Stateside with Stephanie
Eureka Park expo floor . ( Eureka Park is the start-up / new product launch area of CES . In 2024 , there were 1,300 + new companies .)
He stated : “ The start-up culture is very important to have at all shows . It ’ s the path to entry into an industry – and it ’ s the right thing [ for organisers ] to do .”
One of my favourite passages from the book relates to Start- Up Pivots : “ We tell Eureka Park exhibitors to wear comfortable shoes and keep drinking water , but more importantly , we tell all our start-up entrepreneurs to be prepared to pivot [ regarding feedback from visitors ]. The
ones who come only looking for investment – and not for advice – are less likely to succeed .”
More than perhaps any other culture , Americans have come to embrace failure and see it as a learning opportunity . In the Failure Pivot chapter , Gary shared an interesting story about how ‘ Angry Birds ’ ( the very successful video game and movie franchise ) was invented out of the failure of another product . When leaders are adaptable and “ don ’ t live in fear of failure ,” pivots can happen ( along with success .)
Looking to the future , what book on technology wouldn ’ t include
AI ? Gary sees AI technology as “ horizontal ”, meaning it cuts across every area and business in the technology industry .
He says : “ What does this mean for business ? If you ’ re not already thinking about how to integrate AI into your business , likely , you ’ re already behind . That doesn ’ t mean every product needs to put AI front and centre . However , you should consider how AI tools can enhance productivity , strengthen customer relationships , and help your employees do what they do better . This is the age of the AI pivot , and working without it risks being left out of advances that are reshaping what ’ s possible .”
“‘ Success pivoters ’ are excited about change . They love a challenge . And , most of all , they ’ re visionaries – often even more so than those who execute any other type of pivot . They ’ re able to see emerging trends and where things are headed and to get out in front .”
Gary posits a pivot doesn ’ t have to be a 180-degree manoeuvre . It may be incremental – 45 or 90 degrees – more of a course correction . “ The value of a pivot built on prior success – rather than one prompted by failure , or the fear of it – is the luxury of time , resources , and a deep knowledge base to devote to investing in new areas of growth and opportunity .”
His advice for other exhibitions is to make sure your show provides business justification , along with third-party audits of your industry . For leaders , “ Be yourself , honest , kind , praise publicly , chide privately , wear comfortable shoes , have empathy , and provide a phenomenal customer experience .”
I found Pivot or Die to be an interesting read that made me examine how I look at and adapt to change . It ’ s worth the read . EW
www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 5 2024 19