Getting Knocked Down and Still Showing Up: My VO Story

Don’t Quit. Even When It Sucks.

Passion is awesome… until it starts kicking your ass. We all start out fired up about chasing a dream—whether it’s a creative pursuit, a career change, or something that just feels right. But then comes the part no one really talks about: the grind. The setbacks. The moments where you’re asking yourself, “Did I just screw up my whole life?” Yeah. I’ve been there.

Smashing My Face Into the VO Wall

When I made the jump from radio to voiceovers, I figured it’d be a walk in the park. I’d been on the mic for years. I knew how to talk. I had a good voice. Easy, right? Wrong. The VO world humbled me fast. My early auditions flopped. I got a lot of silence—and when I did get feedback, it wasn’t exactly glowing. I started second-guessing everything. I wondered if I’d made a mistake. I was stubborn as hell back then, thinking my radio chops would carry me through. Spoiler alert: they didn’t.

Swallowing My Pride (and Asking for Help)

Eventually, I had to admit that raw talent and willpower weren’t going to cut it. I needed help. Real help—from people who’d been where I was trying to go.

So, I got coaching. I took classes. I watched, listened, learned, and got a lot more honest with myself. And little by little, things started clicking. I got better. I booked a gig. Then another. And instead of dreading the process, I started loving it again.

Growth > Ego

Here’s a hard truth: ego is a dream-killer. It took me a long time to realize that being teachable is way more valuable than being “talented.” I had to learn how to take direction, how to hear criticism without shutting down, and how to actually grow from it. Passion will get you started. Humility is what keeps you in the game.

The Naysayers Are Always Loud

Here’s the part I don’t love talking about, but it’s real: some people in my life thought I was wasting my time. Flat-out told me I was being stupid. Even family. My mom? She wanted me to be a minister. She thought this whole voiceover thing was ridiculous. That messed with me. Deeply. I started to doubt myself—not just my abilities, but my worth. And that’s a dark place to be. Eventually, I realized that other people’s opinions don’t pay your bills or live your life. If your dream lights you up, that’s enough. Find your supporters. Listen to them. Everyone else? Turn down the volume.

For Anyone Thinking of Giving Up…

Please don’t. I know what it’s like to be tired and discouraged. I know how it feels when nothing’s working and you start wondering if you’re just not good enough. But that’s exactly the moment when you have to hang on a little longer. Ask for help. Get better. Keep showing up. That’s how this works. Every time I wanted to quit, I told myself: “You didn’t come this far just to come this far.” And it kept me going. You're going to screw up. You’re going to get told “no.” You’re going to question everything. That doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path. That’s just part of the path.

So yeah. Don’t quit. Not today. You've got more in you than you think. NOTE: If you want to train with the best coaching team in the world, visit our VO training course page on this website at https://www.uvtcoaching.com/voiceover-coaching-programs. This could be the beginning of something incredible!