The Long Game: Why Gratitude and Goal Setting Fuel Your Voice Acting Career

Anne Ganguzza
1 day ago
4 min read

with Tom Dheere

BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza and Tom Dheere share decades of combined experience, reflecting on the realities of voice acting career longevity. From the cassette tape demo era to today’s digital age, the hosts emphasize that sustaining a career for 20+ years requires more than just talent—it demands resilience, strategic goal setting, and a deep sense of gratitude to combat the inevitable inconsistency of the industry.

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Chapter Summaries

Gratitude as a Perspective Reset

(03:29) The hosts discuss gratitude not just as a holiday feeling, but as a regular, necessary tool for mental health and resilience. Expressing thanks for the ability to work from home and run one's own business helps put daily frustrations into perspective, minimizing stress and maintaining focus.

The Non-Linear Climb to Success

(08:09) Tom asserts that the voice acting career never gets easier; it just changes the nature of the difficulty. The hosts stress that the path to success is not linear, and actors must be prepared for extreme ups and downs. They emphasize that during business lulls, gratitude for progress achieved is vital to combat self-doubt and prevent quitting prematurely.

The Essential Role of the "Village"

(04:33) Tom highlights the paramount importance of the supportive village—family, friends, and fellow voice actors—who contribute to a professional's success. The hosts stress that when internal support is lacking, finding the supportive voice acting community is crucial to combat the isolation of the booth and maintain mental health.

Goal Setting: Beyond Financial Metrics

(22:27) Anne argues that career goals cannot be based solely on financial metrics, especially in the early years. Value should also be measured by non-monetary growth: new training, improved skills, networking, and developing a positive mental mindset. Anne notes that her first five years were spent investing more than she earned, underscoring the long-term reality.

Tom Dheere's Six-Point Goal System

(27:46) Tom outlines the six core areas voice actors should use to organize and set their career goals for the coming year:

Cashflow
Tools (Equipment/Software)
Technique (Performance Training)
Marketing
Health (Vocal, Mental, Emotional)
Organization

The Danger of Legacy Thinking

(29:35) Tom introduces the concept that "legacy thinking destroys careers." The hosts emphasize that the industry's landscape (from cold calls to social media to AI) is always shifting. Voice actors must be educated, resilient, and ready to shed old marketing methods that no longer put them in the decision-makers' "spotlight."

The Marathon Investment

(23:16) The hosts reinforce that successful voice acting requires a long-term investment similar to college or trade school (10,000 hours, multiple years). They caution against the belief that you can make money before investing in the foundational skills (acting, business, marketing) required for competition.

Top 10 Takeaways for Voice Actors:

Renew Purpose Daily: Engage in regular acts of gratitude to reset your perspective and minimize stress and frustration.
Long View is the Reality: Understand that a voice acting career is a marathon that takes years, not months, to become profitable and sustainable.
Invest in Your Village: Be grateful for and actively cultivate supportive people around you, both personally and professionally.
Practice Gratitude Journaling: Regularly catalog your achievements, support system, and learned skills as a tool to combat self-doubt during slow periods.
Set Non-Financial Goals: Measure success by growth in training, new skills, networking, and vocal health, not just by monthly income.
Avoid Legacy Stagnation: Continuously evolve your voice actor marketing strategy and be willing to drop methods that are no longer effective.
The Spotlight Moves: Understand that decision-makers' casting methods change constantly; you must adapt to stay in their field of vision.
Training is Essential: Before pursuing work, develop the necessary acting, performance, and business skills required to compete with professionals.
Mental Resilience is Key: Fight the destructive thought pattern of "Why am I not booking?" by reinforcing confidence and celebrating past growth.
Use Tom's Six Points: Structure your yearly plan around Cashflow, Tools, Technique, Marketing, Health, and Organization for balanced growth.

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