Holiday gift guide: tools and services for leaders and learners

Executive overview

Finding the right tools saves time, reduces friction, and frees attention for what matters. Dave and Bonni Stachowiak share the products and services they actually use — tested before any affiliate relationship existed. Categories span gratitude, learning, productivity, and technology.

The best gift is a tool that solves a real problem you already have.

Showing gratitude creatively

• Greetabl (greetabl.com): a foldable gift box with custom message, up to three photos, and a small physical gift enclosed — more personal than a card, less imposing than a large package
• Useful for post-speaking-engagement thank-yous or any moment requiring a thoughtful, lightweight gesture
• 15% off coupon available via the show notes link

Learning tools

• Blinkist: book summary service — condenses most popular books to 15–20 minute reads; useful for previewing books before buying or refreshing content from books read years ago
• Free trial available via show link
• CreativeLive podcast storytelling course by Alex Bloomberg (formerly of This American Life): recommended for anyone interested in narrative podcasting; only endorse it because they completed it themselves
• Amazon Kindle ecosystem: distraction-free reading device; syncs with Audible so audio and text stay in sync across devices; highlights and notes are shareable; family members can share purchases across linked accounts
• Kindle beats reading on iPad for focus — no notifications, no social media temptation

Productivity and efficiency

• Amazon Fresh: grocery delivery service; monthly fee covers free delivery on orders above a threshold; orders placed the day before; groceries stay cool for ~two hours if unattended; barcode scanner device (Amazon Dash) lets anyone in the household add items by scanning packaging
• Blue Apron: meal kit delivery — pre-measured ingredients plus recipe cards; two meals per week setup; reduces time spent on grocery planning and increases vegetable intake; meals take 30–40 minutes to prepare
• Acuity Scheduling: calendar booking tool that supports multiple staff and shared resources, preventing double-booking; cloud-based so it stays in sync even when your computer is off; supports payment collection at booking; replaced an older desktop-software-dependent system that frequently went out of sync
• Particularly valuable when two people share one studio or set of equipment

Technology and devices

• Apple Watch: bought reluctantly, kept for three unexpected reasons:
  1. Text messages arrive on the wrist — useful for parents who aren't constantly checking their phone
  2. Dictation — ideas, interview follow-ups, and quotes can be captured instantly while driving or walking, sent to a reminders list
  3. Discreet vibration timers — used during meetings to close conversations gracefully, and during keynotes to stay on schedule without visible clock-checking
• SaneBox: AI-driven email filtering that routes newsletters, bulk mail, and lower-priority messages into separate folders; trained by dragging misclassified emails once; claims to save measurable time vs. manual sorting; $15 off plus free trial via show link
• Apple AirPods: wireless earphones that pair with both Mac and iPhone; case doubles as a charging unit with its own battery reserve; combined with the newer Apple Watch, allows phone-free walks with music streaming and call capability

Annual planning

• Michael Hyatt's Best Year Ever course: step-by-step goal-setting process for the year ahead; recommended especially for anyone who has never written down annual goals; course was not yet live at time of recording — link to follow in weekly guide
• Related listening: episode 319 on quarterly planning using the 12-week year model; episode 298 on time-saving and learning tools; episode 129 on personal knowledge management philosophy