Tools that made me 10x better (a very special Black Friday list) 🎄

47 non-obvious products I use daily to maximize my creativity, focus, and happiness

Nov 29, 2024

❤️‍🔥 A Quick Note to Say Thanks

Before diving into my favorite products, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude. This newsletter has grown beyond my wildest dreams, reaching 26,000+ subscribers, and your feedback always makes my day. Here are just a few messages that warmed my heart recently:

“I open every newsletter and read till the end. Straight to the point and so much value!” - Nika Kotláriková, Marketing Executive
“It’s one of the things I look forward to the most every week. You make my Fridays become even better.” — Kevin Lustgarten, Founder of Unspoken
“Warning: Once I started reading Tom’s newsletter, I couldn’t stop. It’s educational and addictive.” – Eliran Abukasis, Founder of Wysom
“This is the only newsletter I actually read!” - Shiran Katz, Marketer at UNIPaaS

🛍 The Official Gift Guide for Creative People

Welcome to my first-ever gift guide! As a marketer obsessed with optimizing everything in life, I’ve assembled this list of products that have leveled up my focus, creativity, and happiness.

Most of these are on sale today for Black Friday, so there has never been a better time to treat yourself (or someone you want to impress). Full disclosure: I may earn a small cut if you buy through the links. Thanks for supporting this newsletter!

**You can also use this beautiful Google Sheet where you can tick your favorite gifts and create your own wishlist.

🎯 Focus & Productivity

Mod Kitchen Timer (but NOT for cooking): The simplest productivity hack that changed my life. I just twist this basic timer for 10 minutes whenever I start a task. If I need more time → I twist again. The physical reminder of passing time keeps me from doomscrolling.

Infinity Cube: Some people (like me) focus better when their fingers are busy fidgeting. This cube is perfect because you can do satisfying flips with one hand while keeping your other hand on the mouse.
Samsung Galaxy Z-Flip 6: After 12 years with iPhones, I ‘flipped’ to this phone and my life can be split into before vs after. I found myself checking notifications on the outer screen only, thus NEVER wasting time on apps I never intended. Only when I have more time or want to do serious work - I open up the phone. The productivity gains are worth every penny.

MacBook Air 15” (2024): I hesitated to include this because it might seem too obvious, but this is genuinely the machine where all the magic happens — and it’s on sale today. Supports 100+ open tabs on Chrome simultaneously (which is all I need in life).
Minix Neo P3 100W Charger: One of my weird house rules: every place where my butt can sit must have a charging brick nearby. One near my desk, one by the living room sofa, one at my bedside. Now I never interrupt my flow because of a dying laptop. It’s powerful enough for MacBooks and has extra ports for phones/tablets. Includes adapters for EU & UK.
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini: My first mechanical keyboard. Perfect if you want to be writing more online. 90% of this newsletter was written on it. The clicky sound is soooo satisfying it makes me write for longer sessions. Zero setup is needed and it’s available in both black and white.

MX Mechanical Mini Wireless Keyboard for Mac | Logitech

Sea Salt + Sage Candle: I light this on my desk whenever I start working. The flame gives me something in motion to look at when I need to drift off with my thoughts during work. This specific smell is oddly satisfying.
Fluidstance Balance Board: Standing desk accessory that keeps me moving subtly while working. Great for staying energized during long creative sessions. Cheaper options are available too.

🧪 Ideas & Creativity

Meta Smart Glasses: My favorite item on this list. They look like normal glasses but secretly beam sound to your ears. I now listen to 3x more audiobooks and podcasts than before. Perfect for the office - I can listen while looking fully present (no visible headphones). Plus, living in NYC, I can quickly capture crazy street moments without pulling out my phone.
Audible Unlimited: I use this more than Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video combined. With unlimited audiobook access, I freely switch books if one isn't clicking after a few chapters. Perfect pair to the Meta glasses above. This special link lets you try unlimited for $0.00.
Shower Notes: Fun fact: About 50% of the marketing ideas in this newsletter came to me while showering. This waterproof notepad sticks to your shower wall and lets me remember those super creative moments. Use it!

Smart Brevity book: My writing bible (mentioned in my “How I grew this newsletter” article). A goldmine for ANY kind of writing — even Slack messages. I've gifted it to 10+ friends who all loved it.
Show Your Work book: One of my favorite career hacks is strategically sharing your marketing wins. This book shows exactly how to do it without coming across as bragging. The ROI on proper self-promotion is insane.
The Creative Act: When I feel stuck creatively, this book is my spiritual guide to finding a creative flow. Perfect for marketers who need to consistently generate fresh ideas. The audiobook version (on Audible) is especially meditative.
Kindle Paperwhite 2024: My Kindle turned 10 years old this year so I got the new one - it's insane how fast and crisp it is. My favorite go-to-sleep device.

🏠 Home

OBSBOT Tiny 2 Webcam: I did extensive research before choosing a webcam, and wow. I’m literally the only one that looks good when team meeting recordings are shared. It does cool tricks like following your head movements and responding to hand gestures for zoom control.
Blue Snowball Microphone: Super cheap professional microphone I use for all my Zoom meetings and speaking sessions. Crystal clear audio without the complexity of pro-level setups.
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: I asked my wife what’s the one thing that made our life most comfortable in 2024, and she didn’t hesitate for a second - this cleaning robot. The AI is scary good: it recognizes and avoids everything from cables to cats. Yes, it’s expensive, but divide the cost by the hours of cleaning it saves you, and the robot is basically paying you to own it 🤓
Fellow Stagg Kettle: The only ‘premium’ item in my kitchen. Beautiful, precise temperature control, and keeps water hot for 60 minutes. Seeing this gorgeous piece every morning starts my day right.

Fellow Stagg EKG 0.9L Kettle - Black and Maple – Whole Latte Love

Under Cabinet Motion Sensor Lights: This is a must-have in any house. These battery-powered strip lights automatically illuminate when they detect movement. I’ve hidden 10 around the house (closets, bedside, above sink) and my wife gets a nice surprise every time she finds a new one.
Cheerble Interactive Cat Ball: If you have a cat, this $30 toy is life-changing. It’s an automatic jumping ball that moves when touched - keeps cats entertained for hours when you need to focus.

🧑‍💻 Office

High Five Sticky Notes: I started sticking these on people's desks at the office, and everyone loves it. For $5, it's the best ROI I’ve ever had in terms of getting social love at work.

Stanley GIANT Water Bottle (2.8 litter): It became a meme in the office, but I’m drinking so much more water by not having to visit the kitchen every hour. Perfect for deep focus sessions when you don’t want to break flow. Also available in a slightly less monstrous (but still big) 1.8L version.
Insults & Comebacks Lines book: As an introvert who used to remain silent when faced with difficult people, this book changed my life. It’s full of ready-to-use comebacks that keep you professional & respectful (if you choose to be so).

🎮 After Hours

Miyoo Mini V4: This REALLY tiny GameBoy Advance emulator is amazing. Whenever I’m waiting in a queue or ride the subway, I just take it out and play for 2-3 minutes. Amazing for travel without adding weight. I played Pokemon FireRed in the middle of the Thai jungle during our honeymoon - surreal experience:

PS5 Pro: Just bought it 2 weeks ago, and my new hobby is swinging around NYC in Spider-Man (not even completing quests - just enjoying flying around). It is definitely the happiest I’ve been in my free time.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (card game): The perfect party game that takes 30 seconds to learn. Just writing about it makes me think of all the times I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. Even better when you realize a 7-year-old invented it!
The Happy Isles puzzle: I’m not really into puzzles, but this one’s special. Created by magicians, this 1,000-piece puzzle does an actual magic trick (!) when you complete it. Don't look at spoiler reviews - just trust me on this one.
“How To” and “What If” books: Super nerdy but guaranteed conversation starters when left on the coffee table at home. Flip to any random page and you can talk about it for hours. Both books are equally fascinating.
Hadestown lyrics book: My favorite Broadway show right now. The show is almost entirely sung-through, so reading the lyrics in the book while listening to the soundtrack is a fantastic way to experience the musical without leaving home.
“Go F*ck Yourself I’m Coloring” adult coloring book: Super relaxing, surprisingly affordable, funny, and a great way to decompress after a long day.
Launchpad Novation: The only musical instrument I play. Bought it 9 years ago after watching this viral video, and it still brings me joy. Perfect for 5-minute breaks during work - like typing on a keyboard but 10x more satisfying. Way cheaper than a digital piano too.

😴 Rest & Recovery

Sleep Mist Pillow Spray: If there’s one thing that actually improved my sleep quality, it’s this simple spray. 2-3 spritzes on the pillow before bed and I’m out like a light.
Breathing Buddha: This minimalist light-changing doll guides your breathing patterns before bed. No complex tech. Two minutes with this little friend has transformed my pre-sleep routine.

Push-Up Bars: Sounds silly but having these in my living room has me doing push-ups every morning and evening. The handles keep your hands clean (no need to touch the floor), which was surprisingly the main thing stopping me before.
yescool Weighted Blanket: If you haven’t tried a weighted blanket yet, it feels like a cozy hug all night long. You’ll thank me after your first night under it.
Oura Ring 3: I hate jewelry, but my wife convinced me to get this as an engagement ring. Now I’m hooked. The sleep tracking is incredible, it barely needs charging, and I don’t even notice it’s on my finger.
Casio WS-B1000 Watch: Perfect minimalist semi-smartwatch for under $60. Counts steps, shows date, sets alarms, and most of all — helps me keep my phone outside the bedroom.
Soundcore Sleep A20: I don’t use these every night, but when I have insomnia and can't sleep, I put these on and play an audiobook → usually fall asleep within minutes. Unlike regular earbuds or headphones that get uncomfortable, these are specifically designed for sleeping - you can actually sleep on your side with them.

🎒 Travel

HoverAir X1 drone: Unlike regular drones that require complex controls and licenses, this one is completely autonomous - just throw it in the air and it starts following you. It’s so tiny it fits in your pocket (seriously, it’s the size of my old iPhone). The only downside: The battery only lasts 5 minutes, but that's usually enough time to get the perfect shot on a vacation.

NOMATIC backpack: The backpack I’ve been using daily for 5 years - from office commutes to coffee shop hopping in Brooklyn to vacation. Thoughtfully designed, AAA quality.
Insta360 X4 tiny camera: Oh, how I love this camera. You don't need to “point” the camera - it captures everything in 360° and you choose the angle later in the app. The selfie stick even magically disappears from the final footage. I took it to Namibia dunes and LOVED it. 👇

Ostrichpillow Go: The travel pillow that actually works. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to those U-shaped airport ones.
Avantree Replay: A tiny device that connects your AirPods to airplane entertainment systems. Makes long flights much more enjoyable.
Hands-free Sketchers: My daily shoes! This genius design has fake laces but slips right on, without tying. You can even put them on while standing. Available for both women and men. They’re perfect for creative people who hate unnecessary friction in their day (e.g. putting shoes on/off).

🎁 The Grand Finale

I’ve saved something special for last. It’s probably the item I stare at the most during my nightly work sessions, and every single person who visits my home asks about it within minutes of arriving. It’s mesmerizing and magical. You must see it in person to believe.

Click below to see what it is:

Reveal The Item