Ep 79: 5 Lessons Surviving In The Wild Has Taught Me About Business With Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith

Special guest Davis Smith, founder of the outdoor company Cotopaxi and an avid survivalist shares with us his experiences of how surviving in the wild and running a business are not all that different. You’ll learn the 5 lessons he’s learned in survival situations that prepared him to lead his team and business through various crises and challenges. You’ll get exceptional insight as dental practices continue wading through unknown territory brought on by the challenges of the pandemic.
 
You’ll learn The one thing you cannot do whether your in a survival situation or any other crisis
How seeing his friend caught in a current taught him this important lesson
What Davis did when he was surrounded by three sharks and how it applies to practice strategy
What type of people you need to surround yourself with during challenging times
How a rising tide and a satellite phone made him realize this valuable lesson
Guest Bio Davis Smith, grew up in Latin America and lived for several years in Ecuador. When he wasn’t in school, Davis was exploring and camping in Cotopaxi National Park. It was here that he developed a lifelong reverence for the strong, hard-working people of the Andes. His time in Latin America also showed him the plight of those in abject poverty.
Davis later moved to the United States, where he pursued advanced degrees in business and international studies. He started several successful e-commerce businesses, two of which took him to Brazil, where he lived from 2010 to 2013. Despite his success, he wanted to do more to make a difference in the world. For his next venture, he decided to merge his love of travel with a poverty-fighting business model. Each customer’s purchase would give to those living in the world’s poorest regions. He named the company Cotopaxi to represent the spirit of adventure, optimism, and determination that he’d experienced during his time in Ecuador.