Many years ago on a Saturday morning, I woke up ready to watch my cartoons. Well, to my horror, my dad was watching tv and he was transfixed. In frustration I sat down waiting for the show to end but then I started watching along. On the screen was a soft spoken Caucasian with the biggest afro I had ever seen and he was creating a beautiful canvas. I was mesmerized by Bob Ross. There is something soothing and hypnotic about Bob as he paints those canvasses. He engages you. I think we can learn a lot from Bob Ross about how to be engaging. Here are 4 things that I learned from Bob and how you can apply it to your designs, your writing, your business and your life.
1. He shared the process. In our microwave culture where everything has to be now, we often miss out on the process. The process is as important as the product. Revealing the process and not just the end product is engaging.
2. He made you feel like you could do it also. Today, what Bob did in our corporate is called “empowering” but that just means the feeling that you can do it also. Oftentimes we see great athletes or performers and admire them because of their ability, but they are not engaging. What is engaging is when someone with extraordinary skills makes you feel like you could go and do it also.
3. He taught. In the East, one of the most honored titles you can be called is “teacher”. Bob Ross was a great teacher. Not only did he make you feel like you could do it, but he actually endeavored to teach you how. We should all emulate Bob Ross and teach – pass along something knowledge. A teacher is engaging.
4. He had vision. Bob would start on his palette mixing the colors, apply a little here and there, and within 15 minutes a blob here and there became beautiful scenery. At the end of the program you could tell that from the beginning he knew where he was going. Our website, our design, our blog, our business and our life is an empty canvas. Before you mix the color and start painting on that canvas called life – make sure you have a clear vision. He had vision, and vision is engaging.
Watch him by clicking here.
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Love it. I’m going to link it on my blog tomorrow. Think About it Thursdays!
“Let’s add some happy clouds.”
Nice blog on Bob Ross. I still see him on PBS – you are correct in your 5 things. I think I’ve only seen him paint one painting (several times – every time I watch he paints the same thing). But he does have a good attitude.