Tools & Guides

Resources for intentional engineers

Study guides, analog tool recommendations, and books that have shaped the way I think about planning, engineering, and building a deliberate life.

Stationery & Tools

Analog Tools I Recommend

The physical tools that have become part of my daily planning practice. Each one chosen for a reason — not nostalgia, but precision.

*These are Amazon affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Notebooks & Planners

Pocket Journal

Lochby Mini Field Journal*

Compact, durable, always in my pocket. Ideal for quick captures throughout the day.

Amazon
Daily Carry

Lochby Voyageur*

My main daily planner. The layout that keeps my work and personal planning in one place.

Amazon
Organizer

Lochby Venture Pouch*

Keeps pens, cards, and inserts together. The analog version of a desktop dock.

Amazon
System

Lochby Quattro*

Four-section layout for separating projects, tasks, notes, and reference. Built for systematic thinkers.

Amazon
Premium Paper

Lochby Tomoe River Notebook*

Thin, fountain-pen-friendly Tomoe River paper in a Lochby format. Ink shading looks exceptional on this.

Amazon
Pocket Carry

Field Notes*

Always in the back pocket. For anything that needs to leave my head before it disappears.

Amazon
Leather Cover

Paper Republic Grand Voyageur

A leather cover system that holds inserts, cards, and a pen. The most tactile part of my daily carry.

Paper Republic
Planner System

Sterling Ink Planners

A beautifully designed planner for intentional living. Thoughtful layout built for focus and reflection.

Sterling Ink

Pens & Writing

Fountain Pen

Kaweco Sport*

Pocket-sized, capped, and reliable. Clips into any cover without adding bulk.

Amazon
Fountain Pen

TWSBI Eco & Go*

Demonstrator body, smooth writer, great ink capacity. The pen that converted many skeptics.

Amazon
Fountain Pen

Traveler's Company FP*

Made to pair with the Traveler's Notebook system. Slim, elegant, and writes beautifully out of the box.

Amazon
Ballpoint

Traveler's Company BP*

When a fountain pen isn't the right tool. Smooth, confident line for quick notes and signatures.

Amazon
Pencil

Traveler's Company Pencil*

For sketches, calculations, and anything that needs to be erasable. Pairs perfectly with the notebook system.

Amazon
Gel Pen

Zebra Sarasa Grand Vintage*

The gel pen that writes like butter. Vintage ink tones that look refined on any paper.

Amazon
Gel Set

Zebra Sarasa Vintage Set*

A curated set of muted, vintage-tone colors. Great for color-coding a planner without it looking like a highlighter explosion.

Amazon
Bolt Action

Big Idea Design Baseline*

Satisfying bolt-action mechanism, machined precision. The pen for when you want writing to feel like an event.

Amazon
Brush Pen

Tombow Fudenosuke*

Firm tip, excellent control. My go-to for headers and titles in notebooks and planners.

Amazon
Brush Pen

Tombow Dual Brush Pen*

Two tips, endless color options. For lettering, color-coding, and adding visual structure to a spread.

Amazon
Highlighter

Zebra Mildliners*

Muted, ink-friendly highlighters that don't bleed or overwhelm a page. The only highlighters worth using with fountain pens.

Amazon

Focus Tools

Visual Timer

Time Timer*

A shrinking red arc shows exactly how much time remains. No noise, no distraction — just visual focus. Transformed how I work through deep tasks.

Amazon

Reading List

Recommended Books

Books that have shaped how I think about planning, engineering, career, and living deliberately.

*Amazon affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Bullet Journal Method
Planning

The Bullet Journal Method

Ryder Carroll

Amazon*
So Good They Can't Ignore You
Career

So Good They Can't Ignore You

Cal Newport

Amazon*
Deep Work
Productivity

Deep Work

Cal Newport

Amazon*
The Design of Everyday Things
Design

The Design of Everyday Things

Don Norman

Amazon*
The Obstacle Is the Way
Mindset

The Obstacle Is the Way

Ryan Holiday

Amazon*
Ego Is the Enemy
Mindset

Ego Is the Enemy

Ryan Holiday

Amazon*
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Biography

Einstein: His Life and Universe

Walter Isaacson

Amazon*
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Biography

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

Walter Isaacson

Amazon*

See It in Action

Watch how I actually use this gear — in real planning sessions, not staged setups.

Read the Blog

Deeper dives into the thinking behind analog tools, planning systems, and intentional work.