Have any of these words left your lips? Or thoughts crossed your mind?
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m just too new.”
“My equipment isn’t good enough. My studio isn’t professional.”
“I don’t have enough training.”
“I haven’t got a clue how to market myself.”
“I don’t want to bother people.”
“What if they don’t like my audition?”
“I can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on demos.”
There’s a theme in every single one of those thoughts. Know what it is? Can you recognize it?
They’re all negative. Every one of them focuses on a problem. When you tell yourself one or two of these things, before long you’ll tell yourself five or six of these things. Shortly thereafter, you’ll have yourself completely questioning your decision, desire and ability to even do voice over at all.
How did that happen so quickly?
But it’s happened to you at some point, hasn’t it?
Me too!
One time I had a voice actor write me a lengthy letter chastising me for my useless advice. He went on about me always being so positive when that’s simply not realistic. He concluded his rant by accusing me of being the nothing more than a fraud and the voice over version of Tony Robbins.
How disappointed this individual would be to find out, I actually took that as a compliment!!!
Attitude Equates to Success
Let me tell you something. I’m a recovering victim. Not of abuse or anything like that. At least not in the traditional sense. I’m a recovering victim of myself and my own negative self-talk.
There was a time, not so many years ago, where if you gave me long enough, I could find a dozen problems in just about any circumstance. Even the good ones! No matter what, I’d find some way things could go wrong. It usually became a self-fullfilling prophesy!
Why? Because my outlook was generally negative. My mindset was that of a victim.
Until one day, someone whom I will forever respect, lovingly took me aside and called me on it. Straight up. No holds barred. Right to my face.
It was like a mule kick in the groinal region!!! Have you ever experienced a mule kick in the groinal region? Or something similar? It’ll make you stand up and take notice in a hurry! Well… after about 20 minutes on the ground in the fetal position.
This kick, for me, was huge reality check.
What kind of messages are you feeding yourself? Do you start your day with doubts about your skill? Doubts about your ability? Doubts about whether you’ve made a poor choice? Doubts about whether you should be doing voice over at all?
Are you asking yourself any (or all) of those questions I started this note out with?
What kind of day does that set you up for?
[insert poop emoji here!!!] Am I right???
Change The Way You Think; Change The Results You See
If you want to make 2017 a year you won’t forget, start by asking a different set of questions. Instead of focussing on problems, focus on solutions. Instead of tearing yourself down before you even get started, build yourself up and then stroll into the studio with a smile!
Mindset matters! I used to think it was new-age voodoo. Now I realize it’s not.
Does this mean you can think yourself into a successful voice over career? Heck no. That’s just ridiculous.
Does it mean if you wake up in the morning and tell yourself you’re good enough and getting better every day, that it will have a HUGE impact on the quality of your auditions, recordings, marketing and every other aspect of your life and business.
You bet!
And really… let’s be honest… what have you go to lose by being more positive? By building yourself up each day as you learn and grow?
What’s the worst that can happen?
