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Mid-Career Voice Over Slump?
How to Get Re-Motivated - NOW!
 By Maxine Dunn Voice Actor & Solopreneur
If you’re a voice actor who has been in business for a while, chances are you’ve been through a period where business was slow, or you just seemed to run out of motivation to keep your career energized.
But staying energized and motivated is vital to your long-term success.
And I believe that creating positive change can be simple. It boils down to three basic steps:
We’re going to work with these three key points, using some simple step-by-step strategies to get you back on track and re-motivated to make your voice over career the best it can be.
1.
Get Clear on What You Want
Your most important first step to get out of a career slump is to decide what it is that you DO want out of your career.
Why do you choose to do voice overs? What is it that you want?
You can’t create a great outcome if you don’t know what it is!
WRITE IT DOWN
Don’t just wistfully wish that “things would get better.”
Take some time with a pen and paper and write down in detail what your ideal career would look like.
I’m guessing that if you’re at a low point, you’ve lost sight of what you actually want from your career.
A couple examples of career statements might be:
Or,
BE CLEAR & FOCUS
You’ll find that by just getting clear on what you want, you’ll start feeling better right away.
Clarity is power. And what you decide upon, you WILL be able to achieve.
So get excited and write down in as much detail as you like, your vision of your successful voice over career.
2.
Assess What You’re Doing Now
That Isn’t Congruent
With Achieving That Goal
Your environment: Are you working at a messy desk in a disorganized office? Is your voice mailbox or email inbox out-of-control?
A cluttered environment will always undermine your business efforts, so make sure your work area is organized and pleasing to you.
Your self-talk: Do you grumble out loud about the economy, the competition, or that the voice over market has changed?
Decide right now that YOU control what happens in your voice over career, no one else.
You have the power to create anything you want in life, so indulging in negative self-talk is simply no longer an option.
Your daily habits: Do you ...
Using your time productively is crucial when you are building success.
Decide today to stop wasting valuable time on unproductive activities. Be honest about where you might be procrastinating, and make the decision to take action toward your goals instead.
3.
Create Systems, Habits & Structures
That Will Lead You
Straight To Your Goal
Here’s the fun stuff!
This is where you take control and make the decision to implement day-by-day steps that will bring you back into your place of power, inspiration, and success.
YOUR GOALS
Again, setting quantifiable goals will be an integral part of your voice over success.
Get crystal clear on what you want your outcome to be by regularly setting goals. Daily goals. Weekly goals. Monthly goals. Yearly goals.
Set goals for:
Take time every evening to write down specific goals for the next day. Then work hard to achieve every goal on my list.
Try it. You’ll be amazed at the results. Set your voice over goals and then take massive action!
MANAGE YOUR TIME
Focus on one task at a time. Multi-tasking is a mistake.
You will achieve far more if you focus 100% on one thing at a time.
I even use a kitchen timer to keep myself laser-focused on a task.
Group similar tasks together to save time, and put systems in place to make the most efficient use of your day.
NOW MARKET YOURSELF
Put marketing on your daily schedule.
Every single day, you should work to contact new clients, as well as follow up with existing or prospective clients.
Even 20 minutes a day of focused marketing can yield tremendous results.
In addition to making at least one outreach call a day, ask for referrals from your existing clients. (If you’re unfamiliar with how to ask for a referral, click here.)
HOW TO FOLLOW UP
And remember, following up with your voice over clients doesn’t have to mean asking them for work. It can be:
Create a structured follow-up schedule for each and every client.
Following up and staying in touch is keeping you top-of-mind, and when you’re top-of-mind with a client, the work will come.
DO THIS DAILY
Starting today, commit to taking a daily action toward your goal of a successful voice over career.
For instance:
MAKE IT HAPPEN
Goal setting and habit modification are vitally important to revitalize your career, but nothing will happen without your commitment to take massive action.
And in conclusion: The success of your voice over career is in your hands and your hands alone!
It’s all up to you. You have the power and the inspiration within you right now to turn things around and get back in the groove.
Use the suggestions I’ve outlined here and get started. Daily action creates momentum and momentum creates results. Get started today!
ABOUT MAXINE ...
Maxine Dunn is a top voice over artist and on-camera spokesperson who maintains an extensive clientele locally, nationally and internationally. She’s the author of the forthcoming eBook, The Voice Actor’s Tool Box – Beginner’s Edition: Get started in your voice-over career with these step-by-step, low-cost strategies. She is also a featured contributor to the 4th Edition release of James Alburger’s book, The Art of Voice Acting. A free subscription may be ordered at her website and below to her weekly e-zine, The Creative Business Advisor - advice for savvy voice actors and entrepreneurs. The subscription includes her free 7-day Audio Mini-Course: 7 Surprisingly Simple Strategies to Get You on the Road to Success, Right Now!
Web: www.maxinedunn.com
Email: Maxine@maxinedunn.com
Complimentary newsletter sample: http://conta.cc/MaxineNL
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Thank you very much for your kind comments, and I'm so pleased that you found the article helpful. I find I have to keep reminding myself over and over sometimes, to take my own advice and stay focused! :)
I hope all is going wonderfully well with you!
Warmly,
Maxine
xoxo
We think very much alike. I appreciate your articles and your consistent , no-nonsense approach to getting to where you want to be in your career. Thank you!
All the Best,
Bobbin Bean
This is excellent material. I will be implementing much of this today. You are a treasure trove of inspiration. I appreciate the time you've taken to write this article.
--Jay
Best,
Linda
Just what I needed. In fact, have you heard of the Fly lady? http://flylady.net . She's all about helping you to reach your goals in everyday life, even down to keeping the kitchen sink clean. A clean and uncluttered environment makes for a clear thinking mind! Definitely sort out your surroundings and do it using a timer. Don't give yourself goals that are unattainable. It's all about baby steps!
I'm going to use tips from both you and Fly Lady to get my head thinking straight again. I might not feel so overwhelmed if I use them wisely.
Thank you again.
Pearl