We all have a value to our work, but we may not know what that is! If we do not know our worth in terms of knowledge, skills and abilities, then how can we expect others to know it?
Get to Know Yourself
A good way to see how much your skills are worth is by asking yourself...
What am I worth?
Where does my self-esteem come from?
How do I feel about myself when I look in the mirror?
How often do I think about how valuable my work really is?
What could be done to improve upon anything that might be holding me back from reaching my full potential?
These things will help you determine if you have what it takes to become the best voice actor you can be or if there is something within yourself that needs improvement. We all have something special about us that makes us stand out from everyone else around us. This special quality can either make or break our careers based on how well we use it throughout life.
Know that You're Worthy
You are worth more than you think, and it's time to start believing it. You are a human being and have value simply by being. Just because someone doesn't see or appreciate that doesn't mean it isn't true! Your family, friends and colleagues all benefit from having you around whether they realize it or not. When it comes to getting a job done, no one can do what you do better than yourself. One step at a time will get us where we want, need, & deserve to be.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - E. Roosevelt
Get Specific
You have a lot to offer, and you are worthy of being appreciated. Know your skills, knowledge and abilities. If you know what makes you good at something, then it's easier for others to recognize that too! It also helps them see how valuable of a person they can be because of their strengths as well as their weaknesses, and by showing someone their own worthiness, we help them feel better about themselves. What genres do you excel at? Is it E-Learning, Commercial, Explainer, Audio Description? Knowing your strong points will help you verbalize your skills to others + know it for yourself.
Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries!
Setting boundaries and expectations is important for your own happiness, health, safety and security. It's also important to be clear about what you want and need from others. If you don't know what your boundaries are, then it's unlikely that anyone else will know either. You might be able to guess at what other people want or need—but if you don't tell them directly, they might not know how best to act around you. When you set boundaries and expectations for yourself, then others will be able to treat you better because they'll know exactly how far they can go with you.
Accept the Compliment
A lot of us shy away from compliments, or don't believe them when we receive them. We rely on Awards shows or booking more work to indicate when we are succeeding. But what would happen if you not only accepted compliments about your work but really internalized them? Next time someone acknowledges how much you are worth or thanks you for your skill, accept the compliment and believe what they are saying. And try giving out a few compliments in return.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start valuing yourself!
Thanks for reading! - Anne
Work with Anne
Anne Ganguzza is California-based Voice Actor, Voiceover Coach, and award-winning Director & Producer specializing in target-marketed Voiceover Demo Production.
