No affiliate links in this post. Links are just links.
Pen of choice
Lamy Swift Retractable. Rollerball. The metal body feels oddly good in my hand, a little weighty in the best possible way. Typically I don’t like writing instruments made of metal or wood, the hand feel is off. But somehow, not with the Lamy Swift.
On the contrary. It makes me want to write. I find excuses to write with the Lamy Swift. To-do lists, journaling, reminders, commonplacing, random stream-of-thoughts, you name it. As long as I have the right pen and the right paper… which brings me to the next favorite item on my list.
Favorite notebooks
In this order:
- Paperblanks They’re beautiful to look at, and the writing experience is out of this world. Pair them with a great writing instrument like the Lamy Swift or a nice fountain pen, and I guarantee you the creative juices will show up in no time.
- Leuchtturm I have several of them: ruled, dot grid… each notebook serves a different purpose. Again, they bring out the best in your writing instruments. Whether it’s bullet journaling, a to-do list, or notes from a meeting, this notebook is my trusty companion.
- Rhodia Notepads or notebooks, the paper is unbelievably smooth. Writing on it has a calming effect on my nervous system. And it just knows how to love my pens.
Bonus: they’re one of the few notepads you’ll find around here with my beloved yellow paper stock. Those legal pads are surprisingly hard to find around these parts.
Honorable mentions:
- Clairefontaine Didn’t make gold, silver, or bronze, but the writing experience is still outstanding, and well worth having in your collection.
- Apica Beautiful in its simplicity, and so pleasant to write in. I haven’t used my Apica in a while, but it did an incredible job holding my thoughts circa 2019 and through the early months of Covid. Not the best time for me (for reasons unrelated to Covid) and I took comfort where I could find it. Turns out a Japanese notebook was exactly the place to do so.
- Mead composition notebooks. Let’s not kid ourselves, the paper stock won’t elevate your writing experience. But it does have that childhood nostalgia factor. Truth be told, it always was the reassuring keeper of my thoughts.
Best environment for deep work
Noise-cancelling headphones on. Asynchronous communication only, please, unless there’s an actual emergency. (And if emergencies keep surfacing… we’re not doing deep work. In that case, we *will* need to revisit the timeline.)
In any case, you’ll definitely hear from me when I’ve made something worth showing.
Ideal work setup
Mostly remote. I love people. I love being part of a team. I also know that building something special requires deep focus. Creativity doesn’t happen in 10-minute intervals.
Right now, as I write these words, do you think five people are sitting around me having a chat? No. And this isn’t even the kind of work that requires the most focus.
Preferred attire
Casual. Hoodie, jeans, sneakers.
How I organize my thoughts
Pen first. Then keyboard. Thinking isn’t digital. I always have a notebook within arm’s reach.
Noise tolerance
Surprisingly good… especially with a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4s in tow. But I prefer controlled sound to unpredictable sound. Let’s not invent new ways to increase cognitive load.
What I want from a manager
- Clarity
- Respect
- Space
- Support
Not someone who hovers, but definitely someone with real leadership who has their team’s back.
A fine manager once told me he expected his team to work hard, but that he was their lightning rod. His job was to protect them so they could do theirs.
And to be clear, I’ve had wonderful managers, four of them in fact. Two came as close as you can get to perfection.
Favorite kind of work
Building ideas, shaping narratives, and crafting strategy with small teams.
Why small teams, you ask? Not only is it my personal preference, but the fact that they tend to outperform larger ones is backed by research:
That tracks with my experience. Too many cooks in the kitchen and whatnot.
Feedback style I appreciate
Clear, but thoughtful. “I don’t like that color” is not constructive feedback. “I’m not sure how I feel about this” isn’t actionable unless you follow it up with something specific.
How I describe what I do
I make complex things easier to understand.
Design philosophy
Communicate, don’t decorate.
(One of our earliest design teachers said this. I forget who actually authored the idea, but they were right.)
So what you do you say? Do you think we’d be a good fit for each other? HMU, let’s talk!
This post was co-written with ChatGPT to refine ideas, structure arguments, and enhance clarity.