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From Workshop to Workflow: How to Actually Apply What You’ve Learned

September 24, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Continual education is in our DNA as freelancers.

We sign up for workshops, upgrade software, hire coaches, and attend conferences because we know our industries evolve constantly. Nobody wants to be the dinosaur that goes extinct.

But there’s an overlooked challenge:

How do you integrate this great new knowledge into your workflow?

We’ve all been there. You spend time and money on an amazing class, grab shiny new software, or attend a weekend conference. You come home inspired, buzzing with ideas… and then Monday hits. Client emails are waiting. Projects need attention. Suddenly, “integration” gets shoved to the side of your desk—and forgotten.

Six months later, the guilt sets in.

I can tell you honestly: I attended VO Atlanta last year, and I still haven’t looked at the session recordings. Not one. And yes, I still tell myself I’ll get to them before next year’s conference. I’m equally guilty.

So why does this gap matter?

Learning without practice fades fast. That workshop glow disappears quickly if you don’t put it into action.
New skills only stick when applied. That’s how they become second nature.
Integration builds confidence. Once you’ve used a new tool in real work, you stop second-guessing.
Your investment pays off. Money and time spent only deliver ROI when skills become part of your workflow.

And yet, freelancers are busy. Balancing client work, admin, and growth is messy. Add anxiety into the mix, and the pressure feels even heavier. (Trust me, my brain has gone down the “what if my computer crashes mid-session?” spiral many times.)

The good news? Integration doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some practical steps to bridge the gap between knowing and doing:

Six Steps to Move from Workshop to Workflow

1. Shift the Mindset

Stop thinking of practice as “extra.” Treat it as part of your job. Use a live project as a testing ground, even if you don’t end up using the new tool in the final result.

2. Micro-Practice Beats Marathons

Forget the mythical “free afternoon.” Ten minutes of focused practice adds up. Try “skill sprints”: one feature, one shortcut, one vocal drill. Done.

3. Prioritize and Filter

After any class, pick three takeaways you’ll actually use. Not thirty. Ask: What’s immediately useful? What can wait?

4. Schedule Integration Time

Block 30 minutes a week for an “integration lab.” Protect it like you would a client deadline.

5. Build Accountability

Tell a peer what you’re working on. Track your reps in a journal or app. Visible progress motivates.

6. Extend Yourself Compassion

Struggling with new tools doesn’t mean failure—it means you’re learning. Even partial integration is progress.

The Payoff

When you consistently fold new knowledge into your workflow:

You reduce guilt.
You increase confidence.
You create a stronger, future-proof freelance business.

As I said on the Freelance Fitness podcast:

“Sounds like something you can handle, right? Of course you can. Once you’ve broken it down into little chunks, like this workout, that can fit anywhere in your day. Sky’s the limit.”

You don’t need a full overhaul—just one mini-experiment at a time.

One skill sprint.

One weekly integration block.

One step closer to your next level.

Take that, dinosaurs.

De l’atelier à l’action : Intégrer enfin tes nouvelles compétences

September 24, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

La formation continue, c’est dans notre ADN de pigistes.

On s’inscrit à des ateliers, on met nos logiciels à jour, on engage des coachs, on assiste à des conférences… parce qu’on sait que nos industries évoluent sans arrêt. Personne ne veut devenir le dinosaure qui disparaît.

Mais il y a un défi qu’on oublie trop souvent :

Comment intégrer tout ce nouveau savoir dans ton quotidien de travail?

On est tous passés par là.
Tu investis du temps et de l’argent dans une super formation, tu télécharges un nouveau logiciel flambant neuf, ou tu reviens d’une conférence du week-end la tête pleine d’idées. Le lundi arrive, les courriels de clients s’accumulent, les projets urgents reprennent le dessus… et l’“intégration” se fait pousser dans un coin du bureau — puis oubliée.

Six mois plus tard, la culpabilité embarque.
Je vais être honnête : j’ai assisté à VO Atlanta l’an dernier, et je n’ai pas encore regardé une seule des captations des sessions. Pas une. Et oui, je continue à me dire que je vais les écouter avant la prochaine conférence. Je suis aussi coupable que toi.

Alors, pourquoi ce fossé est si important?

Apprendre sans pratiquer s’évapore vite. L’effet “wow” d’un atelier disparaît rapidement si tu ne le mets pas en action.
Une compétence s’ancre seulement quand tu l’appliques. C’est comme ça qu’elle devient un réflexe.
L’intégration construit la confiance. Dès que tu utilises un nouvel outil dans un vrai mandat, tu arrêtes de douter de toi.
Ton investissement rapporte. Ton argent et ton temps portent fruit seulement quand les acquis s’intègrent à ton workflow.

Et pourtant, on le sait : la vie de pigiste est occupée. Entre la prod, l’admin et la croissance, ça déborde. Ajoute à ça l’anxiété, et la pression monte encore plus. (Crois-moi, mon cerveau a déjà fait le scénario catastrophe “et si mon ordi plante en plein enregistrement?” plus d’une fois.)

La bonne nouvelle? L’intégration n’a pas besoin d’être écrasante. Voici des pistes concrètes pour passer du savoir au faire:

Six étapes pour passer du Workshop au Workflow

1. Changer de mindset
Arrête de voir la pratique comme du “travail en plus.” Considère-la comme une partie de ton mandat. Teste un élément appris directement dans un projet réel, même si ça ne reste pas dans le livrable final.

2. La micro-pratique bat les marathons
Oublie le fameux “après-midi libre.” Dix minutes de pratique ciblée suffisent. Fais des “sprints de compétences” : un raccourci, une fonction, un exercice vocal. Et c’est réglé.

3. Prioriser et filtrer
Après une formation, choisis trois apprentissages à appliquer. Pas trente. Demande-toi : qu’est-ce qui est utile tout de suite? Qu’est-ce qui peut attendre?

4. Bloquer du temps d’intégration
Mets 30 minutes par semaine dans ton agenda pour un “laboratoire d’intégration.” Protège ce temps-là comme une vraie date de livraison.

5. Se créer de la reddition de comptes
Dis à un pair ce sur quoi tu travailles. Note tes progrès dans un carnet ou une appli. Voir l’évolution, ça motive.

6. Se donner de la compassion
Avoir de la misère avec un nouvel outil, ce n’est pas un échec — c’est une preuve que tu apprends. Même une intégration partielle, c’est déjà un pas en avant.

Les bénéfices

Quand tu intègres régulièrement tes nouvelles connaissances à ton workflow :

Tu réduis la culpabilité.
Tu augmentes ta confiance.
Tu bâtis une entreprise de pigiste plus solide et prête pour l’avenir.

Comme je le disais sur le podcast Pigiste pas Figiste :

“Ça a l’air de quelque chose que tu peux gérer, non? Bien sûr que oui. Une fois que tu découpes ça en petits morceaux, comme un entraînement qui s’insère n’importe où dans ta journée, tout devient possible.”

Tu n’as pas besoin de tout chambouler. Juste un mini test à la fois.
Un sprint de compétence.
Un bloc d’intégration par semaine.
Un pas de plus vers ton prochain niveau.

Prends ça, les dinosaures.

Dire non : la compétence essentielle que tout pigiste devrait développer

September 17, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

On peut jaser du fait de dire non? De refuser un contrat, ou même de ne pas auditionner pour un projet?

Comme pigistes, on passe une bonne partie de notre temps et de notre énergie à chercher la prochaine opportunité. C’est notre gagne-pain, et soyons honnêtes : on a toujours cette petite peur de manquer quelque chose. On se dit que si on ne se lance pas sur toutes les occasions, le pipeline risque de se vider.

Mais voici la vérité : être pigiste, ça ne veut pas dire être disponible 24/7.
Tu n’as pas à auditionner pour chaque rôle. Tu n’as pas à répondre à tes courriels pendant le souper. Tu n’as pas à dire oui à chaque demande qui tombe dans ta boîte de réception.

Dire non, ce n’est pas de la paresse. Ce n’est pas un manque de professionnalisme.
C’est mettre tes limites. Et ce sont ces limites qui rendent une carrière de pigiste durable.

Trop de “oui” mène à l’épuisement

Sans limites, le travail finit par envahir toute ta vie.
Quand tu en prends trop, l’épuisement arrive vite. Et une fois brûlé(e), ta créativité, ton énergie et la qualité de ton travail chutent. Ironiquement, le revenu que tu essayais de protéger peut même en souffrir, parce que tu n’arrives plus à livrer ton meilleur.

Et puis… est-ce qu’on est vraiment plus “réussi” si on répond à des courriels en cachette pendant le match de soccer de son enfant? Ou si on s’éclipse d’un souper de famille pour prendre un appel client? Plus souvent qu’autrement, on se retrouve juste distrait, coupable et un peu amer.

Exemple perso

De mon côté, je sais que j’ai besoin de déconnecter complètement quand je suis en vacances. Sinon, les pensées de travail me suivent comme un nuage et je ne profite jamais du moment présent. Résultat : je ne me repose pas, je ne recharge pas mes batteries et la “vacance” ne sert à rien.

Certain·es artistes de voix apportent un kit mobile en voyage pour continuer à travailler. Je comprends leur logique, mais moi, je ne relaxe pas tant que je n’ai pas vraiment décroché. Mes limites à moi, c’est : je jette un œil aux courriels une ou deux fois par jour, juste pour voir s’il y a quelque chose d’urgent. Et la plupart du temps, ma réponse est simplement : “Je ne peux pas avant mon retour.”

Pour être pleinement présente pour mes clients, je dois aussi être pleinement présente pour moi-même et mes proches.

Les bons clients respectent tes limites

Un client qui t’apprécie va s’adapter à tes “heures de bureau” ou à ton “je te reviens après la fin de semaine”. Ceux qui exigent une disponibilité 24/7? À moins qu’ils paient pour un service en permanence, tu ne leur dois pas ça. Et honnêtement, se détacher de ce type de client, c’est souvent ouvrir la porte à des collaborations plus saines et plus respectueuses.

La vérité, c’est que le monde ne s’arrête pas si tu prends une journée off. Ton entreprise ne s’écroulera pas. Et tu n’es pas “moins pigiste” si tu ne travailles pas 24 heures sur 24. Au contraire : être capable de décrocher, c’est une preuve de solidité.

Comment apprendre à dire non (sans culpabilité)

Clarifie tes limites. Tes heures de travail, ton délai de réponse, ce qui constitue une vraie urgence. Établis-les clairement, et respecte-les.
Reviens à tes valeurs. Demande-toi : est-ce que j’ai besoin en ce moment de plus de revenu, de repos, de temps en famille ou de croissance? Dis oui à ce qui colle, non à ce qui ne colle pas.
Pratique les mots. Dire non n’a pas besoin d’être brusque. Exemples :
- “Je n’ai pas de disponibilité présentement.”
- “Ça sort de mon champ d’expertise.”
- “J’aimerais, mais mon horaire est plein. On peut revisiter ça le mois prochain?”
Protège ton temps off. Vacances, fins de semaine, ou même un mercredi après-midi random… Déconnecte complètement.
Aie confiance en ce que tu as bâti. Ta réputation et ton travail tiennent la route. Ils survivront à une pause.

Je te lance un défi : prends une seule journée complète où tu éteins le mode “oui”. Pas de courriels, pas d’auditions, pas d’admin. Juste une journée pour respirer. Tu vas réaliser que tu n’es pas l’élément indispensable qui tient l’univers en place. Et ça, c’est pas une faiblesse… c’est une libération.

Parce qu’au fond, dire non n’est pas refuser du travail. C’est protéger ton énergie — celle qui fait que ton travail (et ta vie) a de la valeur.

✨ Cet article est inspiré d’un épisode de mon balado Pigiste pas Figiste, 10 minutes d’entraînement avec du vrai talk pigiste, viens écouter ici : https://media.rss.com/pigiste-pas-figiste/feed.xml

Saying No: The Freelance Survival Skill You Didn’t Know You Needed

September 17, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

Can we talk about saying no? Turning down work or not auditioning for a job?

As freelancers, so much of our energy is spent scanning for the next gig. It’s how we make our living, and let’s be honest, there’s always that fear of missing out. If we don’t throw our hat in the ring for every opportunity, what if the pipeline dries up?

But here’s the thing: freelancing doesn’t mean being available 24/7. You don’t have to audition for every role, answer every client call at dinner, or say yes to every project that lands in your inbox. Saying no isn’t laziness. It isn’t weakness. It’s boundaries.

And boundaries are what keep your freelance career sustainable.

Without limits, freelancing can swallow your entire life.

When you overcommit, burnout isn’t far behind. And when you’re burned out, your creativity, energy, and quality of work all drop. Ironically, the very thing you’re trying to protect—your income—can actually decline because you’re not showing up as your best self.

Think about it: are you really more “successful” if you’re answering emails during your kid’s soccer game or sneaking out of a family gathering to take a client call? Or are you just left guilty, distracted, and resentful?

An example from my life

For my mental well-being, I need to turn off when on vacation. Otherwise, intrusive work thoughts hang over me like a shadow and I won’t be present for the vacation. And then I won’t feel rested, nor will I feel productive, so it ends up being a waste. Some voice artists bring a travel kit with them, and I understand their reasoning, but I can’t relax unless I truly leave work behind. Those are my boundaries. I will check my emails for urgent things a couple times in a day and that’s it. And it’s usually just me replying that I can’t do the thing until I get back. In order for me to be present for others in my business I need to cultivate the ability to be present for myself outside of business as well.

Clients who respect you will respect boundaries. Most will adapt to “office hours” or “I’ll get back to you after the weekend.” The few who demand urgency 24/7? Unless they’re paying you a retainer to be on-call, you don’t owe them that level of access. Letting go of those clients opens up space for healthier, more respectful working relationships.

The truth is, the world doesn’t stop if you take a day off. Your business won’t collapse. You’re not less of a freelancer if you’re not grinding 24/7. In fact, the ability to step away is a sign of a strong foundation.

So, how do you start saying no without guilt?

Set clear boundaries. Define your working hours, your response times, and what counts as an “emergency.” Communicate them upfront, and stick to them.
Check in with your values. Ask yourself: do I need more income, more rest, more family time, or more growth right now? Say yes to work that aligns—and no to what doesn’t.
Practice the words. No doesn’t have to be harsh. Try:
- “I don’t have capacity right now.”
- “That’s outside my scope.”
- “I’d love to, but my calendar’s full—can we revisit next month?”
Protect your off-time. Vacation, weekends, even a random Wednesday afternoon—disconnect fully. Silence the notifications. Be present.
Trust your foundation. You’ve built something solid. Your work and your reputation can hold for a few days while you rest.

Here’s a challenge: take one day—just one—where you turn off the constant “yes.” No emails, no auditions, no admin. Watch how freeing it feels. You’ll realize you’re not the keystone holding up the universe—and that’s not a loss, that’s liberation.

Because in the end, saying no isn’t about rejecting work. It’s about protecting the energy that makes your work—and your life—worthwhile.

Want to hear more freelance business tips while doing something good for yourself? This article is adapted from my podcast Freelance Fitness, where I pair 10-minute workouts with real talk about the freelance life. Check it out here: https://media.rss.com/freelance-fitness/feed.xml

Long-Form Projects Aren’t Just a Pile of Short Ones

September 10, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

You know those quick creative projects you can knock out in a day or two?
They’re fun, fast, and satisfying.

But then comes the big one: a long-form project that stretches over days or even weeks. And here’s the truth—long-form projects are not just a bunch of short ones stuck together. They’re a whole different beast.

I learned this the hard way.

Early in my voiceover career, I landed my first long-form project: an audio version of an ophthalmology article for a professional journal. About 30 minutes of finished audio. At the time, that was many times longer than anything I’d tackled before.

Up until then, my jobs took an hour—tops. Suddenly, I had a 30-minute script of dense medical text. I underestimated how long it would take me. So, I worked late into the night, cramming to reach the unrealistic deadline I’d given the client and as a result, delivered audio that showed how exhausted I was. The client wasn’t thrilled, and I had to re-record. Ouch.

That project taught me lessons I wish I’d known sooner. Today, I can do the same job in an afternoon—with better energy, better editing, and a better result. And if you’re stepping into long-form work (whether voice, writing, design, animation, or film), here’s how you can avoid the pitfalls I stumbled into.

Pitfall 1: Underestimating the Time

Why it matters: Long projects always take more time than you think.
How to avoid it: Break the project into manageable chunks. Create milestones and celebrate small wins. Also, this helps you fit it in around all the other tasks you have to do.

Pitfall 2: Burning Out Too Soon

Why it matters: A sprint at the start leaves you sloppy and tired at the end.
How to avoid it: Pace yourself. Treat creative work like a workout—short, focused sessions beat one frantic all-nighter. Tools like Pomodoro timers or blocked-off “deep work” hours help maintain energy.

Pitfall 3: Losing the Thread

Why it matters: Without a compass, your project drifts off course and loses clarity.
How to avoid it: Anchor to the brief. Choose 3–5 keywords that capture the project’s essence (tone, audience, purpose) and keep them visible. Before you deliver, ask: Does this align?

Pitfall 4: Client Misalignment

Why it matters: If you and the client aren’t checking in, small misunderstandings snowball into big rewrites.
How to avoid it: Build in regular checkpoints. Map out when you’ll deliver updates and what you’ll show. This creates alignment and keeps the client engaged without micromanaging.

Pitfall 5: Chaotic Systems

Why it matters: Losing files or missing deadlines damages trust faster than anything else.
How to avoid it: Use consistent file naming, automated backups, and a clear deliverables timeline. Even a simple shared calendar makes a world of difference.

The Takeaway

If you can deliver short, punchy work, you can also succeed at long-form projects—it just takes a little more structure and strategy. With pacing, systems, and client communication, long projects stop being overwhelming monsters and become opportunities to create something deep, polished, and lasting.

So if that big project comes your way? Don’t be afraid to take it on.
You’re more ready than you think.

And if you like mixing creative freelance tips with a dose of fitness, check out my podcast Freelance Fitness!

Having Standards: Why Your Integrity Shows Clients They Can Rely On You

September 3, 2025 by AlisonP Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago, I was working out and started thinking about integrity. Strange combination? Maybe. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense: integrity is to a creative freelancer’s business what core strength is to exercise. Invisible at first glance, but essential to stability.

When you’re a freelancer—whether in voice-over, copywriting, design, or video production—no one’s looking over your shoulder to check your work. There’s no manager to double-check your deadlines or ensure you’ve done proper quality control. It’s tempting to slack when there’s no external accountability.

But what happens when you start phoning it in? Rushing through projects? Copy-pasting old work instead of delivering something fresh? Cutting corners because “the client won’t notice”?

That’s where integrity comes in.

What Integrity Really Means in Freelancing

Integrity is simple to define but harder to live out. It’s:

Doing what you said you’d do.
Delivering consistent quality.
Being transparent when something goes wrong.

In freelance life, it’s tempting to say yes to everything. After all, more projects mean more income, right? But when we overcommit—bit off more than we can chew, get sick, or face equipment delays—it’s easy to rationalize rushing the job. The client may never know.

But integrity isn’t just about the deliverables. It’s about the trust, and reliability that form the foundation of every client relationship.

When freelancers act with integrity, clients feel safe, respected, and understood. That builds long-term trust.
When integrity is missing? Missed deadlines, broken trust, damaged reputation—and no repeat work.

Trust is the currency of freelancing. Integrity is how we earn it.

A Voice-Over Example: Pickups and Integrity

Here’s an example from my own work as a voice actor.

Let’s say a client sends me a pickup request—“just a couple of words” to be re-recorded because of a last-minute script update. Easy, right?

Except, I know it’s not that simple. To make it sound seamless, I often need to re-record the entire phrase, sometimes multiple takes, matching intonation, volume, speed, and emotional tone perfectly so it blends into the original recording. I also need to ensure my studio setup is identical to the original session—mic placement, preamp settings, recording levels.

Could I do less? Absolutely. Especially if there’s a music bed underneath that might mask the difference. But I know the audio engineer or producer will hear the mismatch. And I don’t want to give them extra work fixing something I could have done right.

For me, integrity means giving clients something they don’t have to fix. Something that’s one less worry on their overflowing plate.

How to Stay Aligned With Integrity

So how do we make sure our work stays up to our highest standards—whether the client notices or not?

Here are a few strategies I live by:

Manage time and energy like training for a run. Don’t sprint at the start only to crawl at the finish line. Pace yourself with realistic deadlines.
Promise late, deliver early. Clients may want everything tomorrow, but many don’t need it that fast. Give yourself flexibility. And if you can deliver it sooner, you look like a hero!
Be transparent when life happens. Sick kids, rescheduled meetings, or even your own flu aren’t the conditions for your best work. Ask for extensions when you need them.
Know your limits. Say no when you can’t realistically deliver. Expanding your skillset is great, but give yourself margin as you learn.

It’s not about being flashy. It’s about being consistent.

Why It Matters

At the end of the day, only you know if you gave it your all or just coasted. Clients may only see the polished final result, but they’ll feel the difference in how you communicate and in the consistency of the work you deliver.

Integrity is the quiet force that builds lasting client relationships—the kind that generate repeat work, referrals, and a solid reputation in industries like e-learning, explainer narration, commercial, animation, dubbing and beyond.

And just like strengthening your core muscles, building integrity takes daily practice. Small, consistent actions compound over time.

That’s how you sustain your freelance business—not just for the next project, but for the long run.

What about you? How do you make sure your work reflects your integrity—even when no one’s watching?

Reach out to me to talk about your next voice over project, listen to my podcast Freelance Fitness or follow me for creative freelance tips and musings.

ALISON PENTECOST