Today was pretty interesting—I was out flying my drone, and for some reason a lot of people kept coming up to me out of curiosity. One conversation that really stuck with me was with someone who seemed pretty new to flying drones. I asked why they got one, and they told me their father had just decided to give it to them. This wasn’t some cheap toy drone either—it was a serious one designed for capturing high-quality footage.
That got me thinking: why would a parent make that kind of investment? From talking to them, it seemed like their dad simply wanted them to try something new and potentially build a valuable skill in a growing field. It made me reflect on how we support the people close to us, whether it’s our kids or friends. Is giving someone the tools or equipment a good way to encourage skill-building through hobbies? When you see an emerging trend in technology or some physical activity, do you go out of your way to nudge them in that direction?
There’s definitely truth to that approach. A lot of my own technical skills actually started as hobbies, and there are famous examples like Tony Hawk, who turned something that wasn’t even profitable at first into a huge industry. In that sense, giving loved ones different kinds of gifts can be a great way to encourage them to explore and try new things, rather than always sticking to what they’re used to.
Of course, with something like a drone, it’s not a small investment—it costs several hundred dollars—so there’s a real risk it might just end up sitting in a closet. But is that something worth thinking about when you’re trying to introduce someone to a trending skill? Even if they don’t end up liking it, at least you tried, right?