We’re now into the second quarter of 2024 and it's time to assess if I’m actually doing what I said I would do in my first entry of this year. That blog post focused on the value of "being present" in both my personal and professional life. Now, a few months into the year, I must ask the question. “Am I "Walking the Talk?"
The answer is I absolutely am!! Sometimes…
I still work too much at my voice acting craft. I work as many hours now as I ever did in the corporate world. Only now, I spend my time laser-focused on all things voiceover. But that's not necessarily good news. For example, I think I’m doing a pretty good job of being in-the-moment with my wife when I'm not working. Being home most of the time, in my studio, helps. We spend time together during the day as the time is my own. So between VO jobs, auditions, and running the business, I can spend time with Deborah having lunch and chatting about day’s events. Sometimes we even shop together, or I take our animals to the vet when she’s still in bed. When you work for yourself, that freedom exists. And I'm acutely conscious of the fact that being an active listener requires me to not be thinking about other things when I'm with my family and friends. So I’m feeling pretty good about my personal space overall.
On the work front, however, I don't think I'm making the most of every moment each day. I spend a lot – I mean a lot - of time auditioning and, while someone would say "auditioning is, in fact, the job," I take some issue with that statement, and I'll address it in a future blog entry. In any case, some of the time I spend auditioning might be better spent refining my operating plans for my VO business. I might also spend more time on outreach to current and potential clients as I work to create repeat business, not just one-off opportunities. I need to better assess when I’m doing things that really matter vs spinning my wheels. It can be easy to confuse activity with productivity.
Making changes to how I operate day to day is not something I take lightly. I need to be intentional and strategic about the evolution and growth of my voiceover business. So I'm laying out a new plan and will display it visually in my studio. That way, I can start each day looking at the plan, and asking myself if I'm making the best use of my time at that minute and during that day.
Journaling here serves as my own Personal Accountability Announcement. If I do this well in Q2, my next blog entry will demonstrate my progress and hopefully some results.