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How Long Does It Take To Succeed

It’s perhaps one of the most common questions I’m asked by new talent trying to get started in the voice over industry. “How long does it take before you make it?” 

What they’re really asking is, “can I make a quick buck? Or will it take time and effort?”

Too many people get into this business looking for the shortest distance between two points. Those points being the beginning and the success.

How Long Does It Take To Succeed

You actually are going to have to put in time. Put in effort. How much depends on you and your level of commitment. When I started full time a couple years ago, I felt like I was working around the clock. Some days, I actually was. I was always auditioning, prospecting, reading, learning, growing, improving. And with all that time, effort and investment, success started to come.

It was not an easy road. It’s still not an easy road.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it’s not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner. Og Mandino

Invest To Success

The_Greatest_Salesman_in_the_World_book_coverIf you want to succeed in voice over, it’s not just about submitting 50 auditions a day. Or even 10. In fact, some days, I don’t audition at all, but there’s still plenty of work for me.

This is a business, like any business. Which means you need to learn all aspects of business from sales to marketing to promotions and all points in between. As you take this journey towards voice over greatness, invest in education along the way. You wouldn’t believe how much you can learn simply by reading the right books!

Want a good one to get started with? I recommend The Greatest Salesman in the World. You’ll be able to read it in an afternoon, and for a month after you’ll still be pondering all the wisdom you gathered.

QUESTION: How long have you been on your journey towards success?share

 

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Why You Need To Unplug

As a solopreneur, it’s hard for me to disconnect. With voice over clients in over a dozen time zones and countries around the world, I feel like I always need to be available.

There’s no 9a – 5p in this business. A business that knows no boundaries. Not those of brick and mortar walls. Not those of city limits. Not those of international borders. Continue reading Why You Need To Unplug

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So You Want To Be A Voice Talent: 20 Questions To Ask Yourself

20 Questions to ask yourself before you try to become a Voice TalentI love being a full time voice talent. It’s a privilege to serve my clients and it’s a joy to be my own boss. It’s also not as easy as many people think it is.

People tell you that you’ve got a good voice. How hard can it be to start a career in voice over? It’s just talking. You talk everyday. Right? Continue reading So You Want To Be A Voice Talent: 20 Questions To Ask Yourself

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Full Time Voice Over Online Is Not A 9 to 5 Job

Full Time VoiceoverAt least a few times a week I get an email, Facebook message or tweet from someone interested in breaking into the voice over business. They come to me looking for wisdom and advice. I wish I had more to offer. That said, I’ve been doing this long enough that I have learned a thing or two. Continue reading Full Time Voice Over Online Is Not A 9 to 5 Job

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5 Things To Remember About The Business Of Voice-Over

5 Things To Remember About The Business Of Voice-OverI read a quote on Twitter last night that really struck a chord with me.

“Run your business like you are the best at what you do!” Terry Daniel (@voiceoversbytd)

If you spend all your time submitting auditions and looking for that next great gig, it could be easy to lose sight of the fact that beneath the layers, you’re still running a business. You are an entrepreneur who offers a service. Your service just happens to be your voice. Continue reading 5 Things To Remember About The Business Of Voice-Over