"We have nine ships and in the next two years will have ten, eleven and twelve. So things are going very nicely and all because of that program that people thought was mindless and so forth"

Gavin MacLeod's quote is a testimony to the power of hard work and commitment. He is revealing his fulfillment with the progress that has been made in the previous two years, and associating it to a program that was initially believed to be "meaningless etc". This quote is a pointer that even the most mundane tasks can lead to terrific success if they are done with diligence and commitment. It also serves as a pointer that success is not always instant, which it often requires time and effort to accomplish. The 9 ships pointed out in the quote are likely a metaphor for the hard work and commitment that has actually been put in, and the ten, eleven and twelve ships represent the progress that has actually been made. This quote is a fantastic suggestion that effort and dedication can lead to great success.