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CAREER
Don't Blame Others: YOU Are
Responsible For Your Outcomes

Note: The author presents Double Divas voice over workshops with voice talent/coach Elley-Ray Hennessy in Toronto April 20-25, 20112 and Calgary May 4-6, 2012. For details, click here.

By Deb Munro
Voice Actor & Coach

This is such a tough time for many.  

The economy is catching up to most of us and everyone is tightening the noose on their budgets - understandably so. What a predicament for many. 

You've invested a ton into your craft, both in time and in money. You have family and friends that are rooting for you to succeed. 

HOLD ONTO YOUR DREAMS

So much is riding on your dreams, and this is not the time to let them go. 

Although this industry can get discouraging, this is the time to press forward and find a way to succeed. You've invested too much to turn back now. 

Perhaps you are auditioning for a few sites or agents and get nothing, or very little. 

Is it everyone or everything else around you, or is it you that needs assessing? 

Most people continue to blame others or other circumstances for the path they have taken. 

ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

I challenge you to accept responsibility for your journey. 

We are solely responsible for our outcomes, whether they are positive or negative.  

As soon as you can grasp this approach and apply it to your everyday life your outcomes will change and you will see better results.   

EMBRACE THE LOVE OF LIFE

The one thing that is true about me is that I love life. Every bit of it! 

I appreciate much of what life has to offer me and I see nothing but positive things around me. Of course, there is negative, but the way that I handle the downs keeps my life on up! 

I take full responsibility for my actions, my direction and my path. 

I have made all the choices needed to get me where I am today, not only in my career but in my personal life as well. 

WEIGHING CHOICES AND RISKS

To make these choices, I had to truly be comfortable with who I am as a human being and be willing to take large risks that I trusted would pay off. 

Luckily, my risks have paid off to date.  

I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the educational journey I took. 

AN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY

I traveled around the U.S. and Canada to get the best training I could find - a coach who truly cares about my success and knows how to handle my specific personality and skill needs. 

Let's face it, most of us who get into acting are unique individuals that typically carry a lot of emotional damage and need attention. Choosing the right coach is extremely important.  

Perhaps hearing that you should get more training sounds like a broken record. It's hard to admit that you need it, even harder to afford it, but without it, growth is harder to obtain.  

We don't get degrees or diplomas (for the most part) in this industry, so the workshops and the private coaching seem to be the only way to accredit yourself. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF COACHING

A good coach will help you obtain your goals and connect you to their world of success. 

Success breeds success. So be sure to look for a coaching team that is successful either as talent or in what they do. 

That adage "Those who can, do. And those who can't, teach," is not always true in the world of coaching. 

Sometimes there are those who just want to give back because it makes them feel good. 

REMEMBER YOUR MENTORS

Today is a great day to reach out to your mentors and thank them for all they've shared with you to help you succeed. 

If you open your eyes really wide you'll see that list is pretty big.
 
ABOUT DEB ...
 
 
Deb Munro is a leading voice talent, coach, and owner of Chanti Productions, in the Vancouver, B.C., Canada area. She offers private voice over coaching by phone and Skype, and workshops on voice acting, business and demo prep in many Canadian cities.
 
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Comments (1)
Billy James
3/26/2012 at 1:01 AM
Wow. Not only do you always know exactly what to say, you always seem to know exactly when to say it. Thanks, Deb.
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