Over ten years ago, I took a wilderness survival training course. It was a unique opportunity that taught me much more than I had ever learned in school about self-confidence. From this course, I picked up essential skills such as lighting fires without matches or lighters, identifying edible plants from poisonous ones, and understanding various signals. The most valuable lesson, by far, was learning how to build a shelter from scratch.
### Building a Shelter
Along with seven other students, I constructed shelters from scratch. A severe thunderstorm hit us during the test, genuinely challenging the resilience of our shelters. Out of all the shelters, mine was one of the few still standing and the only one that didn’t let any water through. I slept through the night without getting wet, and my shelter was voted the best-built. The shelter was so well-constructed that dismantling it was harder than we expected.
Despite having little experience, I managed to build a shelter that withstood harsh weather conditions, impressing even the experts in wilderness survival. This two-day, one-night project did more for my confidence than most other experiences in life.
### Building Confidence Through Shelter Construction
Surviving in the wilderness requires confidence because your decisions can mean the difference between life and death. You can’t afford to second-guess every move to the point of inaction. Confidence isn’t a trait you’re born with; it’s a skill forged through actions. To become confident, you have to take risks and live with the outcomes.
### Confidence in the Financial World
Your financial life also involves taking risks. Whether it’s investing money that might decrease in value or starting a business that could potentially fail, these actions are necessary because they have been proven ways to build wealth and secure a thriving future.
### Building From an Existing Base
Beyond confidence, building a shelter taught me that you can create something incredible by leveraging existing resources. I built my sturdy shelter using a fallen log for support, which some initially saw as lazy. By the end of the course, though, I was the only one who stayed dry through the thunderstorm.
The same principle applies to building wealth or a business. Starting with something already in place, like a franchise or a quality mutual fund, often leads to a higher success rate than starting from scratch. Leveraging proven models can provide a stable foundation to build upon.
### Recognizing and Avoiding Danger
My shelter survived a storm with 40 km/hr wind gusts and heavy rainfall because I paid attention to what survivalists call the four Ws—wind, water, wood, and animals. Understanding these danger signs, like debris indicating heavy winds or paths showing water flow, can be crucial.
Similarly, in the financial world, recognizing signs of danger, such as a company facing lawsuits, is essential. There are broader strategies to minimize risk, like investing in mutual funds or paying off debts during uncertain times. By assessing market trends, you can make informed decisions that allow you to weather financial storms.
### Final Thoughts
Though the financial world and the wilderness are different, they share similar rules. Confidence is crucial to thriving in both. Preparation and understanding can make these worlds less intimidating and more rewarding. My wilderness survival experience significantly prepared me for my financial journey.
### Papa Foxtrot Biography
Throughout my life, I’ve been careful with money, thanks to my parents, who taught me financial literacy early on. Many people lack this crucial knowledge, and that’s why I started Forge Your Wealth—to help people at the beginning of their financial journeys or those who realize they need to understand their finances better.
I hold a PhD in biochemistry and recently started a job in the industry. I am married to the love of my life. While I was fortunate to graduate without student debt, my wife was not; together, we paid for our wedding and her federal student loans within a little over three years without incurring any debt.