While getting his degree in Mechanical Engineering, Terry joined the renown Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. He was selected to become part of the Corps Honor Guard, and because of his extraordinary leadership and innovation of the program, the Corps changed history by creating a command-level position just for Terry.
Terry was selected to be one of only 12 people to spearhead a brand-new career field in the entire Air Force, Operations Management. Within 2 years of arriving at Fairchild Air Force Base, he was elevated to the position of Executive Officer (XO) of an entire Group of nuclear B-52 Bombers during the Cold War, named Officer of the Year for the entire base, and Humanitarian of the Year for all of Strategic Air Command.
He was offered any job in the Air Force, any career field, up to a Lt. Colonel level, including a Black World assignment from the Pentagon, as a junior Captain. Absolutely unheard of.
After resigning his commission and as a young man in his early 20s, Terry joined a business networking group. He was called in four days later by the Chairman of the Board, telling Terry there was an explosion on the board and everyone was going to quit. He continued to say the organization would fold – unless Terry took it over. Terry went to work on crisis management and team dynamics, and within one year, it was the largest of its kind in the state of Washington and one of the largest in the country.
Within 2 years of arriving in Spokane, Washington, Terry received the highly coveted United Way Volunteer of the Year award, the top award in the area for philanthropic efforts.
He began a direct sales business, and after initially failing miserably, several times, for years, developed the Oxcart Technique and rose to the top 0.5% of the entire industry – in the world.
When he took over as President of the Board of Directors of the Inland Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of America, he inherited an organization that was in a financial and membership tailspin. They had experienced a loss of 52% of the units, with calls to divest themselves of their properties to balance the budget. Within 2 years, he turned the budget around completely and brought the teams together to create new highly innovative 6-figure income streams, with a 7-figure target in the near future. With a plethora of new initiatives, membership is on the rise as well
He now has been welcomed onto the Endowment Board, overseeing and growing assets totaling in the hundreds of millions.
On a television survival competition prime-time on Fox Network, Terry represented all of Boy Scouts of America in his Scoutmaster uniform. The show pitted 10 survival experts against each other in the jungle, while paired up with a complete novice; someone who hadn’t even camped out in their backyard before. Add to this that he was the oldest contestant on the entire show, and pitted against Special Forces veterans, U.S. Air Force Survival Instructors, a 4th degree ninja blackbelt, a mercenary, and more. Terry won, along with his novice partner, Natalie, earning the pair ½ million dollars.
Through years of hard work and diligence, and despite multiple injuries, Terry has achieved the level of Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Within a few months of beginning acting, Terry is the host of Montana Department of Transportation PSAs, host of nationwide online videos for BSA National Supply, North Dakota anti-smoking campaign, has been in several movies and won Best Supporting Actor and Fan Favorite at the 2021 Christian Film Festival. He is an award-winning producer as well.
Terry’s has enjoyed arduous, and usual perilous, adventures around the globe. Some of his favorites include solo treks in fun-filled place like the Arctic Circle and Death Valley, climbing the mountains of Rwanda looking for the elusive Silverback Gorillas, visiting the remote villages of Malawi, Africa, or canoeing deep into the Quetico. He particularly enjoyed practicing survival deep into the Amazon Jungle, and the shark cage in the Pacific. His wife is convinced he’s happiest when he’s near death – he just replies that he truly enjoys living life to its fullest! Fun fact: He has chased a Grizzly and been chased by a black bear. He doesn’t recommend either one.
Author of four books and a recognized leadership and self-improvement expert, Terry keynotes at corporate and organizational events and guest lectures at universities across the US and abroad. His latest, The Oxcart Technique – Blueprint For Success, hit #1 Bestseller on Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, as well as a bestseller on USA Today.
Terry has been the keynote speaker for diverse organizations such as New York Life, the Mays Business School MBA program, Washington Food Industry Association, the United States Air Force, Spokane Executive Women’s International, Perione Produce Company, One Team Global, Girl Scouts of America, and Boy Scouts of America national conferences. He is often referred to as ‘the best we’ve ever had.
As Course Director for a multiday Leadership and Self-improvement seminar, Terry shattered all records by having an over-the-legal-limit course with a waiting list a mile long within two weeks of opening registration, a full year before the course.
Terry has been chosen to present his Oxcart Technique on the TEDx stage, to be seen around the world!
His philanthropic efforts literally span the globe, including the Terry L. Fossum educational center in Rwanda, Africa, an agricultural training center in Malawi, Africa, scholarships for underprivileged youth, and more.
Terry Fossum captivates audiences everywhere he goes and now he’s definitely done it again. This is a great book that addresses everything including marriage, money, business, retirement, addiction and more. He will teach you how to overcome obstacles and how to succeed. This is not just a “great book” but rather a step by step instruction to changing your life and accomplishing your goals.
If you have something that in your heart you’ve always wanted; money, weight loss, love, career success, etc., but have never been able to quite grasp it, then Terry’s formula will help you get there.
It is truly Common Sense Success for anyone with the passion to grab hold and take it.
Wow! What a powerful plan of action. It makes so much sense on a base level. You woke me up today, Terry, and I thank you from my heart and my head. It stopped me dead in my tracks. I realized that was the missing piece in my goal setting and action plan. You have hit the nail squarely on the head! Anybody should be able to understand this and make it fit into their lives. I will be incorporating this concept in all of my trainings from now on. Thank you!
Unlike any goal setting book you have ever read! Great insights from someone who has done it, not just teaching it. Highly recommend this book!
Terry Fossum provides a common sense, easy to understand road map to help guide you through changes you may want to achieve in your life. Terry provides inspirational thoughts along with his own life stories while guiding you through the steps that are the Oxcart Technique. Read Terry’s book if you are eager to make some life changes but are unsure of where to start.
The concept was delivered with such power and passion that I am taking a second look at my marriage and my business, knowing by implementing the same technique I can’t do anything but win.
This book is brilliant and I can hardly wait to get all of the people I coach to read it. Whether you need to lose a few pounds, or over 115 like I did, this book is critical to your success!
Whether it’s to finally reach your goals, get over the fear of public speaking, or several others, check out Terry’s award-winning books!
If self-doubts, fear, excuses, poor time management, and more has held you back, they won’t any more!
Imagine having Terry be your personal coach! This program is only for those who are series about reaching their goals!
Terry’s dynamic, energetic, relatable speaking style has inspired audiences around the globe!