If you’re at all like me, you have people in your life that you admire from afar. You hope that someday you’ll have the opportunity to meet them, let them know how much you appreciate what they do, and how they have impacted your life.
For me, one of those people is Bob Stromberg. His website describes him as a comedian, speaker, and master of creativity. Words that I would add to that description are, genuine, thoughtful, and subtly deep. Bob has an incredible ability to make you laugh and, in just a whisper, tug at your heart.
Bob first came to my attention through my daughters quite a few years ago. He had been one of the speakers at a church youth conference they had attended and they couldn’t say enough good things about him. Knowing my passion for humor and laughter they said, “Dad, you would love this guy!”
It wasn’t long after that when I had my first opportunity to see Bob in person. He and a couple of other friends together wrote a play called “Triple Espresso – A Highly Caffeinated Comedy.”
My daughters were right. I loved this guy! I am proud to admit I have seen this play nearly twenty times! It’s difficult to describe the play because of its uniqueness. Each time I watch it I envision the three of them sitting in a coffee shop running ideas by each other. Each individual idea, because of their collaboration, builds into something far better than it was in the beginning. Their laughter and enjoyment was likely noticed in the coffee shop as people wondered what they were doing and wanted to be a part of it.
The comedy is clean, unexpected, crosses generational lines, and funny even if you’ve seen it a crazy amount of times.
In one of his e-mail newsletters, to which I subscribe, Bob related how the three of them accepted an offer to perform this hilarious play before they had even written a single word. Talk about courage!
About eighteen months ago, Bob announced he was launching an online course titled, Mastering the Craft of Creativity. WOW! What a great opportunity to learn from someone whom I had admired for so long. My first hurdle was getting over the impression of myself as not being creative. To me, creatives were special people. They had gifts that were not bestowed upon me. In Bob’s introductory videos he explains that creativity is not just for “special people” but for everyone who is willing to invest a little bit of time to develop their own brand of creativity.
I signed up for the course. It has, and continues to be, everything Bob said it would be. In spite of my default of not believing I’m creative, I am beginning to see it more and more and courageously embrace it as well. Over the last eighteen months I have been mentored online and personally by Bob. Every second has been a joy. Bob has become a friend and a great encouragement to me in cultivating my courage as an artist.
In a few months as I look back on 2017 one of my highlights is what I am sharing with you today. Along with Bob’s course on creativity he has a podcast titled the Wide Eyed Creative. Today, he released his newest edition featuring me as his guest sharing my story of courage and creativity. It’s actually a two-parter so this is part one. You can listen to it here. Listen to the other episodes Bob has. You will enjoy them and probably listen a second time.
It would be an honor to have you listen. When you’re done I strongly encourage you to check out Bob’s website at http://bobstromberg.com/ and his online course at http://bobstromberg.com/masteringthecraftofcreativity/ . You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you, Bob. You are a blessing in my life!
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS DAY!
