We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jimmy Peterson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jimmy below.
Jimmy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
I’m a 35 year old male multi business owner and by far the biggest risk has been to bet on myself. Some would say that it’s wingsuit BASE jumping or one of the other extreme sports I do. I think as a society people give into social pressure. I can’t tell you how many times people I considered friends at the time questioned what or why I was doing it. Why not just work for someone else? You need more realistic dreams. All things I would hear.
When I turned 18, I started skydiving. I was going to become a professional skydive instructor. I needed 500 jumps and I was broke with a drug addiction. Realistically there was no way for me to do this. I sobered up and moved away from home to live in a tent starting out. Fast forward 2 years later I was a skydiving instructor and now I have 13,000+ jumps.
That was just the beginning, I’m now a professional base jumper, pilot and co-own and operate a rope swing operation. None of this was easy and it required endless effort and dedication to my dreams and goals. When I achieved one thing I have continued to make and change goals. Why not me or you? Why are there restrictions on what we can achieve from society, family or friends?
I’ve faced extreme pressure to change or give up on my dreams and I still haven’t. I’m here to promote everyone to chase their dreams no matter what. It’s always going to be difficult and hard, but that’s easier than regret later in life for not doing what you wanted.
From when I accidentally overdosed at 18 you’d say I had no chance. I’m living proof that anything is possible. Learn to love yourself and believe in you and the universe will give you anything you work hard for!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have not shared this part of my story with many. I’m a professional pilot, business owner for going on 6 years now. Professional base jumper.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A government agency gave my business operations plan to a competitor. Imagine that… I pivoted to a new industry and have been working that now for a year. Rather than being stuck in my own fears about what would come next I decided to look outside the box of what I knew.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
Through BASE jumping. Starting out doing some of the dumbest things together, almost dying together and pushing each other to be better. We became best friends and truly support each other.
