Blog of Voice Talent Karen Commins

Are you looking for a mentor in voiceover?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:06:00 -0500

Just about every week, I receive email from someone who is interested in starting a career in voiceover. Lately, I've noticed that more and more people are writing to me and asking for a mentor to help them get started.

While it's certainly a flattering request, whenever the word mentor is mentioned in an introductory email, I am flooded with a torrent of not-so-kind thoughts:

It's all about their wants and not at all about me.
They haven't read the advice page on my web site. or a single one of my blog articles (2 good places to start would be So you want to get into voiceovers? and Thinking about starting a voiceover career?).
I'm not sure why they think I am the right person to help them.
I don't know why they think I should want to help them.
The person has no clue about what is involved in working as a voice talent.
They want me to tell them everything I know about working in voiceover as quickly as possible.
They expect me to invest my time in furthering their career, with my only form of compensation being my joy in helping them succeed.
They want me to introduce or refer them to my contacts and launch their successful career, similar to how a debutante is presented to society.
They want validation that they are doing the right thing, and all their dreams really will come true.

In short, the word mentor is so loaded with connotations that it makes me want to run in the opposite direction!

Of course, everybody needs help sometimes. It feels good to be able to help someone along the way and make a difference in their lives. I also know first-hand how fantastic it feels to receive key advice from someone whom you admire and respect. However, people are approaching the mentor question way too soon and in the wrong way.

After doing some research, here are 3 things to know about finding a mentor:

1) You first must assess the kind of help that you need.

In his excellent article for the Huffington Post, Steve Blank points out this important distinction between teachers, coaches, and mentors:

If you want to learn a specific subject, find a teacher.
If you want to hone specific skills or reach an exact goal, hire a coach.
If you want to get smarter and better over your career, find someone who cares about you enough to be a mentor [my emphasis].

When newcomers write to me saying they are looking for a mentor, they really should be looking for a teacher.

My friend Bob Souer is one person in the voiceover world who is universally admired and respected. He is an exceptional voice talent who is unfailingly kind and generous to each person he meets. Since I knew he occasionally has chosen to mentor some people, I asked him how and why he decided to become a mentor. He quickly responded and graciously gave me permission to quote him here. His comments illustrate Blank's 3rd point:

The people I've chosen to mentor have each had their own story.

Some have been people with whom I had an established friendship, then (when I saw them struggling and thought I might be able to help) I've offered that help. For a few others, they've approached me with a specific question and after answering that question and after some further conversation, I've chosen to continue the relationship in a mentoring capacity for a season.

Maybe the best way to describe the process for me is that right about the time someone reaches the point that they don't need my help as much, someone else will come along who does. I have no formally established pattern and don't plan to make one.

In the 25+ years that I've been doing voiceovers professionally, I've been offered help more times than I can count. I feel a strong sense of obligation to provide help to others I encounter along the way, who need it.

However, it does very little good to approach me and ask me to be a mentor because I turn down most of the people who ask.

Blank states that "a mentor relationship is a two-way street. To make it work, you have to bring something to the party... [be] "prepared to give as good as you get."

2) You must identify your weaknesses and then research potential mentors in order to determine the person who is best able to provide the help you seek.

Steven K. Scott includes a terrific chapter about recruiting mentors in his book Simple Steps to Impossible Dreams: The 15 Power Secrets of the World's Most Successful People. He gives a detailed, 10-step strategy for identifying and recruiting mentors. The strategy requires that you thoroughly research the potential mentors and be able to pinpoint qualities that you admire. When you approach the person, you will want to be able to explain how you would like to make their admired qualities a part of your life.

Yes, finding a good mentor in the traditional sense can be a very time-consuming proposition. However, you can be mentored by many people in a more passive sense. Often, a voiceover teacher or coach may provide informal and occasional mentoring by listening to a demo or answering questions.

3) You don't have to meet or have a conversation with your mentor(s) in order to learn from them.

This thought may surprise you at first. Scott illustrated this point in a story about a woman who wanted to improve her marriage. She identified family counselor and best-selling author Gary Smalley at the top of her list of perfect mentors:

She recruited him by reading his books and viewing his tapes...Reading Gary's books and viewing his tapes was in some ways even better than meeting with him because she could do them at her own pace, taking as much time as she wanted.

We live in the Information Age. No matter what your interest, at least one on-line forum exists to discuss it. Voice talent can join a plethora of on-line communities dedicated to voice-over, segments of voice work like audiobook narration or character acting, audio engineering, etc. These forums are populated with people having all levels of experience and are great places to sit at the virtual feet of masters.

If sitting at their virtual feet is good, listening to them is even better. Whatever category of voiceover work (audiobooks, video games, cartoons, telephony, documentary, etc.) mosts interests you, you need to be a listener of that category.

In her excellent article The Company You Keep, Barbara Winter points out that you should "study those who have done what you want to do" in order to meet with the greatest success. I had an epiphany when reading her wise words and wrote in my journal:

With that in mind, I realize I need and want to be an active audiobook listener. I think the last one I heard was in Hawaii last year. [I immediately downloaded a book from the library and] will be listening to the phrasing and pauses as much or more than the accent.

I will listen to an audiobook every day...It's another good way to prepare for the audiobook success and constant work that is coming to me.

Since that day in May 2011, I have listened to audiobooks while I walk my dog or swim. I have heard 14 audiobooks and substantial parts of several more. Not only have I been studying and learning from the technical aspects of each narrator and production, but the avid reader in me is thrilled to be even more immersed in books!

Whether you're new to voiceover or have been in the industry for years, I hope these 3 tips will help you find the people who can help you move toward your destiny! I'd love to get your thoughts about the mentors you have had, so please leave a comment on the blog.

Photo: iStockPhoto/Shane O'Brien

Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Feb 9, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:30:03 -0500

Edison's Files Reveal the Only Known Voice Recording of Someone Born in the 18th Century - The Atlantic http://t.co/E5xH0771 via @AddThis
To voice royalty-share #audiobooks...or not. That is the question. I tied at 5 reasons for or against it. What say you? http://t.co/1F0vYO7g

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To voice Royalty-Share Audiobooks... or not. That is the question.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:33:50 -0500

Many new audiobook publishers are only offering a royalty-share model of payment. In this model, the narrator is not paid anything up front and is instead paid a percentage of royalties based on the sales of the audiobook.

Is a 50-50 split on royalties right for you?

Some people would get irate at the very idea of doing any work without guaranteed payment. They would rant and rave that taking a royalty-share deal makes one a low-baller, someone who is selfishly going to destroy the whole voiceover industry by not charging the appropriate rate.

I've seen these kinds of arguments in on-line voiceover forums so many times, and I'm not looking to start one here! It's my intention to present reasons on both sides of the table to help you make an informed decision.

Many voice talent are understandably reluctant to undertake this kind of work due to the tremendous amount of time required to produce a quality audiobook.

I can think of 4 other big reasons not to accept a royalty-share agreement:

1) The material doesn't interest me.

I am very selective about the scripts I perform, especially when it comes to an audiobook. Since you aren't guaranteed to make any money, the book can truly be considered a labor of love. Still, I want my audiobooks to emphasize the LOVE part and not the LABOR!

Although I didn't know it when I accepted the projects, the first 2 audiobooks I performed were thinly veiled religious sermons. They also contained about 80% dialogue with a lot of "walk-on" characters whose sole purpose was to advance the plot. I truly struggled in my motivation to finish the books.

After those experiences, I know to use the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon to see how the book flows. If the book looks unappealing, it's not worth it to me to spend my time on it, regardless of whether I'm paid per finished hour or on a royalty-share basis.

2) The material is not suited for audio.

Point number 3 in this article will give you an idea of the kinds of books that wouldn't make good audiobooks.

3) The audio publisher has limited distribution methods.

I have accepted royalty-share agreements on ACX.com because Audible.com is the undisputed leader of audiobook distribution. I know my audiobooks will be distributed on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. I also can have faith in Audible's accounting and payment processes.

I have passed on royalty-share agreements offered by new publishers with no track record.

4) You have responsibility for all of the roles: narrator, audio engineer, producer, director, pronunciation researcher, quality control listener, and marketer. If you can't outsource some of the functions, do you have the time and are you comfortable in performing all of them?

On the other hand, I can also think of 5 good reasons to accept a royalty-share narration:

1) You can create something of permanence that will be enjoyed for years to come.

Not only are the listeners able to enjoy your audiobook, but you may find that you enjoy a recurring, passive income stream from its sales.

2) It's a great way to improve your workflow and become a specialist.

I loved Kym Dakin's article about undertaking some royalty-share projects toward her goal of achieving technical mastery in audio production.

You also can explore new genres to see how well you like the material.

3) Productivity equals success.

According to Lee Tobin McClain in her article The Key to Success: Write More!: Artistic and scientific achievers from Picasso to Da Vinci didn't succeed more, percentage-wise, than other now-unknown creators of their eras; they simply produced more, and thus had more successes.

She goes on to offer 8 ways to increase your productivity. While her tips are aimed at writers, voice talent can extrapolate from them and apply the ideas to our businesses.

For instance, you can build an expectant audience (i.e., a fan base) with a royalty-share book. I actually did this with a book I performed for LibriVox. I've seen reviews of the book and even received fan mail!

4) What you put out in the world comes back to you.

I gave that LibriVox audiobook to the world after reading the advice of Eckhart Tolle. I've decided that I would rather get a commercial credit on a royalty-share audiobook than produce another book for the public domain. I have seen my LibriVox audiobook for sale on eBay, but that point doesn't trouble me.

The commercial credits are important so that I can become an Audible Approved Producer and meet membership requirements for The Recording Academy. Nobody cares how or when I was paid for my commercial credits.

5) You're planting seeds for a future harvest. You never know where the decision will lead.

In his wonderful autobiography Up Till Now, William Shatner wasn't talking about audiobooks when he wrote these compelling words, yet his wisdom about taking risks certainly applies to this situation:

In 1968 Decca Records asked me if I was interested in doing an album. I hesitated, I wasn't a singer -- but then it was pointed out to me that the first note in the musical scale is do...

What I decided to was find a selection of beautiful writing and use that as a lead-in to a song that complemented it...Apparently it was a bit obtuse...for most people....

I'd taken a creative risk. I'd tried to do something unique, something very different. And I'd learned very early in my acting career that you can't improve without taking risks...

Decades later, my debut album "The Transformed Man" would lead directly to one of the most successful commercial ventures of my career -- and another album!...

It turned out that the copywriter on the [Priceline] account, Ernest Lupinacci, was a big fan of my 1968 album "The Transformed Man".

I am absolutely fascinated as I look over my shoulder at my past at how the simplest decisions I've made have had the most complex reactions. A career is a series of connected events. So when I turned down an offer, I wasn't simply rejecting a job and paycheck, I was completely eliminating the possibility that it might lead to something else. When you turn down an opportunity to work, you're also turning down an experience, maybe even an adventure, and a universe of possibilities.

Two footnotes on Shatner's story:

I recommend that you listen to his audiobook rather than read the book. Hearing him tell his story in his often-imitated but imcomparable style is a true pleasure!

That fabulous gig as Priceline's spokesperson is about to end, but it lasted for 14 YEARS! Think how much money he made just from that one enterprise! And he never would have had it if he hadn't taken a risk.

I'm not saying that people shouldn't expect payment up-front for an audiobook. I am simply encouraging you to explore the possibility of narrating a book on a royalty-share agreement. Only you can decide how best to build your business. You may find that doing one or more royalty-share audiobooks is a better building block than you had imagined!

Have you done any audiobooks on royalty-share agreements? I'd love to get your comments on the blog!

Photo: iStockPhoto/LockieCurrie

Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Jan 19, 2012

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:20:14 -0500

Author states Productivity=Success. #Voiceover talent can extrapolate from these 8 ways writers increase productivity: http://t.co/hlsNLVBS
A year has passed since the Ted Williams story broke. Here are 8 things I learned about #voiceover from Ted Williams: http://t.co/2guWTo1e
@Voice123talent You can take risks & network w/ others without sharing your goals. Let the Universe work its magic to help you achieve goal.
.@Voice123talent Without watching @TED_TALKS vid on keeping goals a secret, I'd say it's best to say nothing than risk talking to naysayers.
Thanks @nethervoice! The books are still in production, so I'll be interested to see how they sell. How is royalty share working for you?
2012 is already off to a great start! I'm working on 2 #audiobooks and just accepted an offer for a 3rd on @ACX_com. Now back to the studio!

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8 Things I Learned About Voiceover From Ted Williams

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:42:37 -0500

At the end of each year, I review my journals to see what I accomplished. In doing this exercise for 2011, I found some comments that I want to share with you.

Just over a year ago, the media was in a feeding frenzy with news about a voiceover talent who seemingly became an overnight success.

You may remember the story of Ted Williams. In one day, he went from being a homeless person to someone who was overwhelmed with lucrative offers from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the NFL, MTV, Kraft, and other companies.

I might have been the only voice talent in America who didn't write publicly about this story at the time, with the exception of this comment I left on fellow voice talent David Houston's blog:

I am sooo glad to see you make the point that we shouldn't spend time worrying about any voiceover career outside of our own!

I haven't commented on anything to do with this story until now. I am amazed at the time and energy that some voice talent have used this week in all the blog posts, forum comments, social media updates, etc. that they have devoted to this one topic.

The reaction in the v-o community has become like the people who sit around and endlessly discuss any TV contest reality show, particularly American Idol.

I choose to put my spare time and energy into the pursuit of my own goals and dreams rather than waste it thinking and talking about those of someone else.

However, I did write about the story in my journal. I was extremely irritated that so many companies wanted to attach their names to the story AFTER Ted's balloon soared. Of course, they all had to send out a press release to tout their benevolence in making offers of voiceover work to Ted.

More importantly, and the reason for this post today, is that my journal entry included 8 positive things I learned from watching the video of Ted and witnessing the reaction:

1. You have to believe in yourself and your talent before anyone else will.

2. You have to ask for what you want.

3. You have to persist and persevere through the bad times.

4. Chance or luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

5. You can't be denied the good things that are meant for you.

6. The power of video is an incredible tool for reaching your prospects.

7. People who are labeled as an overnight success generally have been working diligently for years to achieve their new success.

8. You can't sit on your past accomplishments and expect to continue receiving offers.

Although celebrated voiceover coach Marice Tobias did not mention Ted Williams in her recent blog entry titled Moving Forward, her words seem like a fitting postscript to this entry:

Good grief.

Enough railing about the business. It is what it is.

Concentrate on what you can actually do something about.

Your delivery.

Too many reads just don't hit the mark. Make sure what you are turning in will indeed stop people in their tracks.

Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Dec 29, 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:10:04 -0500

Great #audiobook makes holiday travel fun! FREE 10.5-hour book on 1900 Alaska gold rush! http://t.co/aU2cMHQ4 Trailer: http://t.co/VkTJCyzj
Grammy Tunes Out Children's Spoken Word http://t.co/W5NUn0i5 via @publisherswkly
My dream to become a full-time #voiceover talent is now true, thanks to these 5 tips for following your dreams: http://t.co/DpSkn1Rj #in #fb
Wish I'd read this article years ago! Why Patience Kills via @DanSchawbel http://t.co/t1icBVw4

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5 Quick Tips for Following Your Dreams

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:42:00 -0500

Every script I've voiced, from the shortest audition to the longest audiobook...

Every call I've made...

Every email I've sent...

Every postcard I've mailed...

Every marketing campaign I've devised...

Every web site I've launched...

Every blog post I've written...

Every social media update I've made...

Every voiceover class or conference in which I've participated...

Every professional association meeting that I've attended...

...occurred while I worked a demanding, 40-hour-and-sometimes-more-a-week job.

After 12 years of concurrently working in a full-time job and a part-time voiceover business, it's time for a change.

I'm thrilled to announce that I was offered an early retirement from my day job and will be doing voiceover work full-time beginning 1 January 2012! YAY!!

However, as excited as I am to start a wonderful new phase in my life, this post isn't about me and my career plans. It's about you.

I want to encourage you to follow your dreams and give you 5 quick tips to help you do it.

1) Make a list of what you WANT.

A list helps you stay focused and fight discouragement. It also is the foundation to manifesting your desires. If you don't know what you want, how do you expect to get it?

If you don't do anything else, I advise you to RUN, do not walk, to buy the IT WORKS booklet and then follow Brad Jensen's extensive, amazing, and generous advice about using it.

As an example from my life, I made a list with attributes that I wanted in a job, like a certain income level, the ability to do voiceover work, and a private office with a door and window. I deliberately made the attributes a little more generic so that the list would cover my day job and my voiceover business. I reviewed this list frequently and added criteria over time, especially as I checked off attributes that were met.

Your results when working your list probably will turn out better than you could imagine. When I wrote that I wanted a private office with a door and window, I envisioned an office cubicle facing a window with tall walls on the other 3 sides. Of course, I would still be able to hear everyone around me in an open office concept.

What I got, though, was the ability to work in my gorgeous home office, which happens to have a solid wood door and 2 windows. It also has a TV, an iPod stereo, and a reasonable proximity to the refrigerator downstairs.

In another example, I wrote a new life list in September and included the fact that I want to be contracted at least once a month to voice an audiobook. I faithfully have reviewed my list, taken the actions suggested by the creative genie, and received 3 audiobook contracts since then, almost as if on schedule!

2) Think about WHY you want it.

I worked for the IRS for over 30 years. I always knew that I was trading short-term creativity and gratification for long-term security.

However, having the day job didn't mean I should put my dreams on hold....and neither should you.

So many people say things like "I'll travel when I'm retired" or "I'll start that business once the kids are out of school."

If it's your calling -- as voiceover is to me -- you want and need to do it to feed your soul. The only moment you know you have is this one, so why not be doing something because it makes you happy?

Yes, working full-time for an employer and part-time as an entrepreneur has its challenges. I would say it's a challenge to pursue any calling when you don't have unlimited time, money, and opportunity for it. The joy you get in pursuing your passion spills over into every other aspect of your life. Note that every passion does not lead to a career choice.

Also, since I mentioned the day job, let me just reiterate that having one can bankroll many of your dreams. You just have to change your perspective about it and know why you do what you do.

Knowing why you want something also helps you to prioritize the time, money, and opportunities that you have.

3) Don't think about HOW you're going to fulfill your dreams.

If you read any material on the Law of Attraction, the first thing you learn is to forget the HOWs. The forces of the Universe will conspire to bring about the changes you want when the time is right.

The only HOW to remember is this HOWEVER -- the root word of Attraction is ACT. You can't just think things and have them come true. You have to do your part to take ACTION. The forces of the Universe need your consistent thought and action, or no change is possible.

By constantly thinking of what you want and why you want it, the actions you need to take will be revealed to you over time.

4) Find a role model, and follow in their footsteps.

At the beginning of this article, I listed 10 things I consistently did for 12 years to build my voiceover business while still employed at a full-time job. I'm not saying I'm a role model, but think about it this way: If I did it, so can you.

Whatever your dream is, chances are good that someone else has done it. We live in the Information Age, with much of the world's knowledge just a few keystrokes away. You can read about success stories and get ideas to advance your own dream.

5) Help other people achieve their dreams.

Your reality is the mirror of the thoughts and words you've been saying and the actions you've been taking.

To paraphrase Wayne Dyer, if you only focus on what you want, you're essentially saying to the Universe "gimme, gimme, gimme". The Universe then mirrors that line back to you, making you feel that you are, using Dyer's words, always striving and never arriving.

On the other hand, if your thoughts, words, and actions are saying "how may I serve?", the Universe mirrors that line back to you.

What you put out in the world comes back to you, in a way and from a source that you probably wouldn't expect. If you are giving of time, attention, energy, and money to help other people, those things will come back to you.

As an example of this logic, a big reason that I write this blog is because I have a true desire to help other people. Because I write this blog, the Universe has sent that help back to me in the form of clients who find me because of my blog.

Retiring over 4 years early from my day job and working as a full-time voice talent is definitely a dream come true! And yes....it was actually on my list!

Have you started writing your list? I'd love to get your comments on the blog!

Photo: iStockPhoto/ErikReis

Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Dec 8, 2011

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:00:21 -0500

By studying success of others, we can create our own path to success. 12/11 Success Leaves Tracks: Gustave Eiffel http://t.co/5sle8L2K
Traveling in the holidays? Here's a FREE 10.5 hour #audiobook to enjoy along the way: http://t.co/aU2cMHQ4 Trailer: http://t.co/VkTJCyzj
Exc. article in Backstage re: audiobook narration. Love Sean Pratt's quote on preparation: practice w/ book 3 hours/day http://t.co/WcV8pYWQ
Congrats to @XESands on your fantastic "Velveteen Rabbit" storybook and gorgeous site! I saw story in @PublishersWkly: http://t.co/hIHYj2tX

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Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Nov 17, 2011

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:11 -0500

How do you explain Daylight Savings Time to a schnauzer? Yogi's internal clock says it's walk time, yet his people won't ready for an hour.
By studying success of others, we can create our own path to success. 11/11 Success Leaves Tracks: Margaret Mitchell http://t.co/hZlM5xa9
How Celebrities Took Over Cartoon Voice Acting - The Atlantic http://t.co/HfsFo3Ee via @AddThis #in #fb #voiceover
http://t.co/nNGi5bYr Greetings, Bill! I've noticed a related issue. I have followed discussions in the past without commenting in the...

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Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Oct 27, 2011

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:50:07 -0500

Fab tie-in to Gladstone & Steve Jobs RT @ACX_com @KymDakin on using ACX & taking on royalty share projects http://t.co/jYAHrPmZ #audiobooks
Thanks @VoiceOverXtra for running my video of an editing technique to remove mouth clicks & to @AnthonyVoice for RT http://t.co/DyCpjoku #in

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Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Oct 20, 2011

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:50:03 -0500

#Voiceover talent, has the competition got you down? Some thoughts in this post may help you feel differently: http://t.co/cdOsqJpd #in #fb

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Has the competition got you down?

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:47:00 -0500

To compare is to despair.

I saw this quote in Bonnie Gillespie's recent column about competition and was thinking about it this morning after I found myself feeling that I could do so oh so much more to further my voiceover career.

Some voiceover colleagues seem to be on every social media site and practically living their lives online. Some people write multiple blogs. Others are producing podcasts and videos at a dizzying pace.

I have been a competitive person all of my life, first in school with grades, and then in the work place for projects and recognition. When I look at the wide array of activities in which some voice talent engage, it's easy to think I need to be just as productive and do the same things in order to stay competitive.

However, my corollary to Bonnie's statement is: To compete is to deplete.

Years ago, when I worked as a computer network administrator, the organization considered one of my coworkers to be the ultimate authority on server configurations. No matter what this man did, how rudely he treated others, or how his system changes might negatively impact the users, the organization always praised and rewarded him.

I didn't understand at the time that competing with him simply by trying to copy his actions was not the path to success.

For instance, he avidly devoured Microsoft Technet articles, discussion boards, and every computer magazine he could find. He read on the job and every night at home.

I felt compelled to read the same stuff in my evenings. I felt extremely competitive with him and wanted to stay at his level. He criticized the rest of us when we didn't know about a technical topic.

I hated spending my spare time that way. What's more, these competitive actions added to my feelings of being overly stressed and under appreciated in my organization. It was a competition that I could never win and one I really didn't want to enter.

I realized later that he read that material because computer networks were his passion. While I was extremely adept at my job, it was never my passion. I have never regretted leaving information technology positions for my true love of voiceover and communications.

All of the recent attention on Steve Jobs has made me feel a bit like I am not realizing my true potential. It's easy to think that I haven't done anything to change the world.

However, that's not true. I have changed the world just by being in it. No one sees things the way I do or does things exactly as I do.

I have changed the world with the hundreds of recordings I've created for clients and in public service. I know that people have watched videos and e-learning projects where I was the one telling them the information they needed to know. I know people have enjoyed listening to me narrate short stories and audiobooks. Sometimes, I'm even privileged to receive their kind words of praise about my work.

I have changed the world every time I helped someone physically, emotionally, and financially.

I have changed the world every time I thought and spoke positive, affirming words to and about myself and others. In fact, I've often thought of myself as an advocate for people who could not or would not speak for themselves.

My impact on the world may not be on the grand scale of Steve Jobs. My output in voiceover-related activities may not be as numerous or frequent as some of my peers.

But, you know what? That's OKAY. I am living a joyous, fulfilled life.

If you ever feel inadequate and think you need to compete with others as a result, remember these wise words from Steve Jobs:

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking.

Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary.

Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Oct 13, 2011

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:40:09 -0500

Amy Rubinate leaped into voice work as Tad-the-frog http://t.co/XCDGfSiw via @sfgate
http://t.co/QPVJnNQx Greetings, Anthony! Thanks for raising the question and providing the good info about the casting process from your...
As I continue to look at Oct/Nov AudioFile Magazine, I see several #audiobook publishers have QR codes in ads. Print now has audio. LOVE it!
Fab use of QR code in the Oct/Nov AudioFile Magazine -- you hear snippet of John Lithgow's narration of DRAMA. @AudioFileMag, more please!

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Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Oct 6, 2011

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:40:05 -0500

Thanks @VoiceoverAssist for RT about my newsletter Success Leaves Tracks. In Oct. issue, the tracks are from Bill Gates http://t.co/IJZO8F0w
By studying the success of others, we can create our own path to success. 10/11 Success Leaves Tracks: Bill Gates http://t.co/IJZO8F0w
Things happen for a reason. We couldn't get to our cruise ship last week, so we decided to have a great staycation with Yogi. Picnic today!
Now if @RoyalCaribbean - the "nation of why not?" - will provide the same tremendous customer service as @DeltaAssist, I can go to bed happy
I'm completely impressed with @DeltaAssist! @DrewCommins tweeted to them about our canceled trip. They solved problem IMMEDIATELY! Awesome!!
@RoyalCaribbean Delta cancelled our flight to Newark & we couldn't get there before Explorer of the Seas sailed today 9/29! HELP!!

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Twitter updates from Karen for the week preceeding Thu Sep 29, 2011

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:40:04 -0500

#Voiceover talent, clutter and success are related. Here are 5 tips to combat clutter before it kills your career: http://t.co/WGZhMuDc #fb
Writing Oct. "Success Leaves Tracks" n/l & listening to @DirectTV Beautiful Instrumentals channel; will write #voiceover blog post soon #fb

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