We’re looking forward to introducing you to Warren Landrum. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Warren, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Intelligence and the energy that you bring to living life are qualities that can be worked on and improved or amped up as you go through life. We can improve our intelligence by studying and constantly being in a learning mode where you use your intelligence to learn and overcome any ignorance you may have in certain areas. You can also increase the energy you bring, whether physical or mental energy, by making making a conscious effort to do so, by exercising and building your physical and mental energy.
Integrity is even more important than Intelligence or Energy. It is something that is at the core of one’s being and is something that is learned, formed and instilled in you at a young age and is reinforced and shows itself as you encounter certain situations and go through some of the obstacles or barriers that life puts in front of you. Your Integrity (or lack thereof) will come through in these moments and will show who or what you are.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Warren Landrum. I was born and raised in the little steel mill town of East Chicago, Indiana, on the shores of Lake Michigan, about 25 miles from Downtown Chicago. Looking back over the last 70 years or so since I arrived on this planet, I realize that I was fortunate to have been born in this ethnic Melting-Pot, seriously culturally diverse city at the time that I did. It formed the basis of who I am, as a person who is empathetic to all folks I come in contact with and one who realizes that there is strength in diversity. I carry this foundation with me throughout my life and endeavors – whether personal or business-related.
My start as an Author was in 2006 when my first book, The Heart & Soul of a Black Man – a poetry book – was published. It was at that time that I formed my company WarLand Books in Phoenix, Arizona, where I was living at the time. Nine of the 11 books that I have published since then are under the auspices of WarLand Books.
Most of the books that I have written over these last 20 years or so, have been the result of some type of Inspiration, whether it be a country or locale that I was traveling in, or – especially in the case of my two Children’s Books – they were inspired by my granddaughter, Mia. “Mia Goes to Jamaica, an ABC Journey” and “Always Be Your Best You” were directly inspired by, and written for Mia! The words for Mia Goes to Jamaica actually came to me as I was sleeping one night and I got up and started writing the words down as they came. About 90% of what came to me during that moment, made it to the final cut of that book.
The last book I wrote, “The History of the African-American Experience in Grand Prairie, Texas: From Then Until Now 1852-2023, was actually written as the result of a commission to do so that I was given by the City of Grand Prairie, Texas. It has been almost two years since that project was published, so I am currrently in the “Waiting for Inspiration” mode to see what comes next!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I think my relationship with my Dad most shaped how I see myself. I can definitely say he was my hero/role model growing up. Whether it was in his role as Master Fisherman, with me being dressed and ready to jump out of bed to go with him on one of his midnight runs to a lake or creek, or as Barber/Dispenser of Wisdom, that he held at the Barber Shop in which he and his partner-in-crime Smoky, held court, he was always giving me something to aspire to, and he did not even know it.
I also looked up to the way my Dad dressed when he went out. He knew how to wear a suit! That made me want to be a good dresser as well as I grew up.
But I think one of the main things that I got from him was some comments that he made to me one day as we were talking. We were talking about the President of the United States (I don’t remember which one was in office at the time) but it doesn’t matter. Dad said that “That S.O.B. ain’t no better than me. He puts on his pants one leg at a time, just like me.” It was a simple statement, but it was profound, letting me know that nobody was better than me and at the same time telling me that I could be anything I wanted to be.
Finally, the last words he said to me during his final days, as I was leaving the dialysis place that he was getting treatment at, were “You the boss. You in charge now.” Those words filled me with sadness, yet gave me the feeling that the torch was being passed now and that it was up to me to lead our family to whatever our destiny was. It was a Heavy Weight. I was 48 years old at that time.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Hang in there kid, and don’t change a thing. It’s all going to work out fine….
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One “project” that I definitely am committed to is to go and visit the Pyramids in Egypt. I love travel, and my lifetime “bucket list” included going to see some of the “wonders of the world” that I read and learned about as a kid. The Pyramids are on the top of that list for me as the clock winds down.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
I regret not trying out for the 8th grade basketball team after getting cut from the 7th grade team. One of the players that the 7th grade coach kept instead of me was his brother, and I thought that I would be punishing all the teams that I would be eligible to make in the future by me not even trying out for them. I believed at that time that I had enough basketball skills to at least play for a college and pursue my dream of eventually playing in the NBA.
I regret not even giving myself a chance to pursue one of my early goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.warlandbooks.com
- Instagram: @landrumwarren
- Twitter: @landruw
- Facebook: @WarlandBooks
