David T. Schlendorf is an active member of the Holladay, Utah, community, where he volunteered with support for both the Olympus HS football and lacrosse teams. Previously in NJ he taught Sunday school, ran a youth football league and volunteered as a youth sports coach. In the past, David T. Schlendorf has drawn on his professional legal experience to coach a high school mock trial team.
Between 2013 and 2025, David T. Schlendorf oversaw operations at Toms River, New Jersey’s Hanlon Sculpture Studio as project manager and legal counsel. He helped the studio secure several of the largest contracts in company history, resulting in a more than 100 percent increase in annual sales. His duties at Hanlon Sculpture Studio ranged from reviewing contracts to guiding sales strategy.
Mr. Schlendorf was a four-year varsity letter winner in football at Fordham University. After receiving his political science degree, he continued his education at the St. John’s University School of Law. As a law student, he published articles in the International Law Review and won a mock trial competition.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Each day is unique; I try to start each morning with a list of professional personal tasks that need to be accomplished. Not just checking of boxes but making sure I am focused on what’s in front of me until that task is complete and then moving focus to a new task.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Through thorough thought process and deliberation. I like to write down ideas and then research an idea and continue to study it util I am ready to move from concept to reality. The time can vary but a thorough process never should.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I get excited about bringing people together; any tend that enhances face-to-face meetings I feel increases business productivity.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Taking notes. I might be old-fashioned, but when I write information, I retain it and can synthesize it better later. Notetaking also helps me stay organized when dealing with multiple issues at once.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Learn to save your money and learn how to say no. As I have gotten older, I have realized that saying yes all the time creates false expectations and can put an economic burden on you that is both unfair and unrealistic.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That the Miami Dolphins will win the Super Bowl again in my lifetime.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I like to respond to phone calls and emails promptly. It is very easy to ignore inquiries, as we spend so much of our time behind screens. Being connective with people reaching out helps to build relationships.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I pretend I am a deserted atoll, and the isolation helps me to refocus. In such an environment, I feel both adrift and completely at peace.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Not so much a strategy but a lifestyle practice of being punctual and responsive. If people know they can count on you, they are much more likely to do business with you.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I was always a bad hirer. In every situation, I basically tried to hire myself, and instead of looking for a complimentary piece to my business, I would look for someone with my same personality traits, and, invariably, I would make a mistake. The best team is made up of complimentary parts, not the same parts.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Microsoft Office is perfect for document presentation and emails. I use it every single day.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Close to $100 on excellent Chinese food for my 79-year-old mom and I in Manhattan. We are the only two remaining members of my nuclear family and time spent over a meal is irreplaceable.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Reading the Bible daily is a constant search for applicability to my daily life. I rarely find answers, but the desire to keep searching makes me look internally for answers in many different situations.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I enjoy Only Murders in the Building for both its writing and acting and the escapism it provides. I also enjoy the quality of actors they obtain even for smaller roles.
Key learnings
- Use multiple avenues for self-improvement and not let past failures haunt your progression.
- Try to be reflective in a positive way.
- In both professional and personal interactions, try and be courteous and punctual.