Search Results

Age is a State of Mind … Not a State of Unemployment How many of us have friends, neighbors, or family members who are looking for work? Perhaps even ourselves?! Probably quite a few, as the age of Covid has hit all too many businesses – and their employees - very hard. While many businesses are struggling to stay viable, a great number of their employees have been let go over the past year to figure it out on their own. Unfortunately, this is a familiar cycle to those who’ve weathered economic hardships over the years. Younger workers tend to find replacement jobs faster and easier, but it’s much harder for those viewed as “older workers.” The definition varies, especially by industry, but on average it applies to people around age 45 and up. As a business owner, you may be embracing or working towards greater diversity amongst your employees, not just to comply with governmental or societal pressures, but also to have a variety of perspectives and experiences on staff. You’ve probably considered matters of gender, race, sexual orientation, country or culture of origin, etc. But you may hesitate about bringing in older workers. "In the past that majority of people retired at the age of 65. But those were the old days and it’s nothing like that now. In fact, nowadays people are joining companies at the age when they used to retire." - The Pros and Cons For Hiring Mature Workers Sure, older folks dominate the “C” suite and ranks of upper management in many industries. Their years of experience, track record, and intimate knowledge of the business probably earned them their passage. But what about at other levels of your organization? There’s a lot of hesitation at this point, though it may only be whispered quietly amongst those doing the hiring. After all, there is a long-held perception that older workers may not be able or willing to learn and adopt new technologies, adapt to a company culture that is defined by a younger generation, or be flexible enough in their work habits. There’s also concern that older workers cost too much in terms of salary expectations and health insurance coverage. Or that their health and physical abilities may not allow them to remain with the company as long as their younger counterparts. The net effect is that it’s harder for these older individuals to find good positions for their knowledge, experience, and aptitudes. They’ll often have to look longer than their younger colleagues, “doctor” their resumes to remove a longer overall work experience so that they may seem younger than they are, and sometimes have to take a pay cut relative to their last position. But there are some excellent reasons why older workers can be among your best employees. Here are seven ways in which they contribute towards the success of your business: Proven Experience Their professional and personal experiences boost on-the-job performance. Not just their own performances, but those of your other employees, too. These folks can assist others to solve problems, be a sounding board to others’ ideas, and provide stability in a hectic or pressured environment. Reliability Overall, older employees are more punctual and less likely to call in sick. Many will be done with child-rearing and extended family responsibilities. Overall, they may have only minimal unexpected demands on their time that could interfere with their work schedules, as compared with your younger employees. "Employers may have legitimate concerns about older workers being behind the curve when it comes to technology or a younger generation’s verbal and written jargon. However, computers and software, as well as euphemisms that do not necessarily sound like comprehendible American English can be taught in a short amount of time. What can’t be taught or trained for is the immense experience an older worker has after having spent 20 or 30 years in the field." - The Advantages and Disadvantages of Age Diversity in the Workplace Valuable Personal Qualities In addition to experience, older workers bring knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn new things. Most want to learn and use new technologies. They may not be among the first to discover and use new social media, but they get there all the same. Facebook is a primary example – just see how many younger people migrated to Instagram and Tik Tok, just to get away from their parents setting up their own Facebook accounts and wanting to “friend” them! Cost Effectiveness Older workers can actually save your company money in the longer term. How is this possible if they command higher salaries and health insurance coverage? They’re less likely to switch jobs as often as their younger colleagues. Many are simply looking for satisfying work with a stable company that appreciates and rewards their efforts. Others are happy for steady employment and the social interactions it brings, as well as meaningful work that sees them into their retirement years (or beyond). Relatively few will be looking to “job hop” their way through multiple companies for greater responsibilities and income in a short period of time. They require less training than their young counterparts because they’re more often than not hired because of their prior experience. They make fewer “rookie” mistakes. Mature employees accumulate a lot of work-related experience throughout their careers. They may also place a higher priority on getting their work done right the first time, and so are also more careful on a daily basis. Younger employees often have a more casual attitude towards their work and have less experience knowing where to concentrate their efforts. “Older workers also play an important role in providing skills to younger team members. By passing on their knowledge and experience, you gain more long-term employees through younger workers that stay with your company. Organizations that tend to have long-term employees save money.” - 5 Key Benefits of Hiring Older Workers Positive Example to Others Older colleagues can demonstrate those qualities that you want to see in your younger employees: professionalism, confidence, company loyalty, and a mature outlook and approach to sizing up and resolving problems. They can also be the steady rock of the office, staying neutral when tempers flare. Less Drama in the Workplace As with social dramas, mature workers are less likely to be involved with petty workplace politics. They tend to keep their focus on their work and seek to prove themselves through dedication and commitment. They don’t feel like they need to “butter up” the boss to move ahead. They also stand a better chance of staying clear of any social dramas that develop outside of the workplace – a major distraction, as too many team leaders discover. Reflect an Aging Consumer Base As with any diversity hire, your company will benefit from having an inside consultant who understand the aging US consumer base. Your older workers can connect with their wants and needs, relate to their challenges, and advise your company on this growing market segment. Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER  •  ON CAMERA  •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Collaboration on the Courts and in the Conference Room Last week, I watched my husband and son compete in a father/son doubles tennis tournament. It was a pretty competitive amateur event, with players flying in from all over the U.S., including one team from Chile. So, of course, I had to be there to cheer them on. With the spectator stands rising above the courts, I was able to watch several matches taking place all at once. Most of the people in the stands knew each other and spent most of their time catching up with one another. And guzzling beer.

Optimist? Pessimist? Or Realist? Glass half-full. Glass half-empty. Hey, at least there’s a glass of something . Perspective determines how we approach and tackle those pesky life challenges. Are you an optimist who looks for the best in every situation? Or a pessimist who anticipates the most negative outcome? Or maybe you’re a realist who’s just assesses what is , without the emotional coloring. I’m an optimist by nature, a pessimist by training, and a realist in my resolve. So I figure I’ve got it covered on all fronts. Sometimes that comes in handy.

Lifting Yourself Out of the Doldrums Raise your hand if you’re sick and tired of hearing that we’re living in “unprecedented times.” Same goes for variants like “difficult times,” “challenging times,” etc. Enough already! We’ve been coping through Covid and everything that’s been upended in its wake. And that’s not counting all of life’s little surprises that spring upon us, whether or not we’re navigating a global pandemic. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” – Roseanne Roseannadanna Gilda Radner didn’t just come up with this phrase on her own, though it was popularized during her Saturday Night Live! character. Hey, sh*t happens. Like it or not, we can’t control everything that life throws at us. But unless we choose to just give up, we can learn to handle these situations and move on with our lives. Sometimes the best medicine for handling the pain is humor or outright mockery. Comedy often is birthed through adversity. Many great comedians and humorists emerge from difficult backgrounds, struggle through ordeals, or at one time or another feel like the proverbial Job. Their material is sourced in personal and cultural experience, and channeled into standup routines, TV comedies, and popular movies. Think Richard Pryor , who was the first to force the U.S. to look at large social questions of race with his ground-breaking comedy routines. Or Mel Brooks , who took revenge on the Holocaust by mercilessly mocking Hitler and his henchman in “ Springtime for Hitler ,” the musical within the Broadway hit musical “ The Producers .” You’d think with all the unprecented/difficult/challenging stuff going on over the past eighteen months, comedians are busy stockpiling years of outrageous material. We’ll have to see how much of it doesn’t get censored by the gatekeepers in today’s prickly political and cultural climate. It’s hard to be funny when you’re acutely aware that the sensitivity axe could swing down upon you at any time. But people are creative and adaptable, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing presentations of characters more or less successfully navigating the pandemic, quarantine, and masks in times to come. At least until we become sick and tired of the whole thing and are ready as a society to move on. I’m not going to crack jokes here. I’m just not that funny. But in the spirit of, well, raising spirits, I would like to share a few ideas to lift yourself and those around you out of the doldrums. Just a simple shift in attitude or perspective works wonders. And that’s something we can all certainly use! Smile. Yes, it IS contagious and goes a long way to helping everyone feel a little better. Be there for a friend who’s going through a tough time. Just knowing someone cares is often enough. Help someone out with a task (or even the dreaded residential move, if you’re especially brave!). Go out for ice cream. Or a cookie. Or in my case, anything chocolate. Don’t overdo it and pack on the pounds. A little something special, once in a while. Take a walk in the woods, around the neighborhood – a change of scenery does one good! Exercise. Raise those endorphins. Hey, maybe you’ll even get into better shape or (dare I say it?) lose a little weight. Read a book, watch a movie. Especially something funny. Volunteer your time and services to a worthwhile organization. They need help, as do the people serving, and you’ll feel better about yourself, knowing that you made a difference in somebody’s life. Clean out a mess that you’ve been procrastinating on for way too long. You’ll be proud of doing so and so much happier the next time you walk by and see what you’ve accomplished. Go easy on yourself and remind yourself of your accomplishments, how you’ve helped someone else, or how you’re important to your family or pet. Many of us are guilty of being much harder on ourselves than we’d be on others, so give yourself a pat on the back instead. Listen to music. Dancing, optional. Singing along, maybe best in the shower. Get some sun. Or if you live with cloudy, rainy weather much of the time, get some Vitamin D, also known as “the Sunshine Vitamin.” Express gratitude. Instead of brooding on what you DON’T have, focus on what you DO have and be appreciative. Yes, the old “count your blessings” has true merit in providing a truer perspective on life and bringing comfort to a beleaguered spirit. Give and/or receive a hug. A hug is reassurance, acceptance, and comaraderie. If you can work a back rub into it, so much the better. Feed the birds. Or the ducks, if you have a local duck pond handy. Walk your dog. Play with a pet. Mess with a cat by shining a laser pen onto a wall or furniture and watch kitty try to pounce on the light as you move it around. All fine entertainment. Notice I did NOT include retail therapy. While temporarily satisfying, it doesn’t really bring the warm fuzzies to your life. Well ... unless it’s something you REALLY like or need. And even then, it can cause troubles elsewhere. Such as unnecessary clutter and pressure on your personal finances. So why bother? You’d just have to start all over again to lift your spirits back out of the doldrums. Try out some of the 15 above suggestions and let me know they worked out for you! Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER  •  ON CAMERA  •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Strategies for Effectively Using Humor Quick! What’s your favorite commercial? Me, I go for the funny ones. Dollar Shave Club, with the casually hilarious CEO making his rounds. The Direct TV series of ads telling us why we should get rid of cable, in the vein of the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” children’s books. And of course, the often uproarious commercials aired during the Super Bowl. Funny ads and commercials stick with us because they’re entertaining and usually quite clever. And if they don’t have you rolling so much in the aisles that you forget which product they’re pitching, their return on investment shows up very nicely in their financial reports.

A Primer to Bad Marketing It’s easier and less expensive to keep a customer than to find a new one. I heard that adage many times when I worked as a corporate sales exec. And it’s true! The hard numbers and sob stories told around the water cooler bear it out. But don't take my word for it; check out this article for a high-level summary. Let's instead focus on what bad marketing actually looks like. I experienced a fine example of bad marketing last weekend. Arts festivals are starting to re-emerge from under the heavy restrictions of Covid. They’re especially wonderful when the weather is beautifully poised between Atlanta’s notoriously hot, humid summers and, well, not so severe winters. Last weekend’s weather was perfect for it, too: warm, sunny, breezy, low humidity. Add booths of brightly colored artists’ wares to stroll by, food and drink to enjoy, and music to lighten your feet … ahhh.

Schmooze, Don’t Lose (Opportunity or Reputation) In-person networking is beginning to re-enter our lives. Finally! Hey, Zoom is great when you can’t meet face-to-face, but it can’t hold a candle to good old-fashioned people-schmoozing. But do it right. Some of us may have forgotten how to properly approach strangers whom we want to meet. We’re a little out of practice in the small-talk department, hoping to stoke their interest but not veer into boredom or braggadocio. And we may be just a little too giddy at the prospect of some honest-to-goodness, real human contact that we forget why we’re there in the first place. Never fear. Here are a few tips on the do’s and don’ts of in-person networking that will bring you up to speed and have you slapping your forehead with a “Duh! Of course!” Think of it as a little tickler file to get you back into constructive networking that will help you forge new business relationships and friendships.

“Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You” It’s not just a punchline in a movie. “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” is a way of doing business that’s – for better or worse - alive and well in the entertainment industry. Not too surprising, considering that the supply of talent greatly outstrips demand. And pretty much has since the first silent movie hit the theaters. Perhaps even before, in vaudeville, Broadway, and on stages everywhere going back to the ancient Greeks. The same can also be said for those aspiring to become professional athletes, musicians, or visual artists. It’s not an easy career path. While the public may assume that talent rises to the top, no matter what, so much depends on things that the individual artist, athlete, or musician can’t control. There is no ladder of success that can be climbed based purely on talent, experience, and years of service. No guarantee that even the most gifted performer will be a commercial success or a recognizable asset. It’s a subjective business, driven by the personal tastes of the decision-makers or the whimsical public. It’s the opportunity to be seen or heard by those with the power to launch or further a career. Perhaps hardest of all, it’s career with very little positive feedback – hey, often with no feedback AT ALL - except perhaps when the talent is first booked, while on the job, or worst of all, summarily fired. (Not that being fired is a natural follow-up to being booked or directed on set. Most of the time.)

There's a right way to rehearse. And then there's the way to treat your creative spontaneity to a slow, painful death. Trying to master something difficult? Wanting to create something special? "Practice makes perfect." Yeah, mom always said so. Work hard, exercise those mental, emotional, or artistic muscles and it'll all fall in place. True for a lot of things, but as an artist ... you want to be careful. The last thing you want to do is over-practice something until you wring the life out of it. As an actor, that translates to rehearsing so much that you fall into the pattern of doing things just one way - and have a hard time breaking free of the muscle memory or vocal habits that you've drilled into yourself. Practicing until you're "perfect" - whatever that means to you - is a surefire way of killing the very spontaneity and innate creativity that makes your performance stand out. Perfectionistic thinking can lead to creative paralysis. Not so helpful to the auditioning actor.

Acting is acting! Your voiceover skills can bring you opportunities in film and on TV There's a notion out there that most voice actors choose to work behind the mic because they're uncomfortable in front of the camera. That may be true of many, but there are quite a few of us who enjoy the on-camera work as much as we do voice overs. And there is so much of it! For all ages and types. First, there's the traditional genres: Film - blockbuster movies to independent short films Television - network, plus streaming and cable - more shows than you realistically have time to watch Commercials - national brands to local businesses Industrials - films made by businesses for internal usage Print - just what you think it is: newspaper and magazine advertisements, flyers, posters, or other physical media

Terrified of public speaking? Most people are. This is one area where actors definitely have a leg up. I recently attended a 30 minute webinar hosted by Mark Schaefer , one of the world’s leading marketing futurists and keynote speakers. He’s funny, entertaining, and informative – and definitely high energy. Lucky for me and the other attendees, Mark shared some of his main takeaways for giving a great speech. I’m not going to give away his secrets, but I am going to offer a few insights why actors have a bit of an edge. Hint: it’s not just because we’re hams and crave attention. OK, it's kinda obvious that at some level we are and we do. Duh. Not all, though. Can't generalize too broadly. There are plenty of actors who are actually rather introverted and only comfortable working from a script or within a character role, whether it’s on stage, on camera, or in front of a microphone. But by and large, it helps to be a bit of an actor when you’re about to walk out front and address a group of people. I came from the business world, where most people would rather gouge out their eyes than step up on stage and give a speech. I’ve been told (by an acting coach) that if you actually enjoy public speaking, chances are that down deep you’re probably a bit of an actor. Not an actor? No worries. Plenty of actor tips for non-actors to help you come off like the polished pro.

Always aspire to a career in entertainment? Here's how to get started. When we’re little kids, we aspire to become famous performers, pro athletes, great explorers, doctors, firefighters, and superheroes out saving the world. Some of us realize our dreams, but most of us … well, settle into the real world. Especially if our sights were set on a snazzy cape and the ability to fly. But I believe that dreams can come true. Even later in life after we’ve had a more traditional career and raised a family. That’s exactly what I’m doing now as a film, TV, and voice actor. It IS possible to begin a happy and successful career in the entertainment industry. Granted, it’s not easy, nor is it achieved through shortcuts. I would also encourage you to define what “successful” means to you, because if fame and fortune are your only standards, it’s likely you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re undeterred, here’s how to begin. It's never too late to begin living your dream.