Eh, It Could Be Worse...
Serve up an attitude of gratitude as a side dish to your Thanksgiving turkey
As the year is winding down, the holidays are cranking up in a big way. Lights, decorations, holiday markets - it's a nice distraction to the ups and downs of 2024.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I like to take it seriously. It's a time to put aside our worries and petty grievances, and be mindful instead of all the blessings of the past year. Or at least to put it all in perspective.
It's also the time to celebrate the harvest. I'm not a farmer, though I do enjoy a good farmers market. I was just at our local one yesterday morning. Nothing better than getting outside on a crisp fall morning and strolling around, seeing how the produce in the vendor stalls changes with the seasons, picking up specialty items, and enjoying all the prepared foods that are for sale. And the sampling! It's better than a walkthrough of Costco at lunchtime.
I have my personal list of things I'm grateful for, which includes family, friends, and health - all the usual suspects. Here instead are the top 5 things I'm grateful for in my professional life.
Do you keep a record of your wins, large or small? Reviewing your list from time to time can help bolster your spirits whenever you're feeling low.
"Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will."
Keep count of the good stuff!
It's so easy to dwell on all the negativity in our lives. Disappointments, missed opportunities, mistakes, losses, embarrassing moments - you name it. Start off your new year instead with a list where you'll put all your wins, both large and small. Watch as it grows over time and you'll be presented with unrefutable evidence that good stuff does happen all the time. We just tend to dismiss or minimize them when compared to problems that pop up now and again.
Not today. Not this time of year. I'm looking at my list of positive outcomes over this past year and finding five big areas to be grateful for.
Laura's Attitude of Gratitude
Friendships through networking
Short, casual videos
Film, commercial, and voiceover bookings
Speaking opportunities
My new program: Lights! Camera! Confidence!
Friendships through networking
We have two options for networking these days: in person and virtual.
I especially enjoy in person options. Professional groups, speaker luncheons, happy hours, special events ... even my acting classes. There's something special about the energy in the room of a live event when people interact face-to-face. Appreciation of being post-pandemic hasn't dissipated from what I can tell. More than before 2020, people relish being together and professional networking groups have risen from the ashes of Covid-era social distancing.
That's not to say virtual has gone away. I love the fact that I can interact with others worldwide from the comfort of my own home. Frienships, business partnerships, referrals - all have evolved from meeting people online. I especially enjoy LinkedIn and have had the pleasure of forming real, in person friendships and business relationships with people I've met online. Another huge source beyond the several virtual networking groups I'm active in would be my voiceover accountability group, VO classes and 1:1 coaching, and workshops. If it weren't for virtual networking, the number of friends I could count would be sadly diminished!
Short, casual videos
What's better than leveling the playing field for small businesses who want affordable ways to promote themselves? Of course, quality matters, but the barriers to entry have fallen. Social media awards those who post short videos, provided that the content is interesting and relevant to the viewer. You don't need fancy production quality either. In contrast, it's the more casual, "filmed it myself" vibe that trends.
My On Camera Confidence coaching program encourages clients to make short videos. They're not hard to do; they just take planning and a few performance and filming tips. I'm looking forward to extending the scope of my program in the new year.
On camera and voiceover bookings
I love the performance side of my work! What else can I say? This past year (and it's not even over), I've been in front of the camera for films, commercials, and industrials (corporate videos) and behind the mic for TV shows, commercials, and web-based videos.
The highlights? Some of these projects are actually comedy routines dressed up as commercials and were simply outrageously funny. I'm under a few NDA's, so I can't disclose business names or details, but once I can, I'll have some great stories to tell. My favorite voiceover bookings, though, were with Tyler Perry Studios for his show "House of Payne." The studio complex is amazing and the people were so kind. Although I was prepared to record and submit the voice overs remotely from my home studio, I was very happy to drive the relatively short distance to the studio to record in person the couple of times they hired me. It reminded me of when I used to call on Disney in my corporate days.
Speaking opportunities
Networking has brought me even more speaking opportunities this year. Most were on the topic of On Camera Confidence, but I was invited to talk about in a number of ways, such as establishing an executive presence online, how speaking to the camera is different than addressing a roomful of people (and how to adapt), how to segue successfully from a corporate career to an artistic one, and how to reinvent one's professional self later in life using social media (like LinkedIn) and a video presence.
I'm now booking events in 2025 for all types of audiences: coaches, small business owners, podcasters, women's groups, and more. If you're interested in a dynamic speaker who loves sharing with her audience, please reach out!
On Camera Confidence expands
I'll share more later, but I'm so excited to offer several levels of my signature program in 2025, from video assessments to working 1:1 on specific performance skills to creating short videos with my clients in an easy "one and done!" fashion. There'll be webinars focused on developing aspects of video creation and performance, too, so "watch this space" for details.
What about you?
I know I'm not the only one reflecting on this past year, so what's on your mind? A little gratitude can go a long way. Come on, you can tell me. As we’re rounding out 2024, what are you most thankful for?
What are you most thankful for in 2024?
0%Family & friendships
0%Professional accomplishments
0%Personal goals achieved
0%Fun stuff, like travel and hobbies
Enjoy a very happy Thanksgiving!
(and a sane start to this holiday season)
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.
Comments