Growing Pains

Last night, I took a very interesting voiceover class, helmed by three well known veterans of the industry. The instructors left diplomacy at the door and encouraged each of us to attack our copy with ferocity and an ear for the truth. It was uncomfortable. It was difficult. It was amazing.

In my day life, subtlety and tact are the grease in the wheels of getting things done. You can't drop four letter words and say controversial things in a conference room filled with mid to high level executives. It will get you fired.

In the booth, with a room filled with voiceover hopefuls, these three guys minced no words in getting strong reads from their students - pushing, shoving, tearing at their boundaries. You must be direct and truthful in your peformance. It will get you hired.

There is a reason why the phrase "growing pains" exists: because in order to evolve yourself, and by extension your work, to the next level, you have to stretch and reach - and it won't always be pleasant or painless. But it's that constant push for growth that allows us grow our skillset and by extension, become better versions of ourselves.