Two of my friends inspired this post.
While reading a recent blog post by Rowell Gormon, I realized that one of the things I love best about the way my life is going is that I’m working so much of the time with my family and friends. My oldest son Eric has been working with me doing audio editing and script directing for a couple of years. My oldest child, and only daughter, Karen is also working with me now part-time. She is a superb director who is helping me work through a large audiobook project that, I am sure, I would not be able to complete without her help.
The idea of working with Karen and Eric actually started a few years ago when I needed to be more efficient while working both a corporate day job and a full-time load of voiceover work. My wife, Cinda, started script directing me so that I wouldn’t have so many pick-ups in the long-form narrations that I do. These days I try not to call on Cinda too often. The pace of her life home-schooling our two youngest sons as well as taking care of a myriad of details for our life together means that she has a much more hectic schedule than I ever had. But, it’s always fun when we do work on something together.
Recently, Eric has taken on some work for another voiceover talent. That job then suddenly bloomed into a huge project with some very tight deadlines; so he’s not as available to work with me as he has been in the past. Karen has other work that takes a good bit of her time, too. So, as a result, I’ve reached out beyond just my family. Pam Tierney wrote on her blog about her experience directing me on a large project with some very tight deadlines.
But, working with family and friends extends beyond just those stories because so many of my clients are also people I truly enjoy knowing. Each one is more than a customer. He or she is a client in the fullest sense of the word. I love my work because I truly love the people and the businesses for whom I work. I hope you can say the same.
wow. how gratifying to know I actually inspire YOU! i look at it the other way around!
it’s great having “family” all over.
now if i can just manufacture some excuse to get directed by Pam Tierney!
Rowell,
It’s an experience not to be missed!
Be well,
Bob
Indeed working with family can be very rewarding. You’re blessed to have so many talent folks in your family who support you, Bob.
My wife is my quality control for my audiobooks. She listens to every chapter and follows along in the book to check for mistakes. I, too, am blessed with a supportive wife and family.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Hey Bob!!!
I hear ya 100%!!!
Eric, my 1st son is a web developer and helping me with a new website. Jared, my 2nd son is my engineer (and producer for a lot of projects). Jordan, son #3 practically built my studio and I hope will come on board someday to add video production to our workload. And the very lovely, young and talented Marcia, my wife, handles the bookkeeping.
What a great life!!!
Dan,
Obviously, you understand. Thank you for sharing your comments.
Be well,
Bob
Hi Bob,
A wonderful perspective on what’s most important to us in life. BTW: I’ve enjoyed Karen’s help, too!
John / VoiceOverXtra
John,
I know you have and I know she has enjoyed working with you, too.
Be well,
Bob
Bob – new to your blog, but I came across I completely agree with what you’re saying, working with family can be extremely rewarding – but there’s another side to it as well. Working with family can sometimes get dicey when problems arise. I’ve heard horror stories of family or best friends going into business and turning into enemies because of business related problems. Hopefully business never comes between family members. Anyways, great post.
Phil,
An excellent point. I agree that things can get dicey if or when problems arise, but they don’t have to. It’s important to stay open and honest with one another.
Be well,
Bob