Episode Details

Today we're talking about a phrase that might hit you right in the gut.

"Work harder. Nobody cares."

And I say it with love because it's a funny phrase and it's also a tough pill to swallow because it's one of the most freeing truths that you can embrace as a person and as an artist.

This episode is inspired again by one of my posts on Substack which you can find at the Actors Index and it's a mantra for anyone chasing a creative career or pursuing a big dream.

It's a mindset shift that could be the key to unlocking your full potential.

So buckle up. We're driving into the gritty, no nonsense reality of what it really takes to succeed and why the nobody cares part might be the most empowering thing you'll hear today.

Let's start with the truth. Nobody cares about your dream as much as you do.

And honestly, that's the way it should be, right?

The creative industry, whether it's voiceover, acting, writing, directing, anything else, it isn't designed to hold your hand. It's competitive. It's challenging. It requires you to show up every day with your A game.

Even when nobody's watching, and this isn't to say that people are indifferent to you as a person, but when it comes to your goals, the responsibility to succeed falls squarely on your shoulders.

And here's the thing, there's no shortcut to success. Talent isn't enough. I'm going to say that again. Talent isn't enough to succeed.

Connections aren't enough. The only thing that will ever matter is the work that you put in.

So, let's flip this narrative. Instead of saying nobody cares, or seeing nobody cares is harsh, let's see it as liberating.

Because once you accept that no one's coming to save you, you get to take full ownership of your entire journey.

You get to be in the driver's seat, which again, is as it should be.

One of the biggest myths I encounter in the creative world is the idea that you need to feel motivated to work hard.

I'm not feeling motivated today. I just don't want to do anything today. I'm not inspired. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

And let me tell you something.

Motivation is fucking fleeting.

There's going to be days when you wake up feeling like the most inspired, unstoppable version of yourself.

And then there will be days, probably more often than not, that you can barely drag yourself to the desk or to the studio or in front of the camera.

But the successful people, guess what, buttercup, they show up and do it anyway, and they do it well.

That is discipline.

We are so driven as human beings to follow our wants that are like easy wants. I want a cupcake. I want to nap. I want to do X, Y, Z. But we should be replacing that with, I want to be successful, so in order to do that, I have to do X, Y, Z, because that's discipline.

It's about building habits that keep you moving forward, even when you don't feel like it.

Do you think I feel like sitting behind my computer every day and spending hours researching and creating content for cold leads and direct marketing? No.

But I want the job. So, the good news is discipline is something that you can cultivate.

It's not really about willpower, it's more about creating systems that set you up for success based on your goals.

So for example, if you're a voiceover actor like me, you might have a morning routine that gets your voice warmed up before you even check your email or open your phone. It might mean setting a timer for 25 minutes to focus on your marketing outreach, no matter how unmotivated you feel.