quiet, efficient, never rolling its eyes when you forget which cord goes where.
E-Paper Tablets
The reMarkable Paper Pro is what happens when paper finally gives up its last excuse for existing. Notes, sketches, to-do lists — all neat, digital, and ready to sync. No more sticky notes breeding on your monitor like rabbits.
Ergonomic Office Upgrades
Your back hates you. Get a Herman Miller Aeron chair before you need a chiropractor on retainer. Throw in an Ember Smart Mug 2 so your coffee doesn’t die mid-call, and a standing desk so you feel like a Silicon Valley overlord. Comfort = productivity = pretending you love Monday mornings.
Stream Deck / Control Surfaces
The Elgato Stream Deck Neo makes you feel like NASA mission control. One button, endless power — launching apps, switching mics, firing off “sorry I’m late” texts while looking composed on camera. Streamers use it, but entrepreneurs can too.
VR Headsets / Mini Projectors
The Meta Quest 3 drops you into another world — sometimes that’s the only way to escape this one. Or get a mini projector and flex on movie night. Both are proof you still know how to have fun, even if you write it off as “research.”
AI Webcams
The OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite webcam tracks your face like a paranoid ex, but in a good way. Auto-zoom, auto-focus — you can stand, pace, or grab coffee mid-pitch and still look like a pro.
Fitness Trackers / Smartwatches
We’re all “working on our health,” right? A fitness tracker or smartwatch keeps tabs on your steps while silently judging you for UberEats again. Accountability on your wrist.
Gadget Problem-Solvers
Sometimes it’s not about shiny — it’s about saving your ass. A leak alert sensor keeps your basement from becoming a pool. A waterproof phone case saves you from yourself. A portable multi-device charger keeps your gadgets alive at the airport. And a smart ring controller? That’s just showing off — but admit it, you want one.
Security Keys / Password Freedom
Passwords are a scam. Half your day is wasted “resetting” the one you swore you’d never forget. That’s why devices like the YubiKey or Google Titan Security Key exist — they cut out the code-chasing nonsense. One tap, you’re in. Done.
Think of it as the VIP pass to your own accounts. No texts, no six-digit purgatory, no begging your email for that reset link. The pros carry a key, not a sticky note with “password123” on it. Want open-source swagger? SoloKeys has you covered. Or let your phone do the heavy lifting with passkeys baked right into iOS and Android.
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Kevin "KevRoss" Ross is a music and radio industry expert. He is a 20 -plus year entrepreneur with the leading most successful industry trade publication and site Radio Facts (www.radiofacts.com). He has also published various books, magazines, performed marketing and promotions for major corporations and recording artists and he is on the advisory board of several industry organizations. This year Ross introduced his non profit organization LOMARI (Leaders of the Music and Recording Industry) to help teach young minority students how to market and manage their music and products.
