" Along the way, though, I was always careful not to get greedy or to go for the quick buck--despite the temptations in the early days.
Financially, it was hard saying no to big appearance fees from TV shows like I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here or Survivor--but I always had the long goal in mind and tried to keep the main thing the main thing.
And not get distracted by fluff.
Instead, know your strengths.
I also tended instinctively to shy away from both TV and the whole concept of fame--partly, I am sure, because I didn’t have the self-belief to feel I deserved either fame or money. (Time and experience have since taught me that fame and money very rarely go to the worthy, by the way--hence we shouldn’t ever be too impressed by either of those imposters. Value folk for who they are, how they live, and what they give--that’s a much better benchmark.)
So I resisted TV quite heavily--even ironically spurning the offers of the original Man vs. Wild producer, Rob MacIver, some three times, before finally agreeing to do a pilot show.
But what a dope I was.
Bear, didn’t you listen to your grandma when she wrote: “When the ball rolls your way grab it. We so rarely get a second chance. (Although miraculously, this does sometimes happen, too.)”?
But I just didn’t want to be pushed into TV, I wanted to keep focused on my strengths, and trust those skills.
My father always used to say that if you focus on doing your job well, then money will often follow. But chase the money and it has a habit of slipping through your fingers.
I always liked that.
But learning that I could do both things--TV, as well as my core skills--was a big lesson.
Maybe it would be possible to do programs without having to be a smiley media person.
I wondered.
Grandma?
“Indeed--when the ball rolls your way--grab it. "

― Bear Grylls , Mud, Sweat and Tears