Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Land Tawney, President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
What is one habit of yours that helps you be productive?
Walking meetings. They keep the conversation moving so to speak and have an end.
What is your morning routine and how does it help you get the most out of your day?
I do the crossword and sudoku every morning. It gets my brain moving and when I finish one of them or both I feel empowered
In the last few years, what lifestyle, habit or behavior change has had the biggest positive impact on your life?
Not sweating the small stuff…either minutia at work or negative pressure on the outside.
When you feel unfocused, what do you do?
Take a walk.
What is one piece of software or a web service that you get immense value out of? How do you use it?
Social media instant messaging. I get a ton of emails and when people reach out through Instagram or Facebook it breaks through the noise.
What is the one book you recommend most often and why?
Anything written by or about Theodore Roosevelt. He was a powerful force in many aspects of his life and not only do I enjoy the history on conservation but I’m inspired by his can-do attitude, forethought and how he dealt with adversity.
What advice would you give a smart and ambitious recent college graduate? What advice should they ignore?
Embrace failure. Failure when you are striving to do good things is how you learn. If you fail over and over at the same thing…you should be doing something different. But if you fail doing something different either tweak it or throw it away and move on. Constantly learn. Be a doer, doers might not perform everything perfect but they are constantly moving and getting feedback on how to do be better. Avoid getting along to get along…conflict is okay especially when you are challenging an established entity. Being different will set you apart for success.
What is your favorite quote, one you aim to live by?
“I admire the man that takes the next step, not those who theorize about the 200th “ Theodore Roosevelt…see question above for my reasoning.