Pursuing two similar careers simultaneously has its advantages. We've all heard of "the triple threat." That refers to a talented performer who is an actor, singer, and dancer. Someone who's multi-talented and has a competitive advantage because they are so versatile. That's not me. Yes, I can act. I think I can sing, though my teenage daughter tells me differently. Often. Dance? Hmmm... choreographic movement would be more accurate. I can certainly follow instructions, but the few dance classes I took in college didn't get me too far. One quick dance turn and I became so dizzy that I ended up wiping the floor with my backside. I am, however, a hyphenate. That is, someone who is active in more than one occupation simultaneously. In my case, as an actor in more than one medium: voice over and on-camera (film/TV). It's a nice balance. Voice over and on-camera work share many foundational similarities, such as basic acting training, though the work is pursued and performed differently. They're independent of each another; oftentimes when work is slow in one, it's can be quite busy in the other. And when a client needs a versatile actor who is trained, proficient, and experienced in both - it's a jackpot moment! They say: Diversify your investment portfolio. Diversify your income stream. I say: Diversify your activities. It's called BALANCE. And makes for a happy, interesting life. Similarities between voice acting and acting for film/TV It's the old peanut butter and jelly thing. Voice acting and film/TV acting go together very well. Provided, of course, that you enjoy (and have the time to pursue) both. One involves acting behind the behind the mic and the other in front of the camera. The similarities? You still have to know the story behind told and your role in it. In other words, the basics of script analysis or the who, what, when, where, and why: Who you are in the story What you’re trying to achieve Your relationships to everyone and everything going on in the story Your environment (time and place) and the situation you’re in Your journey (and the viewers or listeners who are on it with you) as you progress from start to finish It's a balancing act (no pun intended) I see voice acting and film/TV work as two halves of a whole. And when I need to divide my day between them, it makes for an overall satisfying experience. The best of both worlds. Like one day last week. Perfectly balanced between voice over and on-camera work. The first half of my day was spent in an in-person acting class. The other half was in my voiceover studio, working on a small job and a few auditions that had come in while I was in class. Half the day working face-to-face with other human beings in a dramatic, emotional scene, being directed and redirected to explore various character choices. Half the day working alone in my voiceover studio with business copy, following general specifications and directing myself to discover the story within and the best way to tell it. Maybe it’s the Gemini in me. I like communications in all its forms and I enjoy balancing two or more aspects of it throughout my life. (Writing would be a third form, but since Gemini is the sign of the twins and not triplets, I’ll leave it out for now!) Just like I enjoy balancing physical movement with sedentary desk work, home time vs. adventurous travel, healthy food with desserts. (Gotta find room for dessert!) The nice thing about fostering dual careers is that when one isn’t going so well, more attention can be put on the other. When film/TV auditions become slow, especially during the industry’s quiet seasons, voiceover opportunities often pick up. And vice versa. The challenge is when both are slow or, alternatively, both are in high gear and demanding of your time. I experienced this in my corporate career, too, though it took the form of a pipeline, with sales prospects who were at different stages of the sales process. Occasionally my pipeline was filled with potential customers all in the early stages of the sales process (translation: they weren’t yet buying and I wasn’t earning commissions). When the bottleneck wouldn't budge and I just had to bide my time, I focused on other activities: finding new leads, learning about the latest marketing and technical research to present to prospects and existing customers, or working behind the scenes to nudge the sales process along. All activities served the overall sales process. Knowing this helped me through the doldrums of the slow times (and assured the top executives that progress was being made). Sometimes, you just have to slug through the challenges. Juggling activities can help to not only move things along, but also shore up your confidence. And it can be a blessing in disguise. When business is slow in one area, it frees you to dedicate more time and attention to other customers who are buying. Know your priorities, be honest with those who book you should you run into an unavoidable conflict, and honor existing commitments. Too much of a good thing? Sometimes, you can't have it all. Or at least not all at once. Now for the reverse. Too much business coming in from both careers at the same time. A rather nice problem to have, though it can be stress-inducing. What to do, what to do?! Hello, priorities! And previous commitments! Once in a while, I've found myself on set for 12 hours or more when an urgent voiceover request comes in. Or on a plane, getting ready to take off for a vacation, when a revision to a previous job is needed. What do you do? In the first case, you honor the previous commitment and try to work in the new request as best you can. It may be tiring after a long day on set to come home and record a voiceover job, but it can - and has - been done. And done well. Sometimes the voiceover client is willing to give extra time, sometimes not. If you can't honor the request, let them know ASAP, so that they can make alternative arrangements. Or offer to find another talent who's available in your place. That's (to use a marketing phrase) value-add. As for the job that comes in while you're away from the studio? I've booked work in a travel setup I carry with me. Studio time can also be rented in many cities around the country - that's where networking with colleagues comes in, just to find out where the best ones can be found. From the perspective of the actor, it's much easier to work voiceover jobs around an otherwise inflexible schedule. Most voiceover work is recorded, edited, and delivered by the voice actor working alone. Quite different than being part of a large film or TV team made up of cast, crew, network, etc. that works in-person and on tightly managed schedules. The nature of the work allows a busy actor to manage things well when both voice over and on-camera opportunities come calling. And yes, there are times when it just can't be physically managed. If you can't block off your schedule in advance around firm commitments, you may have to turn down those other opportunities. Sometimes a client - either voice over or on-camera - can reschedule. Sometimes not. I find that honesty and forthrightness are the best policies. Know your priorities, be honest with those who book you should you run into an unavoidable conflict, and honor existing commitments. That's just good business. And sound moral sense. Laura's Quick Tips You’re a human being, not a robot! If you can, work different aspects of your job to do each day. The variety may provide greater overall satisfaction with your work day. Another option is to devote one day to one specific task and another day on a different one. You may find that you accomplish more per day when you focus on only one thing. If your work is getting you down, find different aspects of it that you enjoy and make sure to weave some of the enjoyable tasks in with those that you know you’ll just need to plough through. When you have more than one activity serving your overall purpose, you can relax (a bit) knowing that while one is slow, the other could be ramping up and producing. Keep your priorities straight and your commitments honorable. Few will fault you if you're just overly busy. Many more will resent and drop you if they don't think they can trust you. None of us is just one thing in life. So I say - as a Gemini with lots of energy and interests - mix it up and make each day as productive and enjoyable as possible. And be honest with yourself. Life is more than work. I’m an actor who mostly splits her time between voice over and on-camera work, but I’m also a mom with family responsibilities. And an active individual who needs “me time,” which includes daily exercise and private "please don't bother me for an hour" downtime. Balancing these different things pays off dividends in overall happiness and a sense of accomplishment. When one aspect of my life doesn’t seem to be going well, there’s usually another that’s steaming along satisfactorily. And even when something is truly going wrong, I can regain some perspective and see that at least something else is going right. It fosters gratitude, appreciation, and contentment. And peace of mind is worth a great deal. Find this interesting and want to read more about life on a film set? Check out some of the stories below! I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Film-making in your neighborhood. It's not all glitz and glamour! Ever see a film crew working down the street from where you live? If you live in Atlanta, like I do, it’s a fairly common occurrence. So many movies and TV shows are shooting here! There’s also a lot of filming going on that will never be shown in theaters, on streaming services, or on TV. I’m talking about projects like corporate training videos that are intended only for a company’s employees or customers. I had the pleasure of working on an industrial training film recently. Right smack dab in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. Complete with elderly couples strolling about, kids playing and racing bikes down the street, barking dogs, and leaf blowers galore. In other words, “real life” working conditions. Flexibility and humor will get you through most anything. It’s not the easiest shooting outside in a public space. For starters, you don’t have control of the environment. Natural lighting is constantly shifting (sun, clouds, changing angles, etc.). The noise is what it is. Cue the kids shouting to each other, dogs barking at every passerby, and homeowners tidying up their lawns any way they please. And of course, there’s always a plane or traffic helicopter somewhere up in the sky, passing directly overhead just when you’re in the middle of the shoot. So you work around it! What else can you do? Sometimes the background noises fit in nicely with the storyline. Most often, though, they don’t. So you start, stop, reset, wait for the right opportunity, adjust for the changing light, and go again. This shoot, for a regional power company, was especially fun because of the small, experienced, and very friendly crew. They knew each other well, were prepared for just about everything, and did a terrific job making the on-screen talent (me, in this case) feel welcome and comfortable. You can’t get better than that! Yes, we dealt with the noise. We waited for it to pass. The crew dealt with the quickly changing light conditions. Portable lights and reflectors were brought in to adjust for the fading bits of light as we were racing the late winter sun. My scenes were scheduled for the end of the day, so on top of the noise and fading natural light, the crew was battling fatigue. They had already spent many hours earlier in multiple locations filming other scenes with other actors, lugging around their equipment as they went. That they were so easy-going despite being visibly tired was impressive. It was clear that they knew their stuff and my scenes were filmed fairly quickly and efficiently. I’ve been on other sets where the crew was inexperienced and their jobs were poorly coordinated, when each scene seemed to take forever to shoot. Not here. And this crew knew had to handle problems Murphy is alive and kicking. Of course he is! Why should a film set be any different? If you’ve ever worked on a shoot, you’ll know that something, somewhere will go wrong. A piece of equipment will fail, there’ll be a problem with the environment, a crew member will be pulled away to attend another issue and they’ll be short-staffed, or there’ll be a (heaven forbid!) a problem with the talent. Not knowing lines, stumbling over tongue-twisting phrases, being difficult to work with. I’m pleased to say that didn’t happen here! Especially with the talent – I take great pains to be on-time and very well prepared! Here were three challenges that popped up that day. They will be very familiar to anyone who has ever worked on a film set! Lighting - especially working around natural and ever-changing light. Script Changes - there's almost always some adjustments. Equipment Failures - it comes with the territory. If you’ve ever worked on a shoot, you’ll know that something, somewhere will go wrong. There's a solution to everything. McGyver's shown us the way. As problems go, these were pretty minor and easily handled. But the real trick is knowing how to handle them. And a positive attitude makes it easier on everyone until they're resolved. Here's what our film crew encountered and how they handled them: Problem 1: Fading sun and noisy neighborhood background. Solution : The crew worked around with extra lights, reflectors, and waited for the kids, dog, and occasional overhead aircraft to just go their merry way. Problem 2: Last minute script changes. Solution : This happens frequently when the words on the page don’t sound quite right when they’re spoken aloud by a real person. No disrespect to the copywriter, but sometimes the written word doesn’t translate as totally conversational when voiced. Or, as in this case, the director wanted the name of the company inserted earlier in the speech than as written. That’s the job of the actor, to make adjustments on the fly. Fortunately, these wonderful people also had decided to work with a teleprompter, which truly made my job that much easier. Yes, I had memorized all my lines, but it was sure nice to have everything – changes, included! – right in front of my eyes. Easy peasy. Problem 3: Technical snafu - a doorbell failed to cooperate. Solution : In this brief scene, my role as an employee of the power company was to ring the doorbell and warmly introduce myself to the homeowner. Well, said doorbell was on its coffee break. A minor inconvenience. As they say, “we’ll fix it in post.” (That’s post-production.) I pressed the doorbell while (off-camera) a crew member knocked on a window to alert the person waiting inside to open the door. He opened the door, I gave my spiel and it was a wrap! Laura's Quick Tips Go with the flow. Something is bound to go wrong at some point. Don’t get worked up about minor inconveniences. Trust that the pros know their jobs and are doing them well. Focus on doing YOUR job well. It’s about the only thing you can control anyways. And no doubt you want to be seen as the consummate professional you are: prepared, relaxed, and flexible. Humor is a great companion! As is a positive outlook. When you’re easy to work with, people want to work with you. Again and again. And if the crew isn’t terribly capable, bite your tongue. Smile. Be patient. They don’t need a critic while trying to fix a problem. All told, my three scenes, from beginning to end, were completed in about 90 minutes. All very pleasant. The nice thing about working with a small, tight-knit crew in an informal setting was that it fostered very comfortable, casual relationships between everyone. We got to know one another and talked between shots about home remodeling, landscaping options, and our own families. So they totally understood when I declined their offer for a beer afterwards, explaining that I had to run off to my “side gig” – my real-life role as a busy mom making dinner for my family. So what do you do after a job? Heartfelt good-byes in this case, followed by a thank you note and the expressed hope that we’ll have the opportunity to work together again. And another thank you and small gift to the kind person who had referred me for the job. A happy experience all around! They should all go this smoothly…. Find this interesting and want to read more about life on a film set? Check out some of the stories below. I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

When you do what you love, it's not work My first career was in IT systems development and sales/marketing. My second was as a mom up to her eyeballs in diaper duty, chauffeuring kids hither thither and yon, and cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry 24/7/365. Third time's definitely the charm, as my career in voice over and film/TV speaks directly to my passions for communications and performance. I truly love what I do. But (there's always a "but") ... there's still a lot that I have to do besides enjoying time behind the mic or in front of the camera. It's the less glamorous side of running a business: accounting, marketing, systems maintenance, etc. All necessary, not particularly fun. Redefine drudge work to be the foundation on which your business rises. And shines. No, drudge work isn't fun, but it's necessary. Having spent a number of years in the corporate world, I know that there's a lot of administrative detail attached to just about any type of work. Your choice is simple: just dig through it while it's manageable and use it to your advantage or get buried under it. Fortunately, I'm the the Uber-organized type, the sort who firmly believes in "everything in its place and a place for everything." I like order and clean, neat work areas so that I can clearly see what's what and what needs doing when. Early on, I learned the best way to keep things organized is to plow through the work as it pops up, keeping current as best I can to avoid massive backlogs of details screaming for attention. It doesn't always work out that way, but I certainly would rather not have to deal with late night deadlines if I can help it. Or have to sacrifice personal time on weekends or - heaven forbid! - during a vacation for paperwork. Making time for last minute voice over or film/TV jobs? Sure! Bring it on. That's fun! But to do so for paperwork ... eh, let's not go there, if at all possible. Better to eat away at the chores as I go. It's like the old joke: how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The future's so bright, you gotta wear shades So what's the bright side of drudge work? Part of it is the pleasure of just keeping up, knowing that the IRS isn't going to catch you way behind in your tax payments. It's checking your pipeline and seeing if full of upcoming projects. It's peace of mind, knowing that important client emails are not being missed, because you're checking your inbox - and spam folder! - on a regular basis. The other part is keeping a sharp eye on where you're going: a brighter future. It can be hard to see anything beyond your nose if you've let yourself be walled in by mounting tasks that you haven't taken the time to work through. Instead of being imprisoned by undone tasks, seize control. Master them by just getting those tasks done. Turn them into your building bricks, the foundation of your business. And build your business on top of them. The bright side of drudge work is that it'll get you closer to your brilliant future. The stronger your foundation and the taller your business rises, the farther you can see the right opportunities for you and your clients. People will see you, too, as you become more visible in a competitive industry. Just remember to periodically check for leaks. Is your marketing plan still working for you? How about your financial support tools? Make adjustments as needed. Then step back to admire your work. And grab your sunglasses, because the taller you rise, the closer to the sunshine you are, with fewer obstructions in your way. The bright side of drudge work is that it'll get you closer to your brilliant future. A happy result can make it all worthwhile When you're first building your business, this process is all about "investing in your future" without seeing an immediate return. You don't just hang out your shingle advertising that you're open for business without knowing what you'll be selling, how much it costs to make, and how you'll make a profit. Or where you'll find your customers. You have to do a lot of leg work before you properly even get started. Later, as you progress and your business grows, it's just considered smart business management. You know the details of what's working, what's not, and most importantly, WHY. You're showing your customers and prospects that you're not only talented, you know how to run your business. Clients like dealing with creative people who have their heads on straight. They know they'll likely receive a quality product accompanied by excellent customer service. It's really the best of both worlds. And when your clients are happy ... you're happy. It kinda makes the whole record-keeping all worthwhile. Laura's Quick Tips Just do it. Get the support work out of the way so you can go play at what you do best - providing your customers with the top-quality products and services they need to solve their problems. Doing a little bit of administrative work every day adds up to staying current overall. Keep the long game in mind. You're working towards a successful goal! Redefine the meaning of work. When you consider all those unwanted support tasks a burden, that's what they'll feel like. And they'll drag you down. If you think of them as the means to free you to do what you truly enjoy doing in your business - well, then they become the foundational support that helps your business succeed. And how fun is that?! The foundational work is really the key for building a successful business. Once it's running smoothly, it's time to find the people who can help you shine. Interested in a few tips for building a strong support team? Read more about it here > I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

It's hard to say goodbye to the comfortable and the familiar, especially when the leaving is out of your control. We're human. We like routines and we're most comfortable with the familiar. But we and everything in our lives are constantly changing. Relationships, goals, and jobs are not static. It seems that everything has a life cycle: a beginning and an end, and when over, then it's time to move on. Sometimes we leave things behind, sometimes they leave us, causing us to wonder why they had to end. They can be little things, like some of our favorite items stocked in the local grocery store that are suddenly missing. And can't be found anywhere else, either. They can be more significant, such as friendships that dissolve through arguments, people who move away and gradually lose touch, or relationships in which the parties just grow apart in different directions. We can feel sour about the ending, especially if we think we've been given the short end of the stick. Ideally, the parting would be sweet, with wonderful memories to carry us forward. Often enough, it's bittersweet. For example, this spring I'm excited to be a speaker at VO Atlanta 2022, the largest voiceover industry event in the world. But I'm also quite saddened that this will be the very last one year it will be held. Its founder, the highly talented Gerald Griffith, is moving on to other things. It's my choice how to take it. It's your choice: the bitter, bittersweet, or sweet ending Holding on too tightly is stagnation. "You can't live in the past." Yes, we've all heard that a thousand times. It's true, though. Being stuck in the past, constantly looking backwards, gives us no proper view of today or a vision of tomorrow. If we're mired in the past, we become rigid and cease to adapt, learn, and grow. This is the bitter ending. It just doesn't leave a good taste in our mouths, especially if we're resentful about the whole thing. If we let the bitter define us, we'll just drive other people away from us, too. Bitter can sometimes just be sad. Like holding on too tightly to earlier versions of ourselves, especially when we've clearly outgrown them. Haven't we all seen at one time the older woman who insists on dressing and acting like her teenage daughter? Or the older man flirting with girls a few decades his junior, posturing as one of their cool contemporaries? It's not just the older folks, either. A few years back, I was talking to a young woman about to turn thirty, and she was actively freaking out, terrified that she was hurtling into middle age and irrelevancy, and would forever be alone. She had no interest in hearing about all the good that the next decade promised. No, she wanted nothing to change. I wonder if she finally came to terms and realized the benefit of greater maturity, professional recognition, and a deeper perspective on life. Or if she's just frozen mentally and emotionally in her 20s, unable and unwilling to shed her old skin and grow. Releasing the old makes room for the new. Bittersweet cherishes the past, but is able to make room for the future. I think of it like a garden. Pansies are my winter flower of choice, but they do take a bit of maintenance. Removing old, spent blooms helps the plant provide maximum energy towards growing new flowers. Likewise, in the vegetable garden, we have to sweep away the muck of past, dead seasons to prepare the soil in the spring for young plants to thrive, grow, and produce. We miss the beauty of the past, but accept that its season has past. Now we go forward with the knowledge and experience we gained to prepare for what's coming next. And we look forward to it with positive expectations. As a mom, I'm watching my kids grow to adulthood and leave the nest. One has already done so, the other is in full preparation. I've enjoyed every age and stage they've been and I love looking at old photos, especially from when they were babies and toddlers. But my job is to prepare them for adulthood and free them to live their lives, hopefully with all the positive life lessons that their dad and I have tried to instill in them. Bittersweet, but I love watching them grow into the wonderful people they are and look forward to seeing them start their own new families one day. Appreciation and gratitude lead to contentment. Mark an ending. Commemorate or celebrate it. Then look to the future and move on. Maybe it's the chocolate lover in me, but I prefer a sweet ending. Not everything can be viewed in a positive light, but if possible, I will choose to regard it that way. Those favorite grocery store items? Well, they may no longer be available, but I've discovered other alternatives I enjoy or can now make from scratch myself. Yes, I'll miss VO Atlanta and fondly remember it, but there will be other events where I can share my experience as a guest speaker. As for my youth ... well, I'm still doing pretty well physically and I'm a whole lot happier now than I was in my 20s. Maturity and experience lend perspective and (shall I say?) wisdom, and a much greater acceptance of ourselves. Having weathered more of life, I think that as we grow older we also develop appreciation and and a sense of gratitude, which leads to contentment. Sweet. Laura's Quick Tips You choose your perspective: bitter, bittersweet, or sweet. Living in the past prevents you from enjoying the present. Keep the good, learn from experience, and choose wisely in the future. If your experience is truly awful, if your loss is overwhelming and unexpected, and if what life throws at you seems truly unfair ... you're right. I'm sorry for what you're going through. Take the time to mourn, to ponder why, and to wonder what the next steps should be. You have the natural need to do so and to work through the grieving process. But when it's mostly done - and it will be - lift up your head and choose how you will remember that which you loved and cherished. What its legacy should be. How you will take the best of it forward and leave behind that which is best not dwelled upon. You will choose life and growth. I hope you choose the sweet or bittersweet ending. Looking to figure out that next step after experience a difficult ending? We have more tools at our disposal than we realize. Read more about it here > I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Balancing between perfection and wiping out on the Slip 'n Slide of life “Practice makes perfect.” “Perfect is the enemy of the good.” So don’t practice. The perfect excuse for any kid looking to get out of unwanted work. (Excuse the pun.) As if that’s not enough to grind any parent’s teeth, the philosophers and religious folks have to kick in their two cents, too, proclaiming perfection is beyond our human grasp. Which again lends credence to the kid’s (think: teen’s) argument that there’s no point practicing their piano scales or drilling mathematics into their head. Kids. You gotta love them. No wonder parents resort to the tried-and-true “because I say so” argument. Here’s a better retort for parents: None of that is an excuse for complacency. Mediocrity. Just getting by. Sure, there are plenty of people out there who have no problem with coasting through life on minimal effort. But are they happy? Feeling fulfilled? Maybe yes, maybe no, but I bet that if you’re reading this post that you’re one of the many others of us who truly want to do our best in life and prove ourselves worthy in our own eyes and those of our friends, family, and society. We’re not looking for excuses. And we know that coasting through life can turn into one big Slip 'n Slide. Fun while it lasts, but you'll probably just get soaked and end up crashing into something. Balance. Do your best. Within reason. Perfection sounds like the ideal, but there's a catch Are you the type that gets caught up at the other end of the effort spectrum? Seeking perfection? Trying to get things “just right?” Guilty! I’ve been a bit of a perfectionist all my life, especially in areas where I pride myself. I can’t just dash off a quick article; I need to craft it “just so” – tightening the prose, balancing the sentences, making sure that the idea is expressed clearly and concisely. Same thing with my acting and voiceover work. I can spend WAY too much time preparing and tweaking a performance until its originally creative, organic life gets squeezed out of it by technical “improvements.” And that’s how an actor can be sure NOT to get booked. On TV and in film, where the camera magnifies everything, a character’s reactions must seem fresh and alive. The actor has to learn to live in the moment as the character, as if experiencing everything for the first time. It’s a terrific exercise in letting go of perfectionism. Really, there’s no advantage in trying to figure out the perfect performance, because casting itself is so subjective. It comes down to what the casting director has in mind for the role. Or the director, producer, showrunner, or network executive. Everyone’s mental image is different. And then an actor can show a very different interpretation that captivates the decision-maker, and suddenly the character is reimagined in a completely new direction. There’s also the very real possibility that a friend or relative is cast in a role that’s supposedly up for grabs. Or that the decision is made to “round out” an ensemble cast with actors of varying physical qualities, and so the choice is made beyond performance quality alone. Just because an actor doesn’t win a role – and only one person can be cast per role (unless you’re talking about very young child actors or baby twins who share a role) – doesn’t mean that his performance wasn’t good. It just wasn’t the best choice for the project at that particular time. Of course, actors are never told any of this, which is why so many suffer from self-doubt stemming from rejection after rejection. It takes some backbone to soldier on. But embracing perfectionism won’t help. An alternative to perfectionism What does work? Flexibility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn from others. These qualities are valued in many fields, but here's how they play out in the actor's world. Actors have to be flexible and open to interpreting a character’s goals, motives, and behaviors from different viewpoints. A new perspective can dramatically change how a character is played. As an example, imagine a plot in which a character is engaged in illegal activity. That character can be played as someone who’s chosen a life of crime. Or as someone out for revenge. Or as one naively involved in something they don’t understand. Or forced to break the law to save a loved one. All different performances. Each scenario creates a new set of reasons for the character to be doing what he is doing. And how well he is doing it, his tactics, and the hurdles he has to overcome. The last thing an actor wants to do is to lock himself into one idea that he considers perfect. When auditioning or at a callback, it’s not unusual to be asked to try the scene in a different way. The casting director wants to see if the actor has range. And the ability to be directed. It’s essential, especially if you’re on a TV show with a script that can be revised up to the moment of filming. It’s the actor’s job to adjust and deliver those modified lines ASAP. Improvisation is one of the best exercises to flex that adaptability muscle. I especially love the improv games where lines and directions are thrown around like so many balls and you have to learn to catch, toss back, and redirect them instantaneously. No room for complacency there! Improv is one of the best skills to have in an actor’s toolbelt, so that we’re ready and able to handle whatever may be thrown at us. Good work delivered on time and within budget is more valuable than an idea never realized. Real world considerations There’s no sliding by in the actor’s world – or really, in any other profession either. People expect you to be able to do your job. Whether you’re an employee or an entrepreneur, employers and clients are not going to be thrilled at receiving work that’s just barely acceptable or just misses the mark. And on the other end of the spectrum – perfectionism – the time and energy invested in grooming something to that “just right” state doesn’t play too well, either. When does perfectionism apply? When time and money play a secondary role to the critical importance of getting things “just right,” as in medical, technical, and scientific research and mathematical studies. Even so, there is pressure to find the right answers quickly and within budget. It’s the bane of researchers and scientists everywhere. In the business world, considerations of time and money trump delivering a perfected product. Executives and employees are expected to make smart decisions quickly and perform expediently. Time is the enemy of perfection. And face it: there’s only so much that can be done within 24 hours. Individuals prone to perfectionism may find themselves in a bind, facing difficult choices: are you willing to miss deadlines to perfect what you’re working on? Are you willing to annoy or anger other people who are depending on you? Will you even have a deliverable when they need it? Most of the time, employers and client alike would rather have something that’s good and on time than a possible masterpiece-in-the-making that’s never finished. Or is terribly over-budget or draining resources from other areas. Laura's Quick Tips Perfection is a fine ideal, but the real world needs something a bit more practical. A balance. Good work delivered on time and within budget is more valuable than an idea never realized. Adaptability, flexibility, and open-mindedness provide more opportunities for success than a rigid mindset. This is not to say that the quest for perfection is worthless. Perfection makes a fine ideal. Reach for the stars. Imagine what can be. And work towards it. Just remember that it’s an ideal. Unless you’re truly financially independent and not beholden to others with deadlines, you work within constraints of time and resources. Focus on what you can deliver, prioritize, and follow through. Chances are that you’ll find most success that way. Interested in learning more about keeping - and maintaining - a balanced perspective? Read more about it here > I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Changing Career Paths ... Wisely We're never just one thing in life. We wear many hats. We change up our roles - even our careers - as circumstances or our desires dictate. The trick is to know how to do so with foresight, thought, and planning. Otherwise, we may find ourselves battered by the vagaries of chance. Or, worse, dependent on the mercy of others. Sometimes, we get lucky. We fall into new careers, meet unexpected benefactors, and have the time of our lives. Sometimes. Hmmm. Sometimes, we win the lottery, too. Most other times ... not so much. We're much better off taking charge of our own destinies. Planning for our futures. Figuring out the next steps to ensure that there'll be money in the bank when we need it and that we're not risking the health and welfare of ourselves or our families to pursue our dreams. There is a process we can follow that maximizes the upside and minimizes the risks. It's not just for the young starting out in their adult lives. It's one we can take anytime when we feel the need to reinvent ourselves. I'll be talking about it in a breakout session at VO Atlanta 2022 , the largest voiceover conference in the world, on April 1. No joke! Here's the gist of it: Do something different. Start over! Or start something new. It's OK to start, not knowing exactly where you'll end up. You have a dream. A goal. Or perhaps just a general idea that you want to do something different. The first step is to clarify what you want and why you want it. You may need some time just to steel your nerves to actually go about it, especially if you're thinking of leaving a comfortable job and income and venture into a new role as an entrepreneur. This is the time to visualize in detail what that means and how it'll differ from your present circumstances. And to develop contingency plans for when good ol' Murphy and his pesky law come along to disrupt your progress. It's also wise to consider this transition into a new career as a journey. One that will take time to develop and require a degree of flexibility on your part. We don't always end up where we think we should. When we should. Impatience and unrealistic expectations can be your greatest enemy. Discovery is part of the journey. And you have more at your disposal than you think. Have you catalogued your existing skills and experience? Have you thought how they could be used - or adapted - in a new career? Sometimes the skills that were most valued and used at your last job may seem superfluous in your new career, especially if you're moving from a corporate technical career to an artistic one, like I did. But surprise, surprise! They may not seem necessary, but they can help distinguish you from the competition in your new career. In my case, my experience working in technology allows me to excel in corporate and medical voiceover narration, because I understand the concepts and can handle complex terminology. Business skills and a talent for organization provide valuable support in any field. If they're in your toolkit, you have a big leg up. So many people don't have either. You'll know to avoid commonly made mistakes and be less inclined to miss important details as you work in your new career. Your existing skills can be mixed and matched in different combinations to bring value to even the newest situation. Strategies for success Plan. Review. Revise and set new goals. Keep both a long and short-term vision. You'll know where you're going - and when you've arrived at each milestone along the way - by plotting your course. There are a number of tools out there to help you do so, as well as strategies for ensuring that you're on the right path. I'll mention two: flexibility in your thinking and expectations and mentors. I've touched on the importance of flexibility. Look also for a mentor who is just a few steps ahead of you in your new career. He or she will mostly likely be able to relate to your current challenges and provide practical advice based on their own recent experiences. Laura's Quick Tips Plan your journey well to a new career - and put fear in the back seat. Give yourself credit for what you bring to the table. Turn for regular guidance to those who are just a few steps ahead of you on the same path. And enjoy yourself! Yes, changing careers can be a scary prospect, but it can also be quite exhilarating, especially when you've taken the time to think it through. And as you reach each new milestone, you'll be able to look back on your progress and take pride in your success. Interested in knowing more? Join me on April 1, 2022 at 4:40pm at VO Atlanta 2022 when I expand on this post in "Reinventing Yourself Later in Life." I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

It's the largest voiceover conference in the world! VO Atlanta has grown to be the largest, most learning-intensive conference within the voiceover industry. It draws the best of the best: coaches, demo producers, casting directors, agents, and - of course! - voice actors from all over the world to learn, teach, and network with one another. VO Atlanta was my very first voiceover conference anywhere, so I'm thrilled to be invited to speak this year on a topic near and dear to my heart: Reinventing Yourself Later in Life. I have reinvented my career twice before and I can't wait to share both practical and psychological strategies to help others along the same path, whether it's to turn a hobby into a career, re-enter the workforce after a prolonged absence, or to finally engage a life-long passion and develop it into a business during your retirement years. Come join me for a wonderful weekend, right here in my hometown! March 31 - April 3, 2022 Hilton Atlanta Airport I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice... Let's Talk! COMMERCIALS •  EXPLAINER VIDEOS • CORPORATE NARRATION •  ELEARNING • K12 • MEDICAL NARRATION • CHARACTERS & ANIMATION • TELEPHONY

Your Personal Toolkit Gets a Makeover Are you one of the people whose life has been turned upside-down recently? Maybe you’ve lost a job? Left the workforce to care for a new baby or family member? Or perhaps you’re instead looking to restart your career – or begin a new one - after a prolonged absence? You may also find yourself at a bit of a loss if you’ve relocated to a new state – or a new country – without a job in place. Even if you DO have a new position, you could very well be dealing with a different corporate culture than what you have been used to. This is especially true if you’re changing careers. I’ve changed careers dramatically twice before. Twice more in a not-so-major way. And over time, I’ve discovered that old skill sets have an interesting habit of re-emerging in new, useful ways. Here’s a little of my story, followed by a few suggestions on how you can evaluate and apply your existing skills to new opportunities. I began my first career in the high tech industry as a financial systems analyst working for a large electronics manufacturer. Like many young people right out of college, it took a little time to discover my true strengths and interests. I eventually segued from a design role into sales and marketing of hardware, software, and consulting services to both Fortune 500 and startup companies. My second career was not exactly as I had planned it. I’d always envisioned myself as a working mom, a career woman whose ambition and accomplishments would serve as a model to my children, especially to any daughters I might have. That idea went out of my head as soon as I held my first baby in the birthing room. I couldn’t see being separated from him for long periods of time. Or happily jetting off to a business meeting without imagining his little face crying for Mama. Fortunately, my husband was fully supportive of my decision to become a stay-at-home mom. While my kids were growing up, I began a third career as a freelance writer developing marketing materials for small businesses and non-profit organizations and managing the financial matters for my husband’s medical practice. Some say that multi-tasking doesn’t work, but I thrive on juggling multiple balls at once. And, honestly, it reassured my inner businesswoman that I still had an identity beyond that of “mom.” Six years ago, I decided that my freelance business would go into a new direction, one that I had always longed to dive into. Communications and organization may have always been my strong suit, but performance was my lifelong passion. I became a professional actress and voice talent. You’d think that my earlier corporate experience would have been as useful as a screen door on a submarine. It IS a pretty far stretch between computer engineering and sketch comedy. Well … surprise, surprise. Those old skill sets have come in pretty handy. Yes, I’ve dived seriously into acting classes and voiceover coaching, which I continue to enjoy taking. There’s always something to learn and work to master. As an artist, you’re never “finished.” Apply your existing skill sets in new ways to new tasks You have to develop new skills and different ways of thinking when you change careers. But now, there was some active reshuffling of my skill sets going on that proven invaluable. And anyone going through a similar reordering of their life and/or career will discover the same to be true for them. Here’s how it worked for me: Technical computer science skills and systems development experience teaches logical thinking. Computers only do what you tell them to do. Maybe someday, artificial intelligence will transform into independent thinking, but we’re not there yet. In both on-camera and voiceover work, logical thinking lends itself to script analysis, which is the process of figuring out what’s going on in any given scene. Acting is really about reacting to the other people and events going on around your character. Breaking down a scene essentially means that one event or exchange of conversation is going to affect your character in some way, which in turn must affect those others around you. How will you do this? Actions beget consequences. It’s the old if-then-else logic, even if the “else” is something unexpected or irrational. It’s still a reaction. Sales and marketing experience figure heavily into supporting a new business. While agents, referrals, casting sites, and current clients may provide new opportunities, it’s still incumbent on the voice actor to develop their own business with some form of marketing. Anytime a voice actor secures work outside of an agent, there will also be the ongoing need to prospect for business, network, negotiate, provide customer service, invoice, account for income and expenses, pay taxes, manage a network of customer contacts, and keep an online professional presence up-to-date. Business in general requires its executives and employees to be well-organized, punctual, and more or less methodical. So helpful to an acting career! I’m still surprised by how many creatives are challenged by keeping things straight and orderly. Once, I was helping a studio filter hundreds of actors through an afternoon program in which each could meet a panel of casting directors face-to-face after delivering a one-minute monologue. It was a pretty straight-forward system to queue or “batch” (an old IT term!) the actors to be “processed” as quickly as possible to respect the casting directors’ valuable time. I was amazed at the time at how many actors commented on my organizational skills, saying that they could never have done the same. Really?! It seemed that anyone in my old business life could have done the same thing. Thinking about it from a business person’s perspective, was how impressive most actors truly are. Few of my former co-workers would have had the guts to stand alone on a stage and perform a monologue before a panel of critical judges. Now, that takes talent! And bravery. Punctuality is essential to a successful acting career. Forget those stories about the divas who hold up production by arriving hours after a call time. Very few actors can afford to risk their careers like that. Most I’ve met are conscientious, very hard-working people. There’s an axiom: “Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable!” – author Eric Jerome Dickey Translated to the entertainment world, it’s: “If you’re 15 minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. And if you’re late, you’re fired.” – multiple acting coaches Or something along those lines. Punctuality is essential. And you’re never going to get there without a somewhat organized calendar. Coming from the corporate world, professionalism and attention to customer service were a given. Anyone who came across as deliberately provocative, belligerent, difficult, argumentative, or downright disrespectful wasn’t around for the long haul. It’s not that those values are absent in any way in the entertainment industry, but it certainly seems that more people get away with it. The worst ones may make the headlines in the tabloids you see at the supermarket check-out line, but it’s not just on the A-list or decision-making levels. There does seem to be an inflated sense of self in even some fledgling actors that they’re entitled to behaving badly. And I’ve seen a few get rather badly burned for it. Talk about self-sabotage! And so unnecessary. Don't under-estimate the value of parenting skills! Life skills help you anywhere, anytime, and in most any capacity. Parenting is considered one of the toughest jobs in the world. It changes you in fundamental ways. For me, it’s made me more selfless, more aware of the needs of others. I’m able to better see through the eyes of others and understand other perspectives. I’m more grateful for the blessings I have. And I’ve developed a degree of patience that I didn’t think possible. Yes, also the ability to clean up poop, vomit, and other unpleasant by-products of the human condition and not shirk so much at the thought of having to do it. These parenting skills have certainly come in handy in my new line of work! Actors play off of others and need to pay attention to react to what the other person is saying or doing. We all do better when we help our scene partners perform at their best. It’s a business of constant rejection, criticism, and judgement, whether it’s deserved or not, and it takes a strong person to take it all in stride and provide perspective. The hours are long, we’re often at the mercy of a schedule we do not make or control, and occasionally we’re not too thrilled with the where, when, how, or why we have to do something. This is the downside of the business. Parenting experience comes in handy, especially when others on set are throwing tantrums like a toddler. Evaluate your existing skills to recognize new opportunities We all have more skills than we realize. If you’re not sure of the value of yours or how they can be presented as a strength, try this short exercise: Write down your goals and needs. This could be for a specific job, a new career, or your desired lifestyle. Break down each goal into individual pieces. What’s required each step of the way to move closer to reaching your goal? Set a deadline for yourself to meet each step, otherwise it may not get done. List the skills that you think you need to be successful in meeting each one of these steps. They can be “hard” skills like learning an industry-standard software application tool or “soft” skills like being able to walk up and talk to strangers at a conference in order to start a business conversation. List all the skills – major and minor – that you have. It helps to organize them by group, in categories like office skills (computer proficiency, even punctuality), social skills, industry-specific skills, etc. Map your current skills to the individual steps that lead up to realizing your goal. Which skills satisfy a known requirement, like knowing how to use a specific software program? Which are useful, like a “soft” skill of working well on a team? These “soft” skills can be the deciding factor as to whether they hire you (who can take direction well, working as part of a team) over another candidate. Can any of your current skills be reimagined or applied in a new way? The ability to write clearly and thoughtfully, in an organized fashion, can lead to opportunities within corporate communications departments, marketing houses, or advertising agencies, as well as to freelancer gigs as a technical writer, content writer, or communications specialist. As another example, the ability to speak in front of groups and think on your feet can pave the way to many entry sales opportunities. It’s one thing to learn about a company’s products and services so that you can represent them. It’s quite another to be able to comfortably speak in public – after all, it’s long been considered the #1 fear of so many people. And if you can do so in an informative, persuasive style … you’re golden! Link your existing skills as stepping stones to new opportunities Give it a try! You’ll probably discover that you are more experienced and qualified for that dream job than you think. Even if you don’t have skills that map directly to your career objectives, I bet you have some that will make getting those additional skills a bit easier. Are you an avid video game player? Guess what … you’ll have a basis to explore careers in computer science, computer graphics, even voiceover for video games. You’ll need training, of course, but your previous experience – even from playing games – gives you an insight into an industry that offers multiple career opportunities. We’re always learning new things, upgrading various skill sets just by being active in the world. Hey, I’ve learned more than I thought I would about home repairs since becoming a homeowner! Not that I expect to begin a new career as an electrician, plumber, or even a decent handyman, but just knowing my way around a hammer or a drill has made me eligible as an actress for a role in a commercial or industrial for one of the big box home repair conglomerations. You may find that one of your former primary skills becomes an essential backup. One that may not earn you money, per se, but helps you to do so using a new skill set. And the things you enjoyed before, but didn’t earn a living at, can flip-flop to become your primary source of income. Much like someone turning a hobby into a thriving business. That’s what I experienced moving from the business world into entertainment. I think of it as an inverse relationship. In my first career as a sales exec, the business and “hard” computer skills were the primary requirement for the job. My passion for performance, which helped enliven my sales presentations, was a “soft” supportive skill that was not deemed necessary to do the job well, but was invaluable, nonetheless. As an actor, the performance skills are primary, but the supportive business skills (organization, focus on customer service, professionalism) are what help to set me apart as a “smart” actor who’s known to be “easy to work with.” Think of your skills as building bricks that can be shuffled around in multiple combinations to create different structures, those structures being the opportunities you want to pursue. You may be a brick short here and there – hey, you’ll know what you need to work on! – but the point is that you have a lot more material to work with than you may have originally thought. If nothing else, it will help you assess exactly what you bring to the table and figure out what you need to get to your goal. And that type of goal-setting activity alone can take you a long way to achieving your dream.

Making Disaster Work For You And another year is gone like that. And not the way it was supposed to. You know what I’m talking about. 2021 was supposed to be the year of getting back to normal. The pandemic should have been in our rearview mirror months ago. Yes, in some ways, we’re almost there. And in an ironic sense, technologically ahead of schedule in the way that remote work and communications have been accepted as viable alternative options. I’d heard that it was projected to have taken us at least ten more years to reach that point. But by and large … no, in real life, we’re still restricted in too many ways. The pandemic continues, with omicron now the variant du jour. We’re nearly two YEARS into it, for crying out loud. Raise your hand if you’re not sick and tired of the whole thing by now. No one wants another lockdown, but the numbers are rising, albeit of symptoms that are less severe overall. Mask mandates are still with us in many areas of the country, vaccination cards a must to show in New York if you’re going to dine out or see a show (and Broadway has closed down again, as of this writing). Covid continues to rule. Maybe 2022 will finally see us emerge from under the pandemic’s shadow. Taking a long view, we know that this WILL pass. Eventually. We’ll look back and see where we did some things right and how in others we could have been far more effective in dealing with this pervasive virus. When you do look back over the decades, it’s almost funny to note how we’re so good at predicting some things and absolutely clueless about others. I used to subscribe to the Futurist magazine, published by the World Future Society, because I worked in tech, enjoyed reading science fiction, and liked to see what real world futurists thought would actually come about within my lifetime. Some speculated that personal computing devices would come into their own in the early 21st century. I don’t recall many warning that a global pandemic would blindside us and derail the world economy. Lesson here: Expect the unexpected. We’re not going to see everything coming. Especially out of left field, like a global pandemic. But even in a field like the computer industry, where we can foresee new technology taking shape, certain developments can surprise us. And when they do, we’ll often look back to discover that we had bet on the wrong horse and now have to scramble like mad to catch up. If it’s not too late, that is. Apple Computer wasn’t too late. Barely. When Apple was near bankruptcy in 1997, due to expensive products that were poorly aligned to what the market wanted, very few investors foresaw Apple rescuing itself (with help from Microsoft, its arch-rival!) to become incredibly profitable within a dozen years. No one, except for Steve Jobs himself, saw what was to come: the iMac, iPod, iPad, and iPhone revolution. While I haven’t had the pleasure of working for Apple, I did work for a few companies that learned this lesson of change – and our human unwillingness to embrace it in time - the hard way. Rev up the “way-back” machine for a trip to the late 80s/early 90s. I was an IBM sales rep, charged with selling “big iron.” Management was pushing mainframes, while my customers were more interested in exploring distributed networking and smart terminals, later referred to as personal computers. IBM had its own line of PCs that it wasn’t quite sure what to do with. They were very highly successful at the time, but expensive. IBM still thought of itself as a mainframe company with mainframe pricing. The benefit to customers was in the “value add:” systems engineers and support, plus consulting services. My customers, however, were primarily interested in lower-cost alternatives. They read the trade magazines, where the back pages advertised mail-order PCs. Ha! “Big Blue” management scoffed. What business in their right mind would risk their operations on cheap machines made by amateurs? Especially by this guy Michael Dell somewhere in Texas. Never heard of him. Right…. Well, we all know how that worked out. IBM finally sold off its failing PC line to Lenovo in 2005. Here’s another lesson in learning from your customers. Or at least paying attention to what they’re saying. They are the marketplace, after all. A few years after the IBM story, when I was working for a database company, I received a call from a customer in Research Triangle Park, the North Carolina think tank area where so many innovations were coming from at the time. And still are, I believe. My customer wanted to know if my company was on the Internet so that he could research our product line digitally. Huh? He didn’t want a handy-dandy brochure like everyone else? What a concept. I’d heard of a network that the government and certain universities were using but that was about it. He said he wanted to know our address on the world wide web. The world wide what? I asked around the office. No one knew what he was talking about. I called headquarters in California to talk to the engineering department, figuring they’d know something. They’d heard of the web, but that was about it. Not a priority. A flash in the pan, they said. Wouldn’t last. What didn’t last was the database company. Gone soon afterwards because they were market-deaf. Run by some top flight engineers who really knew their stuff and built the best technical product, but couldn’t market their way out of a paper bag. They should have listened to my customer. Within a year, everyone knew exactly what the world wide web was and was scrambling to get on it. And tech-savvy customers decided that the web was where the true leading edge tech companies announced their latest products. The ones they would partner with to automate their operations. A seriously missed opportunity. But it’s not just businesses that are resistant to change. People are notoriously slow to do things differently, especially when they’ve had success with them. I’ve worked alongside colleagues with serious tunnel vision. They held a rigid view of what worked and what didn’t. And now we come to what it was like for a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated field. I was often the only woman on my team, especially when I was with small startup companies. Fine with me, I always liked running with the boys and proving myself. One such company was staffed with guys who were absolutely sports-obsessed. They used sports metaphors for just about everything. Their idea of taking a break during the work day was to hold a vertical jump competition. I’d just watch from the door with a bemused smirk on my face. At 5’3” and sporting a narrow suit skirt and pumps, I wasn’t about to start jumping. Not a contender for any basketball team, nor was I interested in trying to be. These same guys would repeatedly tease me that I had to talk sports, and football in particular, if I was ever going to break the ice with a sales prospect. Uh, no. Sorry. Not my thing. And I didn’t talk sports. Didn’t have to. I found something better, something these sales prospects (mostly men) were happy to talk about. And probably rather relieved that they could talk about something once in a while that they truly cared about that was NOT sports-related. I talked family. And kids. Especially their kids. Hey, play to your strengths, even if it is a bit stereotypical for a woman to talk about family. These guys would break out with the biggest smiles when I asked about their children. Out came the photos and the stories. I actually found my biggest success when I was pregnant and visibly showing. Truthfully, I think it flustered a few of these guys; the older ones were certainly old-school and a bit protective towards women. They couldn’t bring me inside their offices fast enough, urging me to sit down, and concerned that I wasn’t overdoing it coming to talk with them. I never sold so much software and services so quickly. I think they were afraid that I might go and have that baby right then and there in their offices if they didn’t sign. So the greater lesson, besides the advantage of selling while visibly pregnant, is to just take things as they come. After all, what else can we do? Our predictions take us only so far. Best to assess every situation as it comes up, see where things are going, and take appropriate action, rather than hide our person or business heads in the sand. Be flexible and look for the positive in every detrimental situation. One of the benefits I found during the pandemic was the opportunity to take my favorite workout classes from home from my favorite instructors who had migrated on-line. No travel time, minimal equipment investment, and they offered “on demand” classes to play when no live class was scheduled. As someone whose high energy level needs to be channeled through daily exercise, it’s been a boon. I can even take my favorite classes with me when I travel! 2022 will be an interesting year. In a positive sense, I hope. When we return to fully “normal” operations, I hope business will realize and take advantage of the benefits that DID come out the pandemic, like of the ability to work well remotely. Let’s hear it for the hybrid in-person/remote work option! So convenient for so many people and an opportunity for businesses to hire great employees outside of their local areas. As for me, I’m planning for a great year. I’m an optimistic realist, so I’m also preparing backup plans in case the unexpected throws me off course. And keeping a positive attitude throughout. Happy New Year! And all the best to you, your work, and your family!

Getting Down to What’s Really Important ‘Tis the season for creating holiday wish lists. Toys. Clothes. High tech stuff. Dream vacations. Even household appliances. All great stuff to find under your Christmas tree, next to your Hanukkah menorah, or wherever they may appear. But I’ve found that as I’ve grown a bit older, my holiday wish list has morphed to something, well, more amorphous. I really don’t need more stuff. Actually, I prefer to pare down and give things away to charity that are no longer useful and just take up space. It’s freeing to have less clutter underfoot. And my basement looks a whole lot better for it, too. What I wish for now is something that’s both more and less substantial at the same time. More substantial as it contributes to my happiness by providing a sense of living a fuller life. Less substantial because it isn’t about “stuff.” It’s about people. Interesting and accomplished people who enjoy exchanging ideas, experiences, and philosophies. People who are creative and caring, who take charge of their circumstances, no matter how difficult, and build new enterprises and lives for themselves and others. People who also value friendship and who are making the world a better place just by being in it. We can all use people in our lives like that. People who value quality over quantity, substance over show. They’re not about showing off wealth or career highlights. If anything, they like to fly under the radar and just connect with others on topics that matter to all of us: family, friends, and our place in the world. Like Bob, a down-to-earth kind of guy who likes to run out and get ice cream with his kids. Oh yeah, he makes a lot of independent films, too, but that’s not what he wants to talk about when he meets you. Like Sarah, who’s battled breast cancer more than once, yet keeps a positive attitude and is more interested in knowing what’s going on in your life than in telling you about hers. Or Matt, who swapped out his corporate suite for a home workshop, where he crafts beautiful handmade furniture that he enjoys selling at arts festivals around the country. He’s always been a people-person. Now he meets folks from all walks of life. The older we get, the more we hone in on what really matters to us. OK, not everyone may feel this way, but it does seem that the fluff falls away for most of us as time goes by. We get down to the basics. After all, how much stuff do we really need? The true gifts are those things that really makes us happy and gives our lives meaning. Friends. Family. Meaningful work. Charity. Good deeds done spontaneously for others. These seem to make most people truly happy. So my holiday wish is to expand my circle of friends and acquaintances with these types of folks. How do you go about meeting them? Simply enough, you start out by being open to meeting new people. Networking – even on Zoom! – at events, meeting friends of friends or other acquaintances through business or personal events, or even through mutual interests enjoyed together. We can still do this through online groups, but in-person is better, if and when you have the opportunity. Hopefully, 2022 will offer more human-to-human interaction than we’ve experienced these past two years or so. Keep a positive attitude and listen to other people’s stories. We’re all natural storytellers – it’s been humanity’s favorite way of communicating for eons. Everyone has a journey, things they’ve learned on the way, mistakes they’ve made, successes, and disasters they’ve narrowly adverted. Or not. When you meet someone interesting, see how you can be of service to them. Perhaps you can introduce them to others whom they might enjoy meeting, too. Maybe you can offer useful advice (but only when asked!) or share your knowledge or area of expertise to help solve their problem. Just show that you’re genuinely interested in them and what they have to say. These networks grow organically over time. Friendships and business relationships take time to root and mature. Nurture the ones you value and let those you don’t fall away. Keep negative, destructive-thinking people at bay. We do pick up on the energy of those we keep company with and often unconsciously take it on ourselves. How many times do you feel uplifted when an especially positive person of goodwill comes into the room? Have you ever felt the warmth or happiness sucked out of a space when a particularly negative individual approaches you? It’s real. And be such a person yourself. (Of course, if you’re reading this, you already are!)  Be the kind of person you’d like to meet and you’ll attract them into your life. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!! May you receive all you need and welcome it with an open heart.

Funny Mom-isms at the Expense of Your Kids I like a cleverly worded piece of copy. Even better if it’s funny as hell. Best if it comes on a dish towel that I can buy and take home. I’m not one to pick up miscellaneous tchotchkes much. If you’re not familiar with Yiddish, a tchotchke is a miscellaneous small item, usually something you don’t really need. Like one of those souvenirs you pick up on vacation, certain that it’s a great reminder of your trip and useful, to boot – only to pick it up months later, wonder why you bought it, and then toss it in the trash. A tchotchke can also be a small gift that someone buys you as a thank you for your hospitality. Or because they’re trying to get something useless out of their house. Kinda like fruitcake, but less seasonal. If I’m ever going to pick up a tchotchke, it’s going to be useful in some fashion. I don’t collect knick-knacks; I just don’t like non-functional clutter in my home. if I don’t need it, I enjoy it in the shop and leave it at that. But I had to buy one particular tchotchke a few summers ago while browsing through a gift shop while on a beach vacation. It’s useful. It's funny. And it brings a smile to my face every time I use it. It’s a dish towel that reads: Good moms let you lick the beaters. Great moms turn them off first. Cute, huh? Well, it appeals to me. I’m a mom. A mom who bakes. Well, once in a while, if I’m being honest about it. But when I do, I give my kids the option to lick the beaters and scoop out any remaining chocolate batter from the bowl. (Yes, it's almost always chocolate.) The spoon I reserve for myself. I come by it honestly, as my mother has always loved to bake and claims that she planned her dinners around her dessert choices. “Hmm, brownies for dessert. And marzetti goes with brownies….” And that’s what we’d have. Licking the beaters was literally icing on the cake. That two-liner joke and its absurd humor appeals to me on many levels as a mom, a daughter with fond memories, and someone who loves unexpected twists on the ordinary. It makes you think about the little kindnesses moms show their kids on a daily business, even though most go unnoticed as such. It’s also a sad reminder that some moms should never have become moms in the first place, and that we all should appreciate the good ones we have, and not just on Mother’s Day. Mostly though, it’s a fun jab I like to throw at my kids, because I like to keep them off balance with my humor now and then. They get a kick out of it, though they might worry about me a bit. I’ve found plenty of pithy, funny one and two lines on greeting cards, magnets, and postcards over the years. Yes, there are plenty to be found online, too, but I prefer the joy of discovering them while browsing through a little shop when I'm on vacation. They're the kind of funny tokens you can pick up and actually hold. I started making notes of my favorites. Here are some other mom-related funnies: If I ever go missing, please follow my kids. They can find me, no matter where I try to hide. Treat your mom to a margarita. You’re probably the reason she drinks. You can’t scare me – I’m a mom. That last one also works for grandmas, teachers, nurses, or anyone else who’s had to put up with … a lot. Perhaps Mark Twain started the whole thing. He wrote: My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it. Yes, Mr. Twain, I’d say she probably did, though I suspect from your supposed antics that she enjoyed it most when you grew up and moved out of the house. In a future post, I’ll share more of these 1-2 liners. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed a few of these!

Their Continuing Mission: Telling Stories of the Human Condition. I’ve always been more than a little tentative about tackling Shakespeare. OK, I admit it, I’ve been downright skeptical and even a little scared. The only Shakespeare I had studied was in ye old high school English classes of yore. My college years? Business, statistics, and computer science – nary a Shakespeare class. And while I’ve always loved acting on stage, I never imagined myself doing Shakespeare. Ever. Even now, when I’m a full-time actress and voiceover talent, I’m not aspiring to tackle the Bard in a full-on production. While I’ve done some stage work, I prefer working in front of the camera and behind the mic. My training and experience have all been along those lines. But in skirting Shakespeare, I’ve learned that I’ve missed quite a bit along the way. I’m not talking about one of those rare auditions that requires a Shakespearean monologue in addition to a performance from the usual arsenal (occasionally a contemporary dramatic or comedic monologue, more often one or more scenes from the production’s script). Up to this point, I’ve politely declined the opportunity, as I felt totally out of my league. The archaic language itself was most intimidating, as well as what seemed excessive wordiness, references to mythology or ancient Roman events and individuals, and an implicit requirement to master a dialect that screamed “thee-ah-tur.” I left those auditions to those who had grown up on stage, memorizing and mastering all of the Bard’s many works, certain that I’d only embarrass myself in comparison. Recently, though, I decided it was time to tackle two fears I’ve had in performing: singing and Shakespeare. I’m not one to let fear govern my actions and decisions, so I decided it was high time to take them on. In addition to beginning singing classes (and I’m really enjoying them!), I signed up for a six week course that promised to “humanize” Shakespeare. Essentially, it taught us how to break down the language barrier, placing Shakespeare’s work within its historical and cultural context, giving us insight into Shakespeare’s personal and professional life and how they influenced his work. I’d heard for years that Shakespeare was well worth studying, as so many contemporary stories on TV and film are loosely based on his classic plays, though wrestling with the same questions of power, love, and fortune. Until the instructor mentioned it, I hadn’t realized that one of my favorite shows of all time, Star Trek (doesn’t matter which series) also saw itself as an epic retelling of some of the bard’s classics. His own teacher and mentor had been a regular on one of the Star Trek series and had described how the audition process highly valued Shakespearean training and experience, requiring actors to audition with monologues from his plays. No wonder that lauded Shakespearean actor Patrick Stewart was cast as the iconic Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Next Generation series. I consider his casting to be the main reason why the NG series is one of the best. Once we dived in, I found that the language wasn’t as intimidating as I’d thought it would be. Our eyes and ears began to recognize, understand, and then see past its archaic forms and usage to appreciate the human story that was being told. After all, while culture, national identity, and roles in society have changed over the centuries, human nature has remained fairly constant. Once in a while, we’d come across language identical to how we use it today. It was jarring to realize that dialogue written over 400 years ago could have easily been spoken in daily conversation by people today. A good teacher can make all the difference to how the student perceives and relates to the material. I loved learning about his plays within their historical context. Especially interesting were the stories of Shakespeare’s personal and professional challenges and how elements of these would seep into his plays: verbal jabs at his rivals, couching political commentary in such a way to get past his censors, acknowledging his audiences with a wink and a nod and inviting them to enjoy a joke at his characters’ expense. He walked the fine line between flattering those in power and pleasing the working class and their coarser appetites. Similar to today’s producers, in which the most successful projects are those that are well funded, popular with the masses, and bring profitable returns to investors. Telling stories of the human condition never grows old. The language and context changes, but the essential truth of our struggles and relationships is a constant. No matter if it’s played out in an old medieval castle or on a ship hurtling at warp speed among the stars.