We recently connected with Joe Bissonnette and have shared our conversation below.
Joe, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
On my 25th birthday, in Antarctica, I caused an accident that could’ve been extremely serious. That night when I was lamenting in my room, my much older roommate told me that it was a good thing that I was struggling and overwhelmed. He elaborated that at my age I should be challenging myself in every way possible, and that as soon as I got comfortable at my job I should quit and move on to the next challenge. He said do that a few times, and you’ll be unstoppable.
I took that to heart. I developed my confidence by constantly challenging myself mentally and physically through work and play. I’ve been unqualified for just about all my jobs, many of which have not only been mentally challenging, but dangerous. I’ve worked in nuclear power plants, on the ice, on cell towers, and in wood pellet plants that had tendencies to explode. And my hobbies are both physically and mentally challenging. I love mountain biking, climbing, rafting, and exposed scrambles.
Through constantly challenging myself, I’m constantly achieving goals and overcoming fears. It’s a good recipe for a short life but it’s also the best way to build an unshakable self-confidence.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At Sky View Tents, we design camping tents specifically made for stargazing. The whole motto of camping is “sleep under the stars,” right? Yet almost nobody actually does.
Traditional tents use a rainfly (a rain cover) that has to be installed or removed from outside the tent, which takes a few minutes and usually discourages campers from ever taking it off. Because of this, the romantic idea of sleeping under the stars rarely happens. Most campers leave the rainfly on from the start, worried about a surprise storm, needing privacy, getting cold, or just feeling uneasy. Once you’re inside, a traditional tent offers no view of anything. You might as well be in a windowless bedroom.
Sky View Tents changes that completely. Our tents feature the first ever patent-pending internal rainfly, which can be opened or closed in seconds without leaving your sleeping bag. This design allows campers to truly enjoy the open sky when the weather is clear and instantly close up for protection when needed.
We also use the clearest mesh on the market, creating completely transparent walls and ceilings. Camping in a Sky View Tent feels like lying in an open field or on a mountaintop, surrounded by fresh air and panoramic views.
Sleeping beneath a canopy of stars. Waking up to the sunrise. Having the freedom to switch between full immersion and full coverage in seconds. That’s what Sky View Tents offers: by day, you’re surrounded by nature; by night, you’re covered by a blanket of stars.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most important quality is determination, it’s hard and can’t quit no matter what. Second is the ability to be flexible, things will work out differently than expected. Third is the ability to learn. You’ll never know how to do everything required when launching off, but you need to have the confidence that you can learn as you go.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
I’d sell my house, cash out my 401k, buy a van, and spend all my time in nature, on adventures, and I’d bring my friends and family along as much as possible. I’d do riskier alpine climbs; I’d raft rowdier rivers. I’d see as much live music as possible. I’d cook more. I’d tell my family I love them more. I’d be present more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skyviewtents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyviewtents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyviewtents/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyviewtents
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@skyviewtents/shorts
Image Credits
Photo from inside tent by: Josh Dinner
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