Disclaimer: No one should go to Idaho. It’s a terrible place, downright ugly to be honest. No fish or game and the people are terrible too!

So, back to Idaho, we go for Eberlestock’s OUT THERE 2020! Once again, I find myself in a place where I am the least qualified. To be honest, I was nervous again because I am putting myself in a position to be challenged and coached. You know, before last year, I thought I knew something about shooting. I VERY quickly learned that I did NOT know anything about it except the most basic rules of firearms.

I am extremely humbled to be invited again, and can’t begin to thank the Eberlestock team enough! They spent WEEKS of their own personal time setting up, building bridges, moving food, repairing barns, etc. Just a reminder, this event is called “OUT THERE” because it is completely remote. No cell service, no road in or out. The nearest road dead-ends about 2 miles to the south. Everything has to be carried in. Being in the restaurant and event space, I’ve run some major events but never had to deal with the logistics of not being able to get vehicles to the site.

Some of the MVPs of the experience are Glen Eberle, Mike McBride, Casey Richmond, Tanner Leaton, Rob Floto, Greg Williams (aka Neck), Tucker Johnson, Jackson Reed (AKA. Gobble Daddy), Nathaniel Tong, Zach Dwyer, the Kitchen Crew and everyone else that had a hand in pulling this event off.

Secondly, we had an unbelievable cast of sponsors that took the event to the next level. Check these out as they are the best of the best in their category: Mountain Primal Meat Company, Leupold, Sorinex,  Hat Creek Training, Seekins Precision, Glock, Mossberg, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Kill Cliff, Redcon1, Cordova, Sawyer, Protek, and Helios.

Of all the many different things that I learned while I was out there, a couple of key takeaways for me that are universally true in life really stood out.

1 | I always overpack – mentally and physically.

Things are rarely as good or as bad as they seem. We spend so much wasted time worry and stressing about all the different outcomes, that we forget to focus on what’s in front of us. We’re so mentally caught up in what may be, what people may think, and what MAY happen, that we can’t even enjoy the present moment. Take time to control what you can control and don’t worry about the rest. Also, you NEVER need 9 pairs of underwear for a 4-day trip. I know I’m not the only one.

2 | Always surround yourself with people who know more than you.

If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re probably in the wrong room. Surrounding yourself with more experience, knowledge, or skills than you and your ability to grow through that will be exponential. Sure, you can google and YouTube yourself into being able to do most anything, but the speed in which you will learn to become proficient will skyrocket when you have someone to show you. Find those people who represent who you want to be and do what they do.

3 | Uncomfortability is the only way to grow

Discomfort creates growth. Walking a quarter mile and calling it exercise isn’t going to get you very much of a result. Surrounding yourself with people who think and act like you will never push you to change. If you want to be great, you’ve got to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

So get out there people! We’ve got a world to explore and we haven’t even begun!

GO TO GROW

-Jamey