What Happens in Vegas… Builds a Career

When I was 15, my mom took me to my first jewelry show in Las Vegas.

Now, to most teenagers, "Vegas" sounds like flashing lights, fancy hotels, and buffets taller than your GPA—but for me, it was a crash course in entrepreneurship disguised as a vacation.

I remember walking into that convention hall at 7:30 a.m., still half-asleep but pretending I was a seasoned professional. While my friends were sleeping in or hanging out at the mall, I was learning how to answer questions about gold karats, gemstone cuts, and margins per gram. (Very glamorous, I know.)

By 5 p.m., my feet ached, my voice was hoarse, and I had eaten my weight in complimentary mints—but I was hooked. There was something electric about being surrounded by people from all over the world who spoke the same glittering language of craftsmanship and hustle.

At 15, I thought I was just skipping a week of school.

At 35, I realized I was being shaped. Molded. Groomed into who I am today.

Over the years, I kept going back to those shows—year after year—watching how trends, economies, and people evolved. Looking back, here's what I learned from standing behind that booth:

Surround yourself with brilliance.

Literally and figuratively. Being around people smarter and more capable than you will never make you smaller—it'll make you shine brighter.

Networking isn't just for grown-ups.

I met companies back in my teens that I still work with today. They've now passed the torch to their kids, just like my parents did with me. Full circle moments are real—and gold.

The frontlines always see the truth first.

Whether it's a jeweler at a booth or a mom in a messy kitchen—those in the trenches know where the world is heading before the analysts do.

Let your kids see your world.

Even if they roll their eyes now, they're absorbing your work ethic, your grit, and your magic. Someday they'll thank you for letting them see you be the person they admire.

People often ask me if there's anything I wish my parents had done differently. Sure, there's always a list—but it's far outweighed by the things they did do. They gave me opportunity, responsibility, and a front-row seat to what passion and persistence look like in real life.

And that, my friends, is worth more than gold.

Note to readers:

Next time you bring your kid along to "boring work stuff," remember—you might just be giving them a glimpse of their own future. What happens in your world today might just build theirs tomorrow.

Love, Gemma & Jules’s Mom