At the time back in the mid-1970s when I finished filming my motion picture Sourdough, (see About the Author) some considered me Alaska’s foremost outdoor cinematographer. At that peak, I put down my camera. I’ve never felt inspired to pick it back up—that is, until recently. A couple of years ago a light flashed and an idea began to take shape for a television reality show I would like to create, codirect, coproduce, and be featured in. It’s not at a point where I feel free to divulge format information. Suffice it to say that I’m very excited about prospects for it to start right out of the chute with an instant following of millions.

If television shows or any other big project could be started with a snap of your fingers, everybody would be doing it. They’re a tough nut to crack. I’ve followed quite a few trails that had potential, only to run into dead ends. But not only have I learned not to sweat those times when I’m stymied, I’ve seen that, first, on each path to a dead end I picked up valuable ideas that I can build upon and second, each time an even better idea has replaced it.

I can remain confident that if God is in the project, nothing can stop it. And if he’s not, I don’t want any part of it anyway. If it’s God who has truly taken me to it, he’ll take me through it. That doesn’t mean I can kick back, hands folded in complacency. God expects me to put forth my utmost effort in his projects. Working like no amount of prayer will do any good and praying like no amount of work will help is not a bad adage. Even as I physically bear down I can relax, contented and free of tension in soul and spirit, not worrying one way or the other, trusting God for the outcome. In that vein, I’m constantly awed at the way helpful developments come my way and components drop into place. Some would describe them coming “as if by magic” or “from out of nowhere,” but I doubt not the source. It’s a great place to be for the entrepreneur. Or anyone else, for that matter.