Of course the first is being a Father, though then you have to put the needlessly complex things together. But along this same holiday-inspired theme, I find myself looking at all the gadgets, gizmos and whiz-bang things out there and immediately rationalizing how “I could really use one of those.”

Having caved to our all-too-influential gadget marketing brethren I refuse to classify ALL of my ill-planned purchases as a complete waste. As it turns out, some could have interesting B2B application.

My lack of patience got the best of me again this year and I purchased a Roku about a month before the holiday. This fun little box connects an otherwise “dumb” TV to the internet allowing for content streaming via open API channels developed by some of our favorite tech-minded companies and other creative individuals. Sure there is Netflix and Pandora, but some companies are said to have developed private channels where they host training or HR videos for internal on-demand use. A clever approach and an alternative to more expensive and complex AV or computer solutions.

Christmas shopping for my wife’s new camera was a dangerous experiment in budgetary restraint. Technology allowing for not only high-quality images but the coupling of location tagged data and connected cameras capable of instant sharing on any number networks or sites opens up some fun possibilities. Imagine sales folks in the field being able to snap images of your product in use and instantly share the real-world application with other employees or potential customers. Map in-use products to a Google satellite image and create a visual footprint so much more interactive than the old single-color overlay of a line drawing.

Just kicking around some ideas like these reveals the potential to create efficient and engaging initiatives using some pretty basic tech toys. Knowing what’s out there and approaching marketing challenges with a wide open mind can produce some fun solutions and, more importantly, results. Could whatever gadget that landed under your tree this year move your business forward? It’s worth a thought.

Now all the gifts have been opened and only time will tell what will become an integral part of my technology mix and what is doomed to go the way of so many Sky Mall impulses. So here’s to shinny things. I’m off, gift cards in hand, to the sensory overload that is my favorite gizmo and gadget store. Mostly because this post helped me rationalize at least a couple new toys. (Sorry hunny.)