With recent discussions of downturn and a flurry of fear in the swirl these days, it is all too easy to feel helpless.
When that feeling pounces, I have 3 points of advice:
BE GRATEFUL, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, GET PRODUCTIVELY PROACTIVE
• Be grateful this business has changed to allow those with top skills the power to access to national and international job opportunities without having to move to the pricey major markets. Honor your foresight – you have chosen to pursue a career that is moving forward with technology, not being replaced by it.
• Take responsibility: Whenever I got in scuffles with friends as a kid, and I’d whine, “Yeah, well SHE started it!” my mom would yell back, “I don’t care who started it, YOU FINISH IT.” Maybe you got yourself in over your head with a house you couldn’t afford, maybe, like me, you are horrible at playing the stock market, or maybe unfortunate things have befallen you or your family that were beyond your control. Now is the time to BAIL OUT YOURSELF. It’s hard to strategize a life plan in the midst of demanding tasks that need to be done for someone ELSE’S company. Now might be the first quiet moment you’ve had in years to be thankful for the lack of distraction so you can focus on creating a new map for a new career and invest in developing a BETTER YOU.
• ARE YOU PROCRASTINATING OR ADDING VALUE?
Have you written your “25 Things” on Facebook but not a list of 25 Tangible Goals To Achieve by June 1?
Have you been Friend Requesting other VO talents but not UPDATING YOUR SKILLS?
With all the talk of failed financial investments, I’ve never before seen such an abundance of wasted time.
Time is the most precious and irreplaceable thing we have, and wasting it is worse than wasting money.
And investing smartly in your time can yield amazing financial returns.
This teleseminar on February 25, 2009 aims to help you do just that.
Join Nancy Wolfson and Anna Vocino on February 25th 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific for Acting for Advertising Part 8.
This is not a sequel. Each of these Teleseminars reveals a chapter from Nancy’s core curriculum, useful Q and A from your peers, plus more marketing and business tips that you can put to use immediately.
Each moment offers unique “behind the velvet rope of the agency/casting scene” advice not available anywhere else.
60 minute lecture, 15 min QandA…so bring your questions and notebooks!
Just $39 gets you on the call. Go to www.breakintovoiceover.com to sign up.
Shania Jackson says
Bob, thanks for the wakeup call on the new form of procrastination. This is why I enjoy your blog, common sense weaved into useful information. Have a wonderful week!
Bob says
Shania,
You’re welcome and thank you for your kind comments.
Be well,
Bob
Anna Vocino says
Thanks for posting the Teleseminar, Bob!
It’s all about balance. I love me some interwebs…I can dawdle on Twitter for far too long. In fact, I’m gonna go Tweet this blog post link.
And then get some work done…
xoxo-
Anna
Bob says
Anna,
Thank you for adding to the conversation and you’re welcome for the plug. What you and Nancy do in these teleseminars is very valuable. I’m happy to pass along the word.
Be well,
Bob
Nancy Wolfson says
And just to re-it:
I am not saying we should be insensitive to the very legitimate struggles so many are encountering.
But because of the recession, people are forced to PAY ATTENTION. A call to mindfulness can be a gift. To some extent, a lack of mindfulness is partly what got this country in over its collective financial head.
(Who remembers JEFFERSON’S TEN RULES.)
Let’s take the energy one might give to feeding complaint and instead feed behavior that plants seeds and breeds immediate, short, and long term value.
Not booking? Buy an audition specific consult.
Or listen to a lecture – a seat at this teleseminar is 1/20th the cost of a big group class.
There are productive acts that are FREE – Not loving your demo? Get onto Voicebank.net and listen to those of those repped at the top agencies for a relative sense of perspective.
Wondering what’s the latest in VO? Read Bob’s blog – FREE – oh – wait – you’re already doing that now, aren’tcha.
Thank you, Bob, for the plug but also for continuing to provide a forum of and encouraging productivity.
Bob says
Nancy,
Thank you for your kind comments and especially for your plug in my direction. Most appreciated.
Be well,
Bob