$1,000 Pen Collection

​I have a collection of $1,000+ pens, and I bet you do too.

Pens are little reminders of where we’ve been; memories of a night out, a trip taken, who we were with at the time, and who we were as a person.

Unfortunately, my January 2026 pen from Meta is already a souvenir.

So how do I attach a dollar amount to a branded plastic writing utensil? Easy. Pens represent all the steps it took to be in a specific place at a specific time: the plans made, money spent, sacrifices, certifications and degrees earned, experiences gained, people met, and every micro‑decision along the way. Sometimes even a U‑turn results in the perfect utilitarian gadget with a satisfying click.

Before Meta, I left the perfect job at Microsoft, a role I held for nearly three years. The creative freedom and autonomy I had there gave me the time, space, and audience I needed to put my arms around my entire skillset: writing creative copy, design, photography, videography, program management, and empowering others to do whatever they do best. When a new opportunity at Meta presented itself, I thought long and hard about what I was giving up. Why would I “throw everything away” only to put myself in an uncomfortable position? Because I’m allergic to redundancy. It was time to get out of my comfort zone, be awkward, and accept a challenge that took me somewhere new.

Surprise: Meta began 2026 with significant layoffs in their metaverse‑focused Reality Labs (RL) division. With over $70 billion in losses since 2020, RL became a primary target for cost‑cutting. While I’m frustrated that I didn’t have the chance to prove myself long‑term, I’m walking away knowing my skills are widely applicable, regardless of where I land.

I’m looking forward to collecting a new pen from a company or team that needs an injection of creative leadership with range.

PS. Am I crazy, or does anyone else have a favorite pen memory? I’d love to hear yours. Bonus points if you attach a dollar amount.