Knowledge is power and being able to speak the language is the first step to success. I’ve always thought of myself as a lifelong learner, and in an ever pivoting and evolving volatile, commodity driven environment, making the investment in learning and then being able to have a conversation and answer questions confidently instills an instant sense of trust from the stakeholder who you’re dealing with.  Whether it’s a mineral owner in a hot new leasing play, a historic oil and gas operator with a legacy leasehold position you’re attempting to acquire, a state or federal agency or even a sovereign tribal nation, the time investment spent in learning, asking the right questions, and then listening to understand not to respond will earn you a seat at any table and drive results.

Creativity and Problem Solving are often a lost art, but absolutely an essential part of success. Falling into a routine and the comfort of “this is how we’ve always done it” doesn’t foster an environment of winning.  Write the goal down, use what you know and figure out a way to make it happen!  Sometimes all you need to do to chart a new path forward is adjust your sails.

There is no such thing as being too prepared.  In any high-stakes field, especially one as dynamic and unpredictable as land management, there is no such thing as being too prepared.  Every contract, negotiation, and legal document requires meticulous attention, and having a thorough understanding of all potential scenarios can mean the difference between success and costly setbacks.  Preparation isn’t just about gathering the right data, or knowing the rules; you must anticipate challenges, know when to pivot when things go sideways and being confident to tackle any obstacle head-on.  The only way to prevent a blindside is to be overly prepared, giving yourself more control over the outcome.  Preparation isn’t just a strategy – it’s a daily mindset that separate the good from the great.