Comments

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  Penny Abshire June 9, 2008 at 10:23pm

  Barry, you are such an inspiration to me! And you're right - I wouldn't trade my problems for ANYONE else's.
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  Jody Olson June 9, 2008 at 7:29pm

  As long as I'm falling on my face, I'm going in the right direction (Old Submarine Sailor expression)
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  Barry Trussell June 8, 2008 at 2:25pm

  A friend once told me this:
  
  If you could sit at a long table and put all your problems on the table and have the ability to trade your problems with whomever you wished, you would gather up all your problems and run like hell.
  
  Since then I have learned that every obstacle in your path is a stepping stone to your success. Learn to use them and not avoid them.
  
  This has helped me alot and hope that it will help you too!
  
  Barry
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  Michael Murphy June 7, 2008 at 2:06pm

  You guys are very inspiring! I did the safe thing when I started my career as well. I majored in Nursing. I have been an RN since 1991. I was very much into community theater prior to college, then got married, had 4 kids, and felt trapped in a career that isn't allowing me much creative outlet. I have found a chance, it feels like it could be the right move for me. I haven't worked in it yet, but about to do my demo this month.
  
  Another thing that made me feel this was my chance was a coworker encouraging me to take the chance, she also looked into my astrological reading, which I have never believed. She said this is my year all the planets are lining up etc.. so I went to work for a Nursing agency to give me more control and flexibility and I am hopefully on my way. I figured if it was positive I would go with it!
  
  Penny your story is very close to mine and it was just what I needed to hear, since I will be 40 in October! Thanks for sharing!
  
  Mike
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  Sharon Garrison June 6, 2008 at 5:51pm

  Yes yes yes! This is why I'm here (in this group, not on this earth! :-) Thank you Rick for sharing your thoughts - really important stuff. And thanks to you and to Penny for being there for all of us who are taking whatever steps we can to meet each day's challenges. Your contributions are priceless.
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  Penny Abshire June 6, 2008 at 1:00pm

  Thanks, Rick, for sharing this wonderful piece with our group! I admire you and your efforts on behalf of the voiceover community so much!
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  Rick Party June 6, 2008 at 1:18am

  Do it because it's the right thing to do
  
  Today is June 5, 2008, and sit in my tiny vocal booth on my black leather chair, with a bottle of room temperature water. In between reading script I have a lot of time to reflect...to think...to reflect and think again. I often think about how lucky I really am to sit at home & work, and most importantly be right in the same home when my children need me...I'm a father, a friend and voice actor (voiceover talent).
  
  My road to voiceover success wasn't easy, I started as a young father (20 yrs old) and radio personality in the 80's. My dream was to make a better life for my son, so this dream and will to succeed lead me to prime-time "on-air" positions in cites such as; Chicago, New York City, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Virginia beach, SC and NC. After a 20 year U.S. tour with the traveling circus (radio) I decided to detach my trailer, and at that very moment my VO career started to flourish.
  
  Fast forward 20 years>> Today my voice is heard as narrator/announcer on HBO, INDEMAND, PPV, Outdoor Channel, MTV, BET and many radio/tv stations across our great land. My name is not by far recognized like a Joe Cipriano, Rodney Saulsberry, G. Keith Alexander, Mark Driscoll nor Don LaFontaine etc, but I have a great deal of respect for them all...I am a student who pays attention in GREAT detail. Without incredible talent in the "Voiceover Universe" we would not have great expectations to exceed...it would be no fun.
  
  I truly believe we ALL have it in us to be the best, but is very important to follow the "yellow brick road," and these guys (for me) have laid the bricks. I believe one thing that is important, is to understand that life itself is a circus, so you must have your golden ticket ready, grab your popcorn and enjoy the show...just know at any given moment the ringmaster will invite you in as his co-host....just stay out of the tiger's mouth.
  
  Never try to be a carbon copy of the ringmaster, join in and make a difference, use your voice to speak positive things and your heart to do things for those in need. Do not worry about being a star, you will shine automatically:)
  
  Lastly, Do not do great things because it looks good...do it because it is simply the right thing to do.
  
  Everyday your life is just beginning!
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  Penny Abshire June 4, 2008 at 1:52pm

  I even have a large stuffed frog in my office - to remind me to just do it!
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  Penny Abshire June 4, 2008 at 1:51pm

  You know, another quote I love (which is just a different way of saying what Mrs. Rossevelt said) is this. "If you have a frog to swallow - swallow it fast! Don't think about it too long. And if you have many frogs to swallow - swallow the biggest one first." Of course, the metaphor is that frogs are "problems or challenges." Since I personally can't stand frogs, it's one that works REALLY well for me. I just tackle the challenge I really dread FIRST and swallow that big ugly frog. Then the rest of the day, things can only get better!
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  Sharon Garrison June 4, 2008 at 1:15pm

  Oh, yeah! And note that the quote I put on my personal page when I joined IRTMVO is Eleanor Roosevelt's mantra, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." I have a positive chat with "self" every morning.