I’ve never been much of a blogger. I’ve tried a couple of times to get one started, but they eventually tend to fizzle out. It’s odd because I actually enjoy writing, and I’ve even been told now and then that I’m halfway decent at it. I think part of issue has been that I’ve never had a specific niche to write in. So, here I am launching another blog, this time to record my journey in the voiceover (VO) industry.
Starting new things can be hard for me. Not because I don’t have a ton of ideas and dreams, but rather because I tend to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of some of those ideas and dreams and I end up never really starting them. My wife recently shared with me the concept of being in motion vs. being in action (a notion she came across in James Clear’s book Atomic Habits). Basically, the gist of this hypothesis is that being in motion is the state of dreaming, planning, and preparing, while being in action is actually taking the steps to put those dreams, plans, and preparations into…well, action. This really struck me as profound. I think I’ve spent much of my life in a state of motion but have only rarely moved into action.
In truth, my start with VO has also been deeply rooted in a “motion-mindset.” I first started looking into the possibility of narrating for audiobooks around a year and a half ago. I did all sorts of research, took some online courses, and even purchased my own recording equipment and built my own (temporary) recording booth. I tried taking those first steps from motion into action, but I allowed various challenges and frustrations to hold me back and keep me from moving forward.
It was only recently, through connecting with other VO artists, that the spark and passion was reignited, and I was compelled to try again. Seriously, I couldn’t sleep at night sometimes because of this desire to get back to it. So, I did. I started taking those initial baby steps again, this time with the added support of my new VO friends (and the renewed support of my wife, of course; she has never wavered in encouraging me to pursue my dreams). I was able to share my audio samples with these people and get good, constructive feedback. I realized that I genuinely had a knack for this VO thing and that what I produced was actually fairly high-quality, given my current space and life circumstances. All of a sudden, the ball was really rolling, the doors were staying open, and I was having a LOT of fun.
So, again, here I am, still at the outset of this new adventure, still not sure what, if anything, will come of it. But now I’ve got momentum. I’ve got a community that supports and encourages me. I’ve taken steps and risks to put myself out there, which, surprise surprise, is pretty important for this line of work. I know where I hope this journey will take me, so I’m going to do all I can to continue moving from motion to action in order to get there. I’m beyond excited to see what’s next, and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to share it all with anyone who’s interested.
Alright, I suppose that’s enough rambling for one post. Here’s to telling stories, in all their forms, that make a difference in our lives. I’m diving in.
