In this episode of the Danish-language podcast Den Nye Standard, I’m joined by Tobias Dybvad, comedian and producer. We talk about his career in comedy, the personal growth that came with it, and how a dream turned into a successful business.
Tobias describes himself as a father and husband, but also as an introverted, shy man who takes his work seriously. That’s quite a contrast to being a comedian. If the industry had to describe Tobias, he thinks they’d say he’s generous and a complete idiot, but in the best possible way.
‘It wasn’t until I started doing Dybvaaaaad! that I took my career seriously and worked with real purpose’
In the episode, Tobias takes us from the early days of his dream of becoming a comedian to a successful business. He explains that his career took off quickly, and in just three years he had reached a long list of milestones. He describes how he ended up hosting the programme ‘Dybvaaaaad!’ by chance, and how it became a turning point in his career. The programme made him take his choice of career seriously and sparked a curiosity about the business behind the success.
Tobias says that everything he’s been through in his career has worked almost like an education in being a producer. Today he’s a producer himself, and that’s a big driving force behind his creative development. He also talks about how focused he is on keeping up momentum and not letting the fear of things disappearing control him.
Work-life balance
Throughout the episode, Tobias stresses how much thought he has given to balancing work and private life. He has had periods himself where he was pushed to the limit by an overbooked calendar.
When he became a father, he decided to close his whole calendar to corporate events so he could be more present. Tobias explains that he’s still working on being present today, and that he makes a conscious effort to be there with his family in the off-season without rushing about. He also says he thinks a lot about the mistakes others have made in balancing work and private life, so he doesn’t make the same ones.
A positive approach to life
The conversation moves on to Tobias’s mindset and approach to life. He explains that he grew up in a home marked by worry. That’s why he has chosen to take a positive approach to life and doesn’t let the resistance he meets control him. Tobias explains that this resistance drives him to get better and keep developing.
Being a dreamer can sometimes lead to unrealistic standards, Tobias points out. So he isn’t afraid to kill a project if the idea doesn’t come together properly. For him, what matters most is that he gets butterflies in his stomach, because that’s a sign of passion.