What's in Your Backpack, Andy Ellwood?

Mont Blanc Pen

During my first year out of college, I achieved national recognition for a sales competition I was a part of. My first boss walked into my office and gave me his Mont Blanc pen and said, “Congrats. Use this for signing more deals.”

That pen only comes out when I’m inking a contract, but I have it with me at all times because you never know how quickly a great project might come together.

Moleskin Notebook

I started journaling in 1997 and have amassed a pretty good collection of thoughts, memories, and doodles over the years. I take all my notes in meetings by hand and find the tactile discipline of writing out my to-do lists and weekly goals to be incredibly calming.

And, it is much more gratifying to scratch something off the list with a pen than it is to hit “delete” on a computer.

All Apple All The Time

I have a MacBook Pro and an iPad 2 that are my lifeline to the rest of my team regardless of where I am in the world. I hate having internet on flights as that is a great chance for me to catch up on all of the email debt that accumulates when I am on the go.

So I usually blow through the MacBook battery first, and then switch to the iPad 2.

GQ, Harvard Business Review, Vaniety Fair & Monocle

After I’ve used up the battery on my MacBook Pro and iPad 2, I keep a reserve stash of magazines in my bag so I can catch up on the editorial opinions and tastemakers perspectives. I like getting as many angles as I can on the trends of the day before locking in my perspective, and traveling opens your eyes to what else is out there.

Sleep Mask

I believe in taking the red-eye flight any chance that I can. It is more productive and doesn’t waste working hours in a day on the toils of cross-country or transatlantic flights. A cheap $6 sleep mask from the airport and a window seat is all I need to get some rest before hitting the ground running the next morning.

3-5 Pocket Squares

I travel light. I am most comfortable in my jeans, button down shirt, cowboy boots, and a nice sports coat. But, I don’t want to travel with my whole closet in tow so I am able to mix and match my Pocket Squares to change up my ensemble depending on who I’m meeting and where.

More about Andy

A native of Dallas, TX, he attended Texas A&M University and received his degree in Corporate Finance. Throughout his career Andy has worked with world class organizations like Marquis Jet, TIGER 21, One Key, and Northwestern Mutual.

His breadth of experience in business development, luxury sales, and the hustle of entrepreneurial endeavors has consistently positioned him to be in the right place at the right time. Andy lives in New York and thrives on the city that doesn’t sleep.

He is frequent speaker at conferences around the world and a contributor to a variety of publications and blogs including his own, www.andyellwood.com.

He doesn’t slow down much, but when he does he enjoys sipping black coffee, sporting a pocket square, hunting down breakfast tacos, and doting on his girlfriend Annie.