Oil on Canvas, Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, 1767, by David Martin

Planning

A simple word, yet it holds the key to turning dreams into reality. Throughout history, creators and entrepreneurs have used planning to bring their visions to life. The world as we know it exists because of the continuous efforts of individuals working methodically towards their goals. Planning aligns efforts, unites objectives, and paves the way for success.
Below, we highlight five individuals who shaped our world and were renowned for their exceptional planning.

In a World of Science and Invention…

Benjamin Franklin’s Journal

Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Schedule

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin’s journals are legendary, filled with grids and schedules, aspirations and reflections. I can almost see him at his desk, candlelight flickering as he plans his day with the precision of a craftsman. Morning routines, virtues to cultivate, goals to achieve, Franklin reminds us that planning isn’t just about doing, it’s about becoming. It’s about instating habits that shape us into better versions of ourselves.

Leonardo da Vinci

No introduction is needed for Leonardo Da Vinci. His notebooks burst with sketches, notes and ideas that defy the boundaries of his time. Imagine Da Vinci hunched over the sketches of his flying machines, his study of nature, or of the human body’s geometry. His notes and day dreams are a true treasure for mankind.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebooks

Thomas Edison

There would be no light without Thomas Edison’s research. We often imagine inventors as eccentric figures, lost in workshops cluttered with machinery and strange objects, their desks buried under piles of meaningless papers and notes. But don’t be deceived—within this seemingly chaotic environment are highly organized minds. They meticulously document failed experiments, small victories, and the road to groundbreaking inventions. Planning allows us to learn from setbacks and unlock our true potential.

Inventor Thomas Edison in West Orange chemistry lab

To the World of Art and Fashion

Coco Chanel

Another artist is the immensely talented Coco Chanel, a keen observer of society. A meticulous planner, she focused not only on growing her business but on revolutionizing the fashion industry. Picture Chanel in her atelier, pencil in her hand, sketching out her vision. Her process was more than just creativity—it was precision. Chanel’s planning wasn’t limited to designing clothes, it was about crafting a world where women felt empowered, comfortable, and ready to take on new roles in French society and, eventually, the world.
And I can’t help but think—isn’t that what planning is, the creation of worlds, one step at a time?

Coco Chanel in Paris, France, 1963, Photo Taken by Michael Hardy

David Bowie

I think David Bowie, who seemed to leap from one persona to the next with effortless grace, was anything but unstructured. In the pages of his notebooks, he charted the trajectories of his characters. Ziggy Stardust was a well-documented vision. I picture Bowie’s handwriting, messy but deliberate, laying out lyrics and stage concepts. It makes me wonder, how often do we mistake brilliance for spontaneity?
Planning, for Bowie, was a canvas, a space to explore his transformations before unveiling them to the world. His artistry shows us that reinvention is not accidental but a deliberate, planned process.

David Bowie in 1983

David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust Notebook

Each of these figures’ methods differ, their mediums vary, but their shared dedication to planning is undeniable. And in their stories, we find echoes of our own at Zenobie.

Zenobie, dedicated to planning your future since 2020

Zenobie began in 2015, like many projects, on a small worktable with simple watercolor designs and the ambition to grow and expand. Since 2020, we’ve been empowering our community with the tools to craft and plan their futures, offering thoughtfully designed layouts and planning methods, that we have been using ourselves to get our dreams closer to reality. Our aim is to instill a habit and a love for revisiting your planners, tracking your progress, and celebrating milestones.
Our latest design, Cornucopia, calls for abundance in 2025. At the heart of it all, we offer you an invitation to embrace planning as a way of life.

Cornucopia Checklist

Cornucopia Stationery

Cornucopia Diary 2025