Life & Work with Ben Cole

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Cole. 

Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I love being in the woods. But don’t mistake that for a casual statement. I mean I LOVE being in the woods. Just ask my wife! She usually has to call me in at the end of the day…once or twice or five times. I started hunting when I was six years old. My dad took me on my first hunt because ALL I could do & all I could think about was hunting. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, & since I was young, it’s been my dream to have my own tv show about the great outdoors. So, Dad took me on a trip, & it lit a fire that has never burned out. After college, I worked various jobs but never felt that any of those outlets were my calling. I hunted as a hobby but pursued ways that I could turn it into a career. I was going to Massachusetts to hunt a couple species for my North American Waterfowl Grand Slam (41 species in all), & I decided to write a story about it, Then I realized I would need photographs to go along with the story if I wanted to pitch it to an outdoor publication. I searched for the cheapest, used DSLR camera I could find, then I took it to a pond & played around with the settings. I taught myself how to shoot ducks & geese with that camera. (Well, shoot them in a different way than how I usually did!) Since then, I just built on my reputation as an outdoorsman & a storyteller. I’m a published writer & photographer, & I’m currently filming Rooted Television. I also have a recurring podcast, Burly Man’s Bible. I’m running down a dream…hunting certainly isn’t a conventional way to provide for a family. But I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of mine, & God has opened so many doors along the way (& closed a few too!). I cherish every day spent afield. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh man, it has not been a smooth road. But nothing worth having is easy! I was turned down twelve times before I was ever published! I’ve had days where I’ve really struggled & wondered if this is something I can actually make work, particularly since becoming a husband & a father. I’ve also been involved in a few ventures that went nowhere, as much (or more) my doing than anyone else’s. For me, one of the best changes I made both personally and professionally was moving, because it got me out of my own small-town mindset. Nothing against small towns – I love small towns! But I needed a fresh perspective, and I needed to see what else was out there in the world and what God has in store for me & my (eventual) family. And then my most specific struggle is that I have ADD. I’ve had it since childhood, & I have a very difficult time focusing on accomplishing even the most menial tasks. Being my own boss has been a real challenge in that regard. My mind races & I can rapid-fire ideas, but sitting down & articulating them or turning them into a profitable venture…that’s the heart of my struggle. I’m also my biggest critic, aside from my wife, who says there are plenty of people who will blow smoke & she refuses to be one of them. She also informed me that my love language is words & she says I have “too many every day.” But through that, I’ve learned that I value what people are saying – to a fault. So, I have to be careful to filter out the noise & at the end of the day, focus on what I believe & what I want to accomplish. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I own & produce Rooted Television. I film hunts & trips & any adventures on God’s green earth. I’m also a partner in Breakline Optics, a high-end sunglass company made for the outdoors. I specialize in being the host of Rooted Television. As I film episodes for Rooted, I accept sponsorships from related brands & businesses. With those sponsorships, I assist in marketing their products or services. Which brings me back to photography, which I’ve been specializing in since working in the hunting industry was just a dream. I’m known primarily for my writing & photography as that’s how I got my start, but I hope to create a name with Rooted Television that expands on my brand. I am most proud of my son, Teddy. my salvation through Jesus Christ, and my wife, Melissa. As far as work goes, I guess I would say I’m most proud of the fact that for now & hopefully for my future, I can work my dream job. I work hard but there are a lot of people supporting me & believing in me that make this possible. My family lifts me up constantly, & though I hope to wildly succeed in many tangible ways, making my whole family proud & reflecting Christ’s love is what matters most to me. My wife & son sacrifice a lot with my line of work & how I’m gone so frequently, so I hope to one day make that sacrifice worth it for them. Probably what sets me apart from others is that I live & breathe this life. My passion for the great outdoors is all-consuming. & I do hope what sets me apart from others is sharing Christ with the world. I have many goals for my work, but my greatest hope is to share the good news of salvation to as many people as possible! 

How do you think about happiness?
Being a dad makes me happy! I love my son so much & I can’t wait to see what he’s interested in, which I hope includes hunting. Being a husband & a father is what makes me most happy because I’m so grateful to fulfill those roles. Having a family is something I kind of never thought would happen for me. It gives me purpose. It motivates me to work harder to provide for my family. Providing for them is my mission in life. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.rootedtelevision.com
• Instagram: @benjamintheduckhunter

Image Credits
John Weismuller