The Only Things You Need to Buy to Succeed at Life and Business
November 24, 2025
There are going to be a lot of gift guides coming at you for the next few weeks, but this is the only one worth reading because it is the best. We're going to cover all that you need to survive the holiday season, but also EOY and the liminal swiftly-approaching pressure cooker that is January 2026. Without further adieu, let's shop.
SANITY & SURVIVAL
Marni's new CD, Meryll Rogge sips from a Everything Is Good David Shrigley mug ($14.40) and now so do I. One of the most inspiring business women I know gave me her Rose Tallow Lip Balm ($22) which replaced the bottom-of-the-tote Chapstick, PawPaw and Rhode Glaze in one fell swoop. Whisper “hammam-style bathing practice” and I've added NERRĀ's Exfoliating Body Duo ($48) to cart. I could go on, but for now we'll leave you with the Primally Pure Everything Spray ($24). Lauren swears by spraying it on her face before tough or brain-heavy calls.
GET ONLINE
Still “testing out” AI, boomer? According to our resident tech nerd, Terrence, the only robots you need are:
Granola ($0 - $35/mo) "This product actually has a button to "make me sound smart". I hated meetings before granola."
Claude ($0 - $20/mo) “Perhaps the most un-assuming and helpful version of AI for planning and coding (Sonnet 4.5)”
Cursor ($0 - $200/mo) “Essentially my only marketable skill atm consists of speaking to this black box which grants me magical powers to develop mediocre software. I Cursor, therefore I am employed.”
BEST for The Wall Street Journal + Brick, 2025
GET OFFLINE
As an early-adopter of The Brick ($59), I can say this is possibly the best piece of plastic you will ever buy. The idea is that you stick it on your fridge, making it so you have to physically get up (out of bed) to lock/unlock certain apps. We're so passionate about it, we brokered Brick's first-ever corpo-gifting for one of our longtime clients. Since you're not on your phone, you'll need some neutral Muji Sticky Notes ($1.90), and luxury To-Do Cards ($99). Lastly, give yourself the gift of practice — jogging costs $0.00, our pal Callia says “post-run clarity” has been one of this year's top hacks.
THE JOB YOU WANT
If you are between the age of 30 and 60 you are probably looking for work outfits that tow the line of being outrageously comfortable and Zoom-ready. Adidas track pants ($60) with an oversized LLBean wrinkle-free monogrammed oxford ($77.95) are that for me. I've heard from numerous sources that Nuuly ($60 for one month) is an essential for the hybird-office girlies. Further reading on how to get yourself together: “Am I On Mute? Desk-Up Outfit Diaries,” and the only woman I'm watching when I'm unBricked, Soph Work Baby.
A SUBSCRIPTION
FEED ME ($10/mo) — the GOAT of Substack and absolutely an approved work expense. Endorsed by connector extraordinaire Rachel Huff, and Substack's own Comms Director, Helen Tobin.
Oats Overnight (16 for $60) — never tried ‘em, but / Meredith's favorite flavors are maple pancakes (20g protein) and banana bread (not listed?). OON (or is it ON? unclear…), you need a biiiig rebrand, new photography and web-redesign, pls call ASAP.
Apartmento (16,00€ per issue) — every icon's favorite block of paper yielding hours of inspiration.
Now get shopping, and remember, money is fake.
Happy Holidays,
Your Friends at BEST
