Tools of the Trade is a feature to highlight the many tools that contribute to the success of advertising and marketers. Tools can be anything that helps people be at the top of their game, from a favorite drawing table to the best software to a lucky pen to a vintage typewriter to a pair of headphones.
The next step is Jarron Vosburgvice president of growth at JumpCrew in Nashville.
What tool do you use all the time at work and how does it inspire your work?
My Moleskin notebook. I’ve had it for years, since I started my career in sales/marketing, and I use it every day at work. In a world where everything is digital and automated by technology, writing in my Moleskin notebook keeps me centered and enhances my creativity. This notebook showed me the benefits of writing things down rather than typing them. My memory improved, it allowed me to define and achieve my clients’ goals, and simply to be more organized in my thoughts.
Why is this your favorite?
It’s the size of a wallet, fits in my back pocket and I don’t go anywhere without it. It’s really convenient to carry for my daily tasks. Not only do I have the memory of a goldfish, but there’s also something cathartic about tactilely writing down thoughts, tasks, feelings, or whatever passes through my brain during the day. I also noticed that my productivity increased, which allowed me to help clarify and better process information.
How did you acquire your tool or first hear about it?
I first received my Moleskin notebook in 2014. I noticed a stranger using it at a coffee shop and asked him where he got it. The timing worked out really well because it was almost the holidays and I added it to my Christmas gift wish list. With the holiday season upon us, it’s not the best time to ditch your phone, laptop, or device and start writing.
How does this help you succeed?
My brain can be a messy place sometimes, so putting chaos in black and white helps me organize, prioritize, take action, and keep a historical journal of progress over time. It helped me take action and it’s also a form of therapy. Writing is very therapeutic and at work, when things can get very busy and hectic, writing has helped calm my mind.
Does it have sentimental value?
Absolutely. I never get rid of my Moleskin notebooks. I’ve tried to save each Moleskin once it’s full and occasionally flip through pages to laugh at my old self. I can see how much I’ve done and the progress that’s been made, as well as the occasional laugh.
Do you think your tool could go viral on TikTok? Why or why not?
I’ve never personally used TikTok (I’m an old man at heart), but I love Moleskin so much that I would volunteer to figure out how to make it go viral on TikTok.
We want to know what tools you use to succeed. If you would like to contribute or know someone who would like to be featured in Tools of the Trade, contact [email protected] and fill our investigation.
