College costs $200K+ and 4 years. Here's what you can build instead for less money and more capability.

Part 2 with Maxim Smith diving into practical cycles from The Preparation: no-code fluency that lets you ship real products, Muay Thai training in Thailand that builds discipline and fight composure, and real-world readiness skills that make you harder to break.

What we cover:

The "Hacker" Cycle: No Code = Real Leverage
Not cyberpunk - it's AI-assisted tools that ship working products fast
Building custom CRMs and websites with natural language
Automating content workflows without writing code
How small teams compete with big companies using AI infrastructure

Resilience Without Paranoia
Simple, realistic prepping: food, water, heat, off-grid communication
Why fragile systems require capable individuals
Becoming more useful when things break

Shooting as Capability
Building respect, calm, and competence
Useful for hunting, defense, and confidence under pressure
Safe, structured learning that removes fear

Troubleshooting & First Principles Thinking
Mindset borrowed from aviation maintenance
How to isolate root causes and solve complex problems
Becoming invaluable in work and life

Muay Thai Block in Thailand
4 hours/day, 6 days/week focused training
Rebuilding endurance, discipline, composure in a fight
Why hard physical training compounds everything else

Technical Ropes & Rescue Training
Stacking capability layers for emergencies
Skills that hold in real situations

Book Sales, Marketing & What's Next
Real numbers from launching The Preparation
Women's preparation track tailored for real needs
EMT skills, REMS, and staying sharp off-season
How AI will shape the next decade

Find The Journeyman App here:
Google Play Store:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1

Apple App Store:
apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863

Visit Our Website
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Find Maxim Smith here:
https://www.maximsmith.com/

[00:00:00] The "Hacker" Cycle Explained
[00:04:10] Survival Basics And Prepping Mindset
[00:08:20] CQB, Shooting Skills, And Confidence
[00:14:00] Becoming More Capable In A Risky World
[00:18:30] A Women's Prep Book And Self-Defense
[00:24:00] Building TJM Tools With AI
[00:26:20] EMT Skills, Ropes, And REMS Training

What if the most valuable four years of your life weren't spent in a classroom, but stacking skills, shipping value, and building real businesses?

We break down The Preparation - a structured framework that replaces drift with momentum through 16 focused cycles. Each cycle delivers a hard skill, body of knowledge, and layer of confidence you can bank on. No debt required.

What we cover:
The Framework: 16 Cycles Over 4 Years
How anchor courses (Muay Thai, heavy equipment, private pilot, sailing) pair with reading and online coursework
Compounding effect: each cycle builds on the last
Goal isn't novelty - it's earning leverage

The Entrepreneur Cycle
Simple benchmark: create legal entity, craft clear offer, land one sale in 3 months
Real example: agricultural drone seeding business that seeded 10 acres in under 45 minutes
Marketing abroad, legal setup, turning personal needs into paid services

Hard Skills That Pay
Muay Thai training in Thailand
Heavy equipment operation
Private pilot license
Sailing certification
Drone operation and agricultural services
Each one opens doors and income streams

For Veterans & Career Switchers
GI Bill-eligible programs: EMT training, pilot schools, heavy equipment courses
How military soft skills (leadership, integrity, composure) translate to entrepreneurship
Building autonomy without debt

Travel as Education
Thailand, South Africa, Chile - expanding perspective and sharpening judgment
Learning by doing in different contexts
Cultural immersion that builds adaptability

Why This Works
Cycle stacking = spot opportunities faster
Act with clarity, never feel pigeonholed
Build skills that compound over time
Create multiple income streams
Graduate debt-free with real businesses

The Bottom Line:
This isn't anti-education - it's a structured alternative for those who want autonomy, skills, and entrepreneurial capability without the debt. College works for some paths (medicine, law, engineering). This is for those who want to build differently.

Find The Journeyman App here:
Google Play Store:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1

Apple App Store:
apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863

Visit Our Website
livetjm.com/home

Find Maxim Smith here:
https://www.maximsmith.com/

[00:00:00] The Mindset Of Lifelong Preparation
[00:05:31] Skill Cycles And Global Learning
[00:11:45] Building A Drone Seeding Business
[00:18:02] Stacking Skills For Opportunity
[00:21:12] Veterans, GI Bill, And Transition Paths

Ever wonder why some contractor medics get looped into the crew's plan while others end up alone on a ridge?
It's all about trust. We break down the real mechanics of earning credibility on the fireline—and how quiet competence, not loud swagger, sets you up for the right role when it counts.

What we cover:
Making the Jump: City Fire to Contractor
Admin fears, check-in, and demob mysteries solved
What a solid contractor company actually provides (binder, support, purchasing)
How to choose a company that has your back

Building Credibility Without the Patch
Introducing yourself at briefing (what to say, what not to say)
Using Avenza maps to align placement with crew leads
Positioning your rig for highest-risk work = faster response time
Why 5 minutes with each crew lead can flip you from outsider to trusted asset

Setting Boundaries With Respect
Why medics belong where people work, not miles from action
How to push back on "safety" requests that put you off-mission
Saying no with respect and clear rationale

Field Gear That Actually Improves Long Shifts
Instant coffee that helps
Pocket wash that removes grime fast
Small items that solve two problems, add no weight

Living the Dirtbag Adventure Life
Low-cost adventures, ice climbs, and navigation skill-building
Fastest Known Time attempt on the Mickelson Trail
Building grit and judgment without big budgets

Simplifying the Paperwork
Digital shift tickets = fewer demob headaches
How to reduce rewrites and admin stress
More time for training, scouting helispots, scanning hazards

The Bottom Line:
If you're moving from structure to wildland contracting or trying to elevate your presence as a single resource, this is your field guide. Prepare before you arrive, communicate like time matters, pack smart, and protect your role with calm authority.

Find The Journeyman App here:
Google Play Store:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1

Apple App Store:
apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863

Visit Our Website
livetjm.com/home

Undercover Dirtbag Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/undercoverdirtbags?igsh=bWl6cGU1Yms4bXVm

[00:00:00] First-Time Contractor Nerves
[00:05:20] Earning Trust As A Line Medic
[00:10:20] Speaking Up About Safety And Role
[00:16:00] Undercover Dirtbags Story
[00:18:20] Affordable Adventure Mindset