Karen Commins's Blog, page 16

TDIMH -- Write down your goals

This Date in My History -- Saturday, 2/17/01  9:20am

I had 2 interesting conversations about goal-setting that I want to include here. On Thursday, Sharon and I had lunch. At some point, we were talking about the article I sent her from the 8/00 issue of Personal Journaling titled "Write It Down, Make It Happen".
i asked Sharon whether she thought I really need to do that since I feel my goals are crystal clear. She asked a very intriguing question:  "Why are you so resistant to it?"
After a little thought, I answered that I am very self-critical if I don't make things happen in the timeframe allotted. In addition, I am notorious in being over-ambitious, planning way too much in the timeframe allotted. 
I talked about my disappointment that "Pachelbel's Canon" was one of the first pieces I bought when I started playing harp 5 years ago, yet I still cannot play it perfectly and wouldn't consider it performance-ready. Sharon started reminding me of all I have accomplished in such a short time. She said she views my achievements as amazing.
Later that day, Janice and I were working at the server. Janice said something which prompted me to say that Sharon and I had just talked at lunch about writing down goals. I asked Janice her views on the subject.
She is a firm believer in writing goals every day. She is a marathon runner, and her big goal is run a marathon in less than 4 hours. She said she writes her times every day. At the end of the week, she summarizes her times and adds positive affirmations like "I ran times that should give me a marathon in less than 4 hours." While she has not reached her goal, she said that writing her times "keeps her showing up."
After both of the conversations, I feel compelled to start writing my goals, hopefully on a daily basis. I know that Barbara Sher advocated in one of her books that you have weekly planning sessions with yourself. I think I'll try to do that as well.
Short term goal:  Get the next gig!Requires:contacting peoplesending demosmarketingMCA adsAruba mail-outwebsite within 6 mos.                               Mid-range goal:  Become proficient at home recordingRequires:practice, practice, practice!CD burner to transfer work to computerresearch other equipment needed such as a voice channel strip
Long range goal:  Work full-time from my home in voice-over

Today's Take-aways:
1. "Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; can'ts into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality. Don't just think it - ink it!"
-- Michael Korda
2. If you need help in formulating clear and concise goals, take a look at A Short Lesson in Goal-setting .
3. As I've written in the past , I'm a big fan of Henriette Klauser's book Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It . She explains that the action of writing down your goal activates your brain's reticular activation system (RAS). The RAS acts a filter for your brain so that it alerts you to signs and signals related to your goal that you might otherwise miss. The book offers numerous practical and inspirational suggestions of ways that you can write down everything that you want from life. 

Follow-up to today's story:

I have met and far surpassed all of the goals that I wrote that day. I'm working on some new ones!
Remember my friend Janice's goal was to run a marathon in under 4 hours? Her best time was 3:43:xx, when she qualified to run in the Boston Marathon several years ago.
Writing down your goals works !

TDIMH — Write down your goals

This Date in My History — Saturday, 2/17/01  9:20am

I had 2 interesting conversations about goal-setting that I want to include here. On Thursday, Sharon and I had lunch. At some point, we were talking about the article I sent her from the 8/00 issue of Personal Journaling titled “Write It Down, Make It Happen”.

I asked Sharon whether she thought I really need to do that since I feel my goals are crystal clear. She asked a very intriguing question:  ”Why are you so resistant to it?”
After a little thought, I answered that I am very self-critical if I don’t make things happen in the timeframe allotted. In addition, I am notorious in being over-ambitious, planning way too much in the timeframe allotted.
I talked about my disappointment that “Pachelbel’s Canon” was one of the first pieces I bought when I started playing harp 5 years ago, yet I still cannot play it perfectly and wouldn’t consider it performance-ready. Sharon started reminding me of all I have accomplished in such a short time. She said she views my achievements as amazing.
Later that day, Janice and I were working at the server. Janice said something which prompted me to say that Sharon and I had just talked at lunch about writing down goals. I asked Janice her views on the subject.
She is a firm believer in writing goals every day. She is a marathon runner, and her big goal is run a marathon in less than 4 hours. She said she writes her times every day. At the end of the week, she summarizes her times and adds positive affirmations like “I ran times that should give me a marathon in less than 4 hours.” While she has not reached her goal, she said that writing her times “keeps her showing up.”
After both of the conversations, I feel compelled to start writing my goals, hopefully on a daily basis. I know that Barbara Sher advocated in one of her books that you have weekly planning sessions with yourself. I think I’ll try to do that as well.
Short term goal:  Get the next gig!
Requires:


contacting people
sending demos
marketing



MCA ads
Aruba mail-out
website within 6 mos.



Mid-range goal:  Become proficient at home recording
Requires:


practice, practice, practice!
CD burner to transfer work to computer
research other equipment needed such as a voice channel strip


Long range goal:  Work full-time from my home in voice-over
Today’s Take-aways:
1. “Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; can’ts into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality. Don’t just think it – ink it!”

– Michael Korda
2. If you need help in formulating clear and concise goals, take a look at A Short Lesson in Goal-setting .
3. As I’ve written in the past , I’m a big fan of Henriette Klauser’s book Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It . She explains that the action of writing down your goal activates your brain’s reticular activation system (RAS). The RAS acts a filter for your brain so that it alerts you to signs and signals related to your goal that you might otherwise miss. The book offers numerous practical and inspirational suggestions of ways that you can write down everything that you want from life.
Follow-up to today’s story:
 

I have met and far surpassed all of the goals that I wrote that day. I’m working on some new ones!

Remember my friend Janice’s goal was to run a marathon in under 4 hours? Her best time was 3:43:xx, when she qualified to run in the Boston Marathon several years ago.

Writing down your goals works !


 

January 2013 Audiobook Release

Suspicious Mimes by Virginia Brown, Book #3 in the Blue Suede Memphis series
Our favorite part-time tour guide and amateur detective Harley Jean Davidson tries to stay out of trouble. Really, she does, but trouble seems to find her anyway. This time the trouble is in the form of a serial killer of Elvis impersonators. 
Like the other 2 books in this series, my director Drew Commins provided all of the voices for the male characters. Tootsie, the transvestite receptionist, has a much bigger role in this book than the previous ones. 
Of the 3 books, I think I liked this one best. It introduces a new character, 86-year-old Nana McMullen. Let me tell you, is she ever a character! Some of her lines really cracked me up!
As a narrator, I don't want to have all of the fun. I want to tell the story so that the listener is in on all of the jokes and gets to have that same laugh. Many times, we had to back up in the recording so I could re-do the line in a more deadpan manner. 
  





Available at Audible .

How do you respond to criticism?

Being a creative person in the public eye means that bad reviews go with the territory. In narrating 11 audiobooks in 2012, I observed that:
People seem more likely to leave a rating than write a review.Negative reviews seem to outnumber positive ones.
In looking at the negative reviews, some people actually gave informative feedback about why they didn't like the book. Others, though, left mean and meaningless comments. I suspect that many people feel better about themselves when they can be critical of others.
Recently, I used my journal entries from 1993 to give you 4 quick lessons about finding happiness when you hate your job . Today, I want to use my journal entries to talk about how to deal with criticism. 
In 1993, I wrote: 

I can't help but be upset and depressed, among other negative emotions. I endured another round of criticism.

[A manager] has insinuated that I am incompetent. These constant attacks are demoralizing and de-motivating. I don't feel like doing anything for anyone. 
When [my boss] brought up the subject, I felt pains in my chest, underarm and ribs. I'm sure the anxiety and stress I continuously feel causes these pains. 
Never in my life in any endeavor have I been the subject of so much criticism. Throughout my career, others have always perceived me as being extremely intelligent and capable. 
These recent attacks hurt me all the more deeply since they are unwarranted. I know more about computers and networks than [management] will ever know. 

On 8 July 2012, I wrote: 

I was looking in that first journal I started in 1993. Every day, I was writing about all of the problems I was having at work. Some of the days I vividly remember just by looking at that journal. 
My [younger] self was very sensitive, especially to criticism. I can learn a lot from her. 
The more she thought and wrote about criticism, the more it seemed to come her way. When she started standing up for herself and letting people know they couldn't dump on her, she actually became more respected. Days at work became easier... 
Looking back to 1993, none of the stuff that I wrote about made a long-term difference in my life. I solved problems. I gained self-esteem. I knew I did good work, and no one could take that away from me. 
No matter what people said, the truth was that I DID GOOD WORK.

And that's the truth today. I do good work in audiobooks. Not everyone is going to like my work. 
They may say mean-spirited things about my work... Obviously, the naysayers haven't caused people to stop buying the books...My 4- and 5-star ratings for performance far exceed the 1- and 2-star ratings.
I would tell my 1993 self to focus on the outcome I wanted and keep doing good work. That sounds like excellent advice for my 2012 self! 

What changed in the 19 years between these journal entries? 
Some people would say that things that troubled you when you were younger don't matter as you grow older. Yes, that's partially true, but I also have spent considerable time in consciously re-programming my mind. I continue each day to CHOOSE BETTER THOUGHTS and speak words in the direction I want my life to go.
The following quotes are especially meaningful to me. They help me remember to focus on the outcome I want to achieve instead of dwelling on any perceived slights or criticism in the present moment. I hope they may help you. 

Wayne Dyer

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. 

In 1994, I changed my mindset to be "I'm only doing this job to get money and vacation time to do what I want to do." That attitude shift was my first attempt to focus on the outcome I wanted. By focusing on the outcome, I was less swayed by events - and negative comments about my work - in the moment. 

Barry Manilow  

Don't take your critics' words to heart. What do they know, anyway? Forget about pleasing everybody, and play to people who like what you do. (paraphrased)

Barry Manilow could be the patron saint of the unfairly criticized. I remember reading an article in which he said that he would give a great show that the audience loved. He would read the reviews expecting accolades and would instead find brutal words from critics. He said the bad reviews would hurt his feelings and those of his fans.

He began changing his performances to please the critics. 
Fortunately, he realized he wasn't being true to himself and decided to compose, sing, arrange, conduct, and perform songs the ways that suited him.

I find it interesting to note that in the 20 years that I've been following Barry in his 40+-year career, he's gone from being a punch line to a joke to being referred to as a music legend. 
He didn't change. His critics did.

Joel Osteen 

If somebody doesn't like you, don't take it personally. They are not part of your destiny. Shake off every negative comment spoken over you and reprogram your thinking. Your attitude should be "No big deal. They are powerless to stop the blessing on my life." 
You have to have a boldness. You can't be insecure and worry about what everybody thinks. If you change with every criticism and play up to people to try to win their favor, then you'll go through life being manipulated, letting people squeeze you into their box....Even if you changed and did exactly what they asked, they would still find fault. 

While I am not a fan of organized religion, I like Joel Osteen's messages each week. He always talks about ways to improve your own life, starting with the thoughts that you are thinking.

Theodore Roosevelt

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. 

Arthur Schopenhauer 

We will gradually become indifferent to what goes on in the minds of other people when we acquire a knowledge of the superficial nature of their thoughts, the narrowness of their views and of the number of their errors. Whoever attaches a lot of value to the opinions of others pays them too much honor. 

I wish I could say that I have read this philosopher's texts. I actually heard this quote recently when listening to the audiobook of THE CHAPERONE written by Laura Moriarty and beautifully narrated by Elizabeth McGovern.

Mark Twain 

One mustn't criticize other people on grounds where he can't stand perpendicular himself.

I have learned to shrug off criticism in audiobook reviews by remembering the following points:
Each rating or review is just one person's opinion.I do the best that I can in each recording session.With each recording session, my best level improves.I am happy with the audiobooks that I create.The publishers and authors are delighted with the audiobooks I create.
Do you struggle with taking criticism to heart? How do you deal with it?

Photo: iStockPhoto/Leontura

TDIMH — From panic to planning

This Date in My History — Sunday, 12 January 2003 12:30pm

This morning, I have been wondering “what have I gotten myself into?” I am filled with panic over my audiobook. Casting all of the characters is overwhelming, and the author’s comments have only served to confuse instead of clarify…

Not only am I worried about giving voice to 70 speaking people, I am worried about the actual production. What if the sound quality varies between sessions? How will I get everything done in time, considering that I have a two-month turnaround that puts my due date to be the time I will be in NY? My day job will require a trip the week of Feb. 10 to Ft. Lauderdale, and I hate to think of nights alone in my hotel room of editing this book.

Drew and I talked about it at breakfast, and he reiterated his belief in me that I can do all of this and do it successfully. He promised again to help me in any way possible.

I felt better to come up with an action plan for getting this book done. I realized that if I only work on it (recording/editing) just an hour each night that it would get done in plenty of time. 

I have to change my panic into a plan. I will spend this afternoon making casting decisions, and i will do a sound check with several sessions of set-up/take down in between.

This audiobook is a dream come true and just the first of hundreds to follow. I have the talent and skill to do an excellent job on all aspects of the production. I cannot and will not give in to my fears or feelings of being overwhelmed.

Having written all of that, I’d better get started on my plan — I’m burning daylight!

More at 10pm –

I spent about 8 hours (or maybe just 7.5, but still all afternoon) in my room working on character voices for my book. I first listened to the 2nd tape of Pat Fraley’s course on character voices. He described a method of cataloging the voices which I adopted on the book.

After supper, Drew came and listened to me at my request because the process was going slowly for me. I created a database of voice characterizations rather than using individual worksheets like Pat Fraley suggested. I feel more in control of this project with 25 characters in my database and thoughts prepared on a handful of others. I was practicing all afternoon, and am I ever tired!

At some point today, I wondered if I should end my eLance subscription. Is it a sign that I received an invitation to bid tonight on an invite-only project where I was the only person invited? Anyway, I bid on that one and another one tonight; we’ll see what happens.


Today’s Take-aways:

1) When you feel overwhelmed by a task, break it down into small, manageable pieces. Figure out the time required for each piece so that you can meet your deadline.

2) We all need support from others to help us attain our goals. As Barbara Sher says, “isolation is the dream killer”. Barbara notes that sometimes strangers will be less resistant to your ideas and offer you more support than your friends or family. If you are not blessed to have the support of your spouse as I am, reach out to friends or start a meet-up group of other goal-minded people.

3) Always believe in yourself! What you think about your chance of succeeding is perhaps the greatest indicator of your success. To quote Henry Ford:  Whether you think you can or you think you can’t — you’re right.

TDIMH -- From panic to planning

This Date in My History -- Sunday, 12 January 2003 12:30pm
This morning, I have been wondering "what have I gotten myself into?" I am filled with panic over my audiobook. Casting all of the characters is overwhelming, and the author's comments have only served to confuse instead of clarify...
Not only am I worried about giving voice to 70 speaking people, I am worried about the actual production. What if the sound quality varies between sessions? How will I get everything done in time, considering that I have a two-month turnaround that puts my due date to be the time I will be in NY? My day job will require a trip the week of Feb. 10 to Ft. Lauderdale, and I hate to think of nights alone in my hotel room of editing this book.
Drew and I talked about it at breakfast, and he reiterated his belief in me that I can do all of this and do it successfully. He promised again to help me in any way possible.
I felt better to come up with an action plan for getting this book done. I realized that if I only work on it (recording/editing) just an hour each night that it would get done in plenty of time. 
I have to change my panic into a plan. I will spend this afternoon making casting decisions, and i will do a sound check with several sessions of set-up/take down in between.
This audiobook is a dream come true and just the first of hundreds to follow. I have the talent and skill to do an excellent job on all aspects of the production. I cannot and will not give in to my fears or feelings of being overwhelmed.
Having written all of that, I'd better get started on my plan -- I'm burning daylight!
More at 10pm --
I spent about 8 hours (or maybe just 7.5, but still all afternoon) in my room working on character voices for my book. I first listened to the 2nd tape of Pat Fraley's course on character voices . He described a method of cataloging the voices which I adopted on the book.
After supper, Drew came and listened to me at my request because the process was going slowly for me. I created a database of voice characterizations rather than using individual worksheets like Pat Fraley suggested. I feel more in control of this project with 25 characters in my database and thoughts prepared on a handful of others. I was practicing all afternoon, and am I ever tired!
At some point today, I wondered if I should end my eLance subscription . Is it a sign that I received an invitation to bid tonight on an invite-only project where I was the only person invited? Anyway, I bid on that one and another one tonight; we'll see what happens.

Today's Take-aways:
1) When you feel overwhelmed by a task, break it down into small, manageable pieces. Figure out the time required for each piece so that you can meet your deadline.
2) We all need support from others to help us attain our goals. As Barbara Sher says, "isolation is the dream killer". Barbara notes that sometimes strangers will be less resistant to your ideas and offer you more support than your friends or family . If you are not blessed to have the support of your spouse as I am, reach out to friends or start a meet-up group of other goal-minded people.
3) Always believe in yourself! What you think about your chance of succeeding is perhaps the greatest indicator of your success. To quote Henry Ford:  Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you're right.

TDIMH — Starting a business

This Date in My History – Sun., Jan. 9, 2000 1:33am


I actually still consider this to be Saturday night even though the clock says differently. It’s a new year, but I still have the old dream! 


I mailed CDs and still have not had any calls or reply cards. I’m sure other people were as busy and distracted by Christmas as I was. I was also extremely distracted from my voice-over career by my pursuit of enough cash to order my Camac Clio harp! I finally ordered it on Wed., 12/29! Since then, I have been giving more thought to voice-overs; the last few days have even seen some action.

On Thursday, I bought the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Book of Lists so I could have the current information for my mail-outs. I didn’t know when or if the SCORE office would get it. I hated to pay $35 for it, but it would be worth it if even one job results from it.

Yesterday, Mike Estrada and I went to the Atlanta Public Library at lunch. I found that they have the Georgia Business Directory, so i was pleased to know I will be able to make my own copies rather than wait for the very nice but exceedingly slow gentleman at the SCORE office. 

The library had another directory of radio stations not found at SCORE. I plan to go back one day next week and start making some copies.

My biggest endeavor lately has been the design of a postcard that I am going to mail to the top 75 ad agencies and top 20 radio stations as indicated in the Book of Lists. I spent about 5 bucks or so today (Sat.) designing and testing the printing of it. We even found some matte finish postcards at Office Max that will enable me to print the design edge-to-edge. I’m really excited by the design!

Tomorrow, I plan to begin entry for the database, as well as do the layout for the card reverse with my logo and the mail merge fields.


Today’s Take-aways:

1) When starting a business, research your potential customers. The library and organizations like SCORE are a treasure trove of free information. Of course, today Google and LinkedIn searches could turn up countless prospects!

2) There’s more to life than your voice-over business. Spend time doing those other things that are important to you, like playing music. 

3) You can start a side business while continuing your present job if you’re willing to press any spare time into service of your dream. I often developed my voice-over business during my lunch breaks at my full-time job at the IRS.

4) You can create professional results in your DIY marketing materials by learning how to use available software and buying quality products.

TDIMH -- Starting a business

This Date in My History -- Sun., Jan. 9, 2000 1:33am
I actually still consider this to be Saturday night even though the clock says differently. It's a new year, but I still have the old dream! 
I mailed CDs and still have not had any calls or reply cards. I'm sure other people were as busy and distracted by Christmas as I was. I was also extremely distracted from my voice-over career by my pursuit of enough cash to order my Camac Clio harp ! I finally ordered it on Wed., 12/29! Since then, I have been giving more thought to voice-overs; the last few days have even seen some action.
On Thursday, I bought the Atlanta Business Chronicle's Book of Lists so I could have the current information for my mail-outs. I didn't know when or if the SCORE office would get it. I hated to pay $35 for it, but it would be worth it if even one job results from it.
Yesterday, Mike Estrada and I went to the Atlanta Public Library at lunch. I found that they have the Georgia Business Directory, so i was pleased to know I will be able to make my own copies rather than wait for the very nice but exceedingly slow gentleman at the SCORE office. 
The library had another directory of radio stations not found at SCORE. I plan to go back one day next week and start making some copies.
My biggest endeavor lately has been the design of a postcard that I am going to mail to the top 75 ad agencies and top 20 radio stations as indicated in the Book of Lists. I spent about 5 bucks or so today (Sat.) designing and testing the printing of it. We even found some matte finish postcards at Office Max that will enable me to print the design edge-to-edge. I'm really excited by the design!
Tomorrow, I plan to begin entry for the database, as well as do the layout for the card reverse with my logo and the mail merge fields.

Today's Take-aways:
1) When starting a business, research your potential customers. The library and organizations like SCORE are a treasure trove of free information. Of course, today Google and LinkedIn searches could turn up countless prospects!
2) There's more to life than your voice-over business. Spend time doing those other things that are important to you, like playing music. 
3) You can start a side business while continuing your present job if you're willing to press any spare time into service of your dream. I often developed my voice-over business during my lunch breaks at my full-time job at the IRS.
4) You can create professional results in your DIY marketing materials by learning how to use available software and buying quality products.

December 2012 Audiobook Releases

Two of my audiobooks released in December.
Lowcountry Bribe by C. Hope Clark (Book 1 in the Carolina Slade Mysteries)
Threats, a missing boss, a very dead co-worker, a high-level investigation, and a sinister hog farmer... Someone wants to make sure she buys the farm. 
In Lowcountry Bribe, Carolina Slade is a by-the-book manager for the Dept. of Agriculture. A farmer offers her a bribe, and she decides to do the right thing -- report it. Soon, her life and those of her children are in danger. 
As a former career federal employee, I wanted to narrate this book from the moment I saw it. I had great empathy with the main character, and I was surprised by the strong emotions that I felt in many of the scenes.
I also thought the rural setting was a refreshing change from books about city-dwellers. In fact, the author discussed the country setting in an article titled "We Murder in the Country, Too" , which you may find interesting reading.

With over 13 hours of listening, this book would be an ideal companion on dreary winter days! :)


Harley Rushes In by Virginia Brown (Book 2 in the Blue Suede Memphis series)
Part-time tour guide and part-time amateur sleuth Harley Jean Davidson is back with another crime to solve. Her Aunt Darcy owns a furniture store and is convinced her partner is smuggling priceless artifacts...until Harley finds him hanging from elk antlers in the shop.

It's a light-hearted, fun, cozy mystery. 
As with the first book, Hound Dog Blues , the hero of my life story Drew Commins joins me in the booth and performs all the male parts. We enjoy recording this series and laugh at the interplay in the dialogue. Should I feel concerned that Drew sounds a little too good as the gay transvestite receptionist? :)

New series — This Date in My History: Elance

Greetings, all, and happy new year! When I began my voice-over career in 1999, one of my friends suggested that I start a journal. She said that when Biography or Intimate Portrait wanted to highlight me in a show, I would have all of this great background material to share with them about how I progressed from voice-over newbie to superstar.

Initially, I only focused on writing my voice-over activities in my journal. Over time, though, I found it more helpful and interesting to write almost daily about everything in my life. I often look back at my journals and find answers to current problems along with treasured memories.

I highly recommend writing in a journal as a way to clarify your thinking. It’s important to me that I hand-write my entries as the act of writing will slow down my thoughts. Long-time readers also know that I love writing with fountain pens. I also have written my It Works! lists many times in my journals.


Tip #1:  If you aren’t writing in a journal, what better time to start one than a new year!



After transcribing parts of my journals in previous entries, I’ve decided to create an on-going series here on the blog of things I’ve written in my journals. I hope that you may also find answers to problems and learn from some of my mistakes!


This Date in My History: Elance






Elance logo




Saturday 1/5/02 10:00pm

I lost another bid on eLance. This is the one where the guy said “great bid”. He chose someone else who is a professional talent but only bid half of my bid. My unwillingness to literally sell myself short sure hasn’t gotten me any jobs on that system.






Tip #2: You won’t know if a marketing channel works for you until you try it. 

For more thoughts about on-line casting sites, you may want to read this article.


I look forward to sharing more of my journal entries with you!