{"id":7349,"date":"2017-12-10T14:49:28","date_gmt":"2017-12-10T20:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=7349"},"modified":"2018-01-09T13:22:07","modified_gmt":"2018-01-09T19:22:07","slug":"jerritt-johnston-narrow-comfort-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/jerritt-johnston-narrow-comfort-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"Jerritt Johnston, ’95, Lives in Narrow Comfort Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the first person in his family to attend college, Jerritt Johnston, \u201995, felt like a fish out of water when he arrived at 91制片厂. Now, he makes a living taking other people out of their natural habitat.<\/p>\n

\"JerrittJohnston challenges individuals and groups to solve mysteries, scale heights and spark fire to build teamwork and leadership skills. It\u2019s all part of his True North Consultants<\/a> business in Ely, Minnesota.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in a place that you’re not comfortable with requires some confidence,\u201d Johnston says. \u201cIt requires the ability to step out of that comfort zone and take some risks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The political science and liberal studies major honed his outdoor skills during a Maryville internship with the American Youth Foundation, an organization dedicated to character building.<\/p>\n

Being in a place you’re not comfortable with requires confidence, the ability to step out of that comfort zone and taking some risks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Eventually, his outdoor pursuits surged from scouting-level to near Fear-Factor<\/em> intensity. \u00a0Braving temperatures as frigid as 30-below, Johnston completed \u2014 on foot \u2014 the 135-mile Arrowhead trek across the wilds of northern Minnesota. He also completed it on cross-country skis and is registered this year to compete on a fatbike.\u00a0If successful, he’ll be one of only a handful of people to ever finish it in all three modes.<\/p>\n

In 2008, Johnston launched True North to help others reach their potential. The outdoor component of his work drops people into the yawning unfamiliarity of outdoor adventure with a set of goals that can only be met through team effort.<\/p>\n

He also works with teams and boards in their work settings, but even then, participants are required to leave their comfort zones to experience success.<\/p>\n

With each adventure, Johnston brings home something new. It reminds him of a favorite phrase he learned from his former English professor, Germaine Murray, PhD.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe always said, \u2018Put that in your quiver of knowledge,\u2019\u201d Johnston says. \u201cAnd I really liked that, because it gives you that sense of lifelong learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/i>Love<\/span>0<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/i> <\/i>