Drink Our Own Champagne
A running list of the gear, books, and everyday tools that actually show up in our own work and home life — the kind we'd hand to a friend without a second thought.
See the PicksThe Concept
Practice What We TeachWe use it before we recommend it.
This isn't a curated ad space — it's the actual gear, books, and household tools currently living in our office and our home.
Every product on this page earned its spot the same way our frameworks do: by getting used, tested, and trusted before we'd ever recommend it to a client. If something stops earning its place, it comes off the list.
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 Studio Controller
The control deck that runs client calls, recordings, and daily workflow without ever touching a mouse. View on Amazon
ZIHVEUC Amber Blue-Light-Blocking Reading Glasses (+2.50)
The pair reached for during long stretches of screen time and back-to-back calls. View on Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 5 (Cloud Blue)
The household hub for grocery lists, front-door messages, and keeping the family calendar straight. View on Amazon
SNAKE OIL Silly Selling Party Card Game
A game night favorite with a sneaky lesson in persuasion — right in line with the Practice stage of our Progression of Performance® model. View on Amazon
Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People
The book that shapes how we teach networking to clients — continuous learning, applied. View on Amazon
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB-C Audio Interface
Part of the setup behind every recorded call and podcast episode. View on Amazon
Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
The mic that actually runs through the interface above — a package deal, in practice. View on Amazon
BlueParrott B450-XT Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headset
Discovered at a truck stop, of all places — spotted drivers using it, asked why, and it earned a spot in the kit. View on Amazon
How Something Makes This List
We use it ourselves
Nothing goes on this page because a brand paid for placement. It's here because it's already in daily use, at the office or at home.
It solves a real problem
Every item earns its spot by doing something specific well — no filler, no "might be useful someday" additions.
No overcomplicated setups
If it takes a manual to enjoy, it's not on this list. These are things that work the way they're supposed to, out of the box.
If it stops earning its place, it's gone
This list gets revisited, not set once and forgotten. What's featured today reflects what's actually still in use.
New picks, added as we find them.
This list grows as new things earn a spot — check back, or follow along for updates.
For a shorter, ongoing dose of this kind of thinking, see Tonkin's Tenets.
Back to the PicksTonkin's Tenets
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