Sunday 22 December 2013

God Bless Us Everyone!



  
Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man.   Anon.
 
  
Embracing the message, the meaning, you and The Holy Season.
 

 
 
Love, Peace + More Joyful Debby Barnes Voice-Over Rah-Rah's!   XO,  Debby
 
 
 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

A Shot In The Arm

It’s always a mixed blessing to get a ‘shot-in-the-arm’ from someone like Tom Dheere. We want it, we know we need it, but it usually hurts so we don’t really want it. But 'embrace the pain' we must. And the thing is, Tom's so darn friendly, likeable, cued-up, well-meaning and wise that we’re compelled to believe he has our best VoiceOver business interests and success at heart. After all, he’s an experienced, multi-talented NYC Voice Over Pro + Business Expert who specializes in Business & Money, Marketing. Edge Studio loves him, so we do too. This is the reason his Edge Studio blog, ‘2014 Is Coming, Are You Ready?’ was a needed jab. He wants to keep us healthy. And it’s why I’m cheering him with a Debby Barnes Voice-Over Rah-Rah! this week.

When I read his article on December 1st, I just knew it would stay with me throughout the month in the lead-up to the New Year. After staring at the first line of his blog, “2013 is almost gone.” I honestly felt I’d been slapped and told to snap-out-of-it. What a needed moment. The reality hit me. It was in black and white and I had to sit down, read it, stay there and absorb it. I certainly didn’t want to dwell on it, but he went on to ask an important question. One I couldn’t ignore. He didn’t stop there either. He asked four more important questions that begged to be considered.

Tom’s entire article asks us to take stock of what we have and haven’t accomplished this year. He asks us to define what we need to do in order to accomplish what we must do to be successful. He encourages us to, “Stop the vicious “I’ll do it tomorrow” cycle, and truly advance your voice over career.” And in order to woo us onto the right path, he offers us three concrete steps to get us there. (And steps help us climb, right?) He clarifies how to go about this and says: “Although it may be daunting, all these concerns must be dealt with for you to be a truly successful voice talent.”

In closing, he reminds us of how critical it is to have an Action Plan: “Your Action Plan should be task-oriented and designed to help you develop a regimen.” Okay then. It’s time for me to set aside some quality time and (…as Tom says) define my mission (...or re-define it) and craft my goals (...or re-craft them). It's also time for me to develop some more good habits.

You know, it’s easy to believe Tom's such a successful Explainer Video narrator because his explanations make a lot of sense. Read it below and Rah-Rah! Tom with me.

Click-into Tom's 2014 Prep here:     http://www.edgestudio.com/blogs/2014Prep

And FYI: Check-out more of Tom’s ‘Good Karma Network’ VO blogs and the Google+ ‘Voice Over CafĂ©’ community he just introduced.

Tom’s site:  www.tomdheere.com
 
Go Ahead, Comment & Share!  And stop, look + listen at:   www.debbybarnes.com

 


Tuesday 10 December 2013

The Quintessential VO Gardner

Okay, I’ve never actually met him. But I feel like I know him. (…a brother from a different mother, perhaps?) Not only does Jonathan Tilley slay me with his irresistible happy-clappy-bursting-with-love comedic personality, but he also wrote a smashing e-book called, 'Voice Over Garden: How to Create Abundance As A Global Online Voice Actor'. Needless to say, I’ve been eager to gush about what an effective sower he is. Our VO Community ‘garden’ looks even more lush because of this quintessential gardener. So you can obviously hear a Debby Barnes Voice-Over Rah-Rah! now, right? Right.

When I first heard about his book, it brought about a want-it, need-it, must-have-it mentality that I couldn’t shake until I locked it into my trusty kindle. Well, I dig it. (…alongside so many other JT e-book fans who, no doubt agree.) Because he’s (...in his words) a whole-hearted 'abundance creator', you can almost feel the love and good-will he radiates through-out his book. What he has to say is fun, fresh, witty, honest, current and helpful, especially because it comes from the heart of his own experience.
He also offers a free, weekly Voice Over Garden newsletter that's chock-full of generous VO tips and tricks. His recent blog, It’s Time To Break Down Some Barriers! Are You With Me? had me in fits (…when I wasn’t spouting Debby Barnes Voice-Over Rah-Rah’s! all over the place, ofcourse.) Yes, I thought. Let’s do this.
Imagine reading: I know it may sound harsh, but it’s time! It’s time Debby to either grow some balls or put on your big girl panties and start taking action.” OML. My name is in that paragraph. Is he kidding me? No, he’s not. It’s an ingenious move. And he got my attention. JT’s not only brilliant at making his points through the written word, but he’s just as clever in the videos he produces to accompany each newsletter/blog. He’s always switched-on and he has a charming, quirky presence that leaves you feeling like you can rise to any challenge. Like this:  Today we break it down and talk about getting tested for I’m-Not-Sure-itis, the biggest action-sucking disease out there.” Yikes. I think I have this, or at least get attacks of it now and then. “…see if you have (even unwittingly) been placing some BS barriers around your business…” Oooh. This hurts. I need help.
Yep, it’s time to start pulling more unwanted weeds in my VO garden. Thank God I have a new gardener. Rah-Rah! Jonathan.
...and thank you for the kick in the big-girl pants.  
Click into it below:
http://www.voiceovergarden.com/its-time-to-break-down-some-barriers-are-you-with-me/


...and Jonathan Tilley's popular e-book:

Voice Over Garden: How To Create Abundance As A Global Online Voice Actor [Kindle Edition]

http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Over-Garden-Create-Abundance-ebook/dp/B00AWR6X2U

                                        
                                           Go Ahead, Comment & Share!

                  And stop, look and listen if you dare!  www.debbybarnes.com
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Tuesday 3 December 2013

What if?

Boy, could I identify with Frank James Bailey’s blog: ‘Calling In Sick?’ He ticks all the boxes I normally tick when I feel rough and my voice is compromised by a seasonal flu or a throat infection. Yuk. I was so sorry to hear he was ill at the time, but I was really pleased he set about writing his post, in spite of feeling under the weather. For that alone, he gets an encouraging Debby Barnes Voice-Over Rah-Rah!, (Be well and stay well, FJB.) and another one for the guts of his message.


I was immediately drawn to his positive attitude and the five ideas he puts into practice during times like these. (I can honestly say I’ve acted-on every one of them myself, so we’re obviously using the same coping techniques.) I stand in agreement with how he responds to potential clients’ job invitations when he’s unwell. He wisely offers his clients two options; both of which I felt were kind, professional and generous. Bravo, brother.

Like Frank, I try to do whatever’s necessary to keep my head in the work even when my voice can’t be. But I confess, sometimes I get easily frustrated and overwhelmed when I'm hit with the odd flu or bout of laryngitis. I start feeling a bit rattled, especially when my imaginary ‘what-ifs’ creep-in. These are what I call my 'VO valley times'. These happen when my dark, mysterious and scary 'what-ifs' try to get the best of me. They also make me feel like I’m going to be walking (…or crawling) through the VO valley with them forever.

Hey, at the end of the day, anything that threatens our ability to be the best we can be needs to be dealt with, right? So we can at least try and summon the strength to keep on keeping on by doubling our efforts on other VO fronts (…like the ones Frank highlights.) His points are simple, clear and helpful. And he notes: “I’m sure there are a dozen more things you can do if you can’t voice anything. My point is, stay busy!” Rah-Rah! Frank.

We can stay busy getting well, and busy getting better at what we do well!

Read it here:
http://www.frankjamesbailey.com/apps/blog/show/34392381-calling-in-sick-


Comment & Share below!  And stop, look and listen at:   www.debbybarnes.com