#MotivationMonday Inspiration shines the #DISH spotlight on Houstonians who inspire, motivate, strengthen and who make us want to try harder. This week we meet Robert Boudwin. He has been a dear DISH friend for over a decade. We met through a mutual friend randomly one evening well before the knowledge of his talents came into play. Getting to know him on a personal level, discovering his intelligence, passions, talents and massive sense of humor then discovering he was CLUTCH the Houston Rocket’s Mascot, then discovering he CREATED Clutch and and and… This gentleman works so incredibly hard from before the sun comes up to well after it goes down. He serves as the Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing & Event Presentation for University of Houston, runs his own creative agency, inspired children at schools as Newton the Dragon, AND is full-time parent to two sets of natural twins. TWINS!!! Oh, and he runs marathons.. in his mascot outfits. DISH ran the Houston marathon with him a few years ago and he really did run the entire thing in the Clutch costume plus he finished before the rest of us. He wears all of these hats with a smile on his face and a hug for everyone. He is constantly encouraging others and helping them find their successes as well. We joyfully and proudly introduce you to… ROBERT BOUDWIN.
1) NAME AND COMPANY NAME: Robert Boudwin: Creative Consultant in the Engagement Economy at RobertBoudwin.com (Consultant – Speaker -Entertainer – Coach – Author – Brand Builder – ENEMY OF THE ORDINARY)
2) DISH ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS: I started in my industry in August 1991 as my high school then college mascot. I started my own business in August 2016. Although I’ve only owned my own for 3 years I’ve spent a lifetime creating my brand. Some of my most notable clients are University of Houston, NCAA, Harris County Houston Sports Authority, Sam Houston Race Park, HoustonOnTheCheap.com, Professional Sports Partners, Yellow Cab, local elementary schools and multiple different universities nationally just to name a few.
3) HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR INDUSTRY: I was the mascot for my high school & college. Entertaining came naturally. Combining sports and entertainment was my niche that developed into a lifelong passion that has now expanded to education as well. After honing my craft at my college mascot I went on to create the Original Houston Rockets Mascot CLUTCH the Bear and acted as the sole performer from creation until 2016.
4) WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CREATE YOUR OWN: A desire to entertain and inspire and deliver value to clients directly as to make a BIG impact for them and their company’s future and to their personal future as well. There is more to life than work but you have to work hard so you can have a personal life that is rewarding.
5) WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR: Feast or Famine – Things are unpredictably cyclical, meaning at times the workload can be overwhelming. Finding that work/life balance as a single father of two sets of twins is challenging to begin with but those times when there is not enough work readily available and I am spending more time than I care to looking for new clients, there is a stress component added in that makes being a peaceful, fun parent a little more challenging. But it can be done. You have to learn to put down the upset while picking up the babies.
6) WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR: Making People Laugh & Inspiring them to not self-impose limitations on themselves, their lives and their careers as well as getting people to take smart risks that makes others pay attention.
7) WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF OVER THIS JOURNEY: I’m an EXTREME extrovert and need to count and value my strengths and not focus so much on my weaknesses.
8) HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO GIVE UP: Of course. Anyone who says they haven’t is lying.
9) WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO POWER THROUGH: An internal sense of GRIT, pride & and good old fashion stubbornness as well as most importantly MY KIDS!
10) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WHAT YOU DO: Creating something new and seeing it from ideation/conception to completion/execution usually “edutaining” people in some way meaning to both entertain and inspire them.
11) HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR FREE TIME: Playing with my kids, watching movies, reading, running and hanging out with a small circle of best friends who I have cultivated tight relationships with…some for over 30 years.
12) WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT HOUSTON: The Diversity in EVERY sense.
13) WHAT IS SOMETHING REALLY NEAT, FUN, OF QUIRKY ABOUT YOU THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW WITHOUT YOU TELLING THEM: I have 114 tattoos, but you can only see two of them on my calves when I am wearing shorts and a T-Shirt and I HAVE 2 SETS OF TWINS because God cursed me…I mean BLESSED ME!:)
14) IF YOU WERE TO GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT OR NEEDING THAT INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING IN YOUR INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Don’t listen to others especially those above you tell you what the limits are to how far you can go.
15) WHAT IS YOUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA SO PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW YOU: People can find me at my website RobertBoudwin.com as well as on social media Facebook, InstaGram & LinkedIn
I’d also like to let DISH readers know any school principals or administrators who book Newton The Dragon for the 2019/20 school year between now and the end of August will receive a 15% discount! Let me come inspire and help educate your students! DISH loves a DISHcount!
This week DISH is adding a postscript to the standard 15 questions because Robert is highly involved in something near and dear to the DISH heart and that’s organ donation. Please check that little box on your Driver’s License to become an organ donor. It is such a simple, quick and easy thing to do and it will LITERALLY save lives. In his words Robert explains why this is so important: “I encourage everyone to say YES to organ donation! It is something we can ALL register for and something we can all possibly benefit from one day. My Dad is now going on 8 years post double lung transplant and gets to enjoy his family including 2 sets of twin grandchildren because of it. It is why I have run the Houston 1/2 Marathon 3 times in full costume as Clutch bringing awareness to the cause, personally raising over $100K for the cause. It’s also why I serve on The Life Gift Board since 2013. I have spoken 100’s of times on the subject. PLEASE DON’T TAKE YOUR ORGANS TO HEAVEN. HEAVEN KNOWS WE NEED THEM HERE!
dish-houston.com 