I no longer am the only person in my family to have earned a Master’s degree. As of yesterday, I’m proud to report that my brother Michael Schubert has joined me as a graduate with this illustrious degree. He was awarded his MBA in Finance from my alma mater Georgia State University. You may think this entry has nothing to do with voice-over, but the lesson it conveys should be helpful to everyone.

While we dined at one of Atlanta’s historical and celebrated institutions for unique cuisine to commemorate his latest achievement, I discussed with Mike the steps he took to accomplish this goal. Not surprisingly, he told me that he had followed the time-proven steps used by athletes, rock stars, voice-over actors (!), corporate CEOs or anyone working on a large and seemingly unattainable dream.

In the words of William Jennings Bryan:

Destiny is no matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.
It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.

1. Mike has accomplished and continues to accomplish many wonderful things in his life because his goals are written down.

2. He never has any doubt about the outcome or his ability to attain the desired goal. He believes in himself.

3. In addition, he surrounds himself with people who believe in him. Mike’s wife Tammy is his greatest supporter. Don’t waste your time or energy discussing your dreams and goals to the naysayers. Mike’s signature line on his e-mail is Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by someone who is doing it.

4. Mike visualized his success. He thought about what it would feel like to earn his Master’s degree and the benefits that reaching this goal would bring to him.

5. Most importantly, my brother consistently took action on a daily basis. He could always see the goal in reach and becoming closer in his sight.

My sister-in-law Tammy, meanwhile, has goals of her own. She is a romance writer who is working to publish her first novel. She has written an outstanding article about how to write your goals so that you can actually achieve them.

Mike has professional goals that will eventually land him the role as the CEO, CFO or CIO of a Fortune 500 company. His sought-after knowledge and skills will serve him well in any of those positions. I just hope that he remembers when he is in those executive meetings that his sister can perform the radio and TV commercials and corporate e-learning projects for his company!

Twenty years from now,

so throw off the bow line,
sail away from the safe harbor,
catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
Because that what life is about.

–Mark Twain

I love quotes. When I saw this one on Thursday, I thought I would use it to encourage other people to follow their dreams, whether that dream was a starting a career in voice-over, learning to speak French, adopting a dog, visiting a foreign country or bungee-jumping off a bridge. We all have special gifts, talents and skills. No one sees the world the same way, and we’re all here for a purpose.

I think part of my purpose is to help people.

On Thursday, though, I was just thinking about my voice-over business and, more particularly, my web site. Thursday is the day that Drew and I attended an internet marketing seminar. The seminar was more of a pressured sales pitch than we thought it would be.

Mark Twain’s quote was used in the introduction to get people thinking about the kind of lifestyle they would lead if they were free of financial worry, which, according to StoresOnline.com, the presenting company, they obviously could be if they would start marketing products on the Internet today. I doubt Mark Twain ever meant that he thought people should part with their hard-earned money at 18% interest in order to buy a company’s package of 6 web sites!

We knew before we went that StoresOnline would be hawking its products, but we also knew that we weren’t going to buy anything. We only went so we could pick up tips from the panel of 11 internet marketing experts who were supposed to speak with us but never did as a group. (We later learned their role was meet with us individually to sell us the web site package.) In other words, we were going to help ourselves. I now see that I missed a huge opportunity to help other people, and I regret that I didn’t take it.

Since we weren’t going to buy anything, we didn’t do any research on StoresOnline prior to attending the event. We didn’t know that the company keeps changing its name, has been sued countless times around the world due to its shady business practices and has been the subject of TV investigative reports.

However, we did know while we were sitting there that:

• The first hour was a complete waste of time as StoresOnline got right into their sales pitch. I told Drew we were burning daylight, and we would leave if they didn’t provide some real content soon.
• We were uncomfortably cold; the temperature became noticeably colder — to the point of being frigid — when the supposed current client began speaking. They couldn’t risk anyone falling asleep! I did tell one of the “consultants” that I was aware of their little ploy to drop the temperature, and there was no reason it had to be 60 degrees. He denied it was in their control.
• No breaks were given.
• The “training” was not organized like a true class with objectives, summaries and time for questions. They would not entertain any questions during the presentations!
• The constant push for 6 web sites was extremely odd. It’s enough work to get one site up and running and fully optimized before you tackle a second one. SIX?
• We’re getting far better monthly web hosting prices than the special workshop price that we were quoted.
• If someone orders a product from a web site and has a problem, they will go back to the web site for resolution. They don’t expect to work with a third-party like the actual supplier (drop-shipper) directly.
• Companies who have special today-only offers and finance people ready to show how you can take advantage of those incredible offers are only there to take your money.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

I saw people filling out their finance forms, and I heard the credit card machine. I don’t know how much of that activity was from audience shills who were paid from the company to make it appear to real participants like people were eagerly signing up for these offers. From looking at the crowd, we observed that many people seemed to be in the 50-65 age range, while others seemed to have physical issues that would make at-home incomes very enticing.

As a voice-over artist, my profession is based on giving a voice to people who either can’t or won’t speak for themselves. Someone provides their words to me in the form of a script, but I always have to bring out the author’s meaning to the intended audience. During my years in corporate America, I would speak up when no one else would. My gift is my voice, and I regret that it was quiet during this seminar.

Dah-lings, I’m here in Hollywood, hobnobbing with all of the other famous people. 🙂 Of course, one thing I have always loved about being a voice-over actor is that you really can be famous and completely anonymous at the same time!

I was delighted when I realized that I would be flying to Los Angeles today of all days. Today, 17 June 2006, just happens to be Barry Manilow‘s 63rd birthday. You may think that he is just a legendary singer/producer/arranger/composer with millions of fans and record sales, not to mention an all-around nice guy. However, I invite you to read the page on my web site for his inspirational advice to singers, voice-over talent and anyone who must perform for a living.

I suppose you might think I am starstruck since I have seen Barry Manilow in concert (gasp) 49 times. I’m convinced that people become fixated on celebrities when something is missing in their own lives. Barry brought music back to my life, and he was one of the catalysts to my pursuing my voice-over career. It’s no wonder that I would seek him out on his birthday, especially since I don’t live in California. How often would I get the chance be around a bona fide star?

Before I continue, I should probably tell you that, even though I was thrilled to touch my favorite star, the cops were never called. In fact, I think I did a favor for him as I brushed away some dirt that had smudged the face of that magnificent star. Still, you should be prepared for the graphic pictures that follow. They are not suitable for everyone. Consider yourself warned!

I didn’t need a map of the stars’ homes to find Barry. I first used Google to find the general street address where I might find him. My husband has a GPS that provided me with landmarks in the area so I could pinpoint Barry’s approximate location. Even armed with all of this specific information, my quest took longer than I thought it would. Barry has always been somewhat of a reclusive celebrity, and I guess I should have realized it would be no walk in the park to find Barry in Hollywood, land of the stars.

Actually, it was a walk down Hollywood Boulevard that led me to finally find Barry Manilow and share a birthday moment with my favorite shining star!

Oh, c’mon now! You didn’t really think I was talking about seeing the MAN, did you? He doesn’t even live in Hollywood! Besides, I’ve got MUCH better things to do with my time than being a stalker!

Should you be interested in personally gazing upon Barry Manilow’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, here are the incredibly easy directions to finding it. Ride the Metro system Red Line to the Hollywood and Vine station, which gets my vote for most unique interior design in a subway station. Cast your eyes on the thousands of film reels on the ceiling before exiting on Hollywood Boulevard.

Across from the Metro station at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard is the beautiful Pantages Theatre. Barry’s star is directly in front of the theatre, on the threshold at Will Call, pointing inward. (Barry has some good company in front of the Pantages, including the stars for Billy Joel and Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber.) If you are standing at the Metro station facing the Theatre, I think the nearest crosswalk is to your right at Argyle.

And if you DO happen to run into THE MAN himself while visiting Barry Manilow’s star, please tell him to check out my web site and blog!