ALISON PENTECOST

514-290-2101
VoiceTalent@alisonpentecost.com

freelance business momentum strategies

When the Answer Is No: Rejection, Resilience, and Staying in Motion

by Leave a Comment

Rejection Is Part of the Job (And It Still Sucks)

Today’s business topic is rejection. (Sad trombone. Wah, wah.)
And yes — we’ve all been there.

You bid on it.
You auditioned for it.
You wrote the spec script.
You built the rough cut, the demo, the animation, the proposal…

And you didn’t land the gig.

Maybe you got a reply. A polite “we went another direction.”
Or maybe you got nothing at all. No response. No feedback. Just silence — which, if you work in voiceover, is pretty much the default.

And even when you know rejection is part of the business, it still hits.
Sometimes harder than you expect.

Because creative freelancing makes rejection feel personal — even when it isn’t.

Your work comes from you:
Your taste.
Your voice.
Your judgment.

So when someone passes, it’s easy for the story in your head to spiral into:
“I’m not good enough.”
“I don’t have what they’re looking for.”
“Everyone else has figured something out that I haven’t.”

Let’s pause that spiral for a moment.

Most rejection isn’t a verdict on your talent.
It’s about fit.
Timing.
Budget.
Internal constraints you’ll never see.

Most decisions are made with incomplete information — and you’re often not in the room when the final call happens.

Why Rejection Messes With Our Confidence

One of the trickiest parts of rejection is knowing how to respond to feedback — or the absence of it.

Some freelancers respond by rejecting all feedback outright:
Getting defensive.
Feeling bitter about the client.
Burning the bridge internally.

Others go in the opposite direction — letting outside validation be the only measure of success:
If they’re chosen, they’re worthy.
If they’re not, they’re failing.

Neither extreme is sustainable.

The real skill here is discernment:
Learning how to extract what’s useful,
discard what isn’t,
and keep your sense of self intact.

Sometimes rejection rattles us not because we did anything wrong — but because it pokes at old doubts we’ve been carrying for a long time.

That’s why having people you trust matters.
People you can vent to.
Say the messy thoughts out loud.
Get them out of your system.

Because once the emotion moves through, you can refocus on what’s actually in your control.

And this is an important reframe:

Sometimes rejection isn’t about your talent —
it’s about how clearly your value came through.

How to Use Rejection Without Letting It Break You

This is where accountability meets compassion.

Looking at your bid, proposal, or submission with fresh eyes can be incredibly powerful.

Ask yourself honestly:

  • Did I clearly explain why I’m a good fit for this project?
  • Am I assuming the client understands my process?
  • Did I rush this because I was tired, busy, or discouraged?

You might not be putting your best foot forward — and not even realize it.

That doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job.
It means you’re human.

This is where a second set of eyes helps:

  • A trusted colleague
  • A mentor
  • A peer who understands your industry

Not someone who will tear your work apart —
but someone who can say,
“This part isn’t landing the way you think it is,”
or,
“You’re underselling yourself here,”
or,
“I don’t think you captured their vision.”

Fresh eyes can provide the much-needed outside perspective on how you’re communicating your value.

Another piece of the puzzle is education, especially when you’re bidding.

Not every part of your process needs to be visible.
But sometimes clarity works in your favour.

Spelling out:

  • What goes into the work
  • Why the cost is what it is
  • What problem you’re actually solving

That’s not over-explaining.
That’s positioning.

You’re not begging to be chosen.
You’re showing how you add value.

Over time, the goal is to spend less energy chasing — and more energy attracting.

Clear messaging.
Confident positioning.
Boundaries around what you offer.

The right clients feel easier because they already get it.

So when the “no” shows up — or the silence — ask yourself:

  • What can I refine without abandoning myself?
  • What stays non-negotiable?
  • What’s worth adjusting next time?

Rejection doesn’t mean stop.
It means recalibrate.
Clarify.
And keep moving.

Same body.
Different posture.

Same skills.
Different attitude.

We’re not trying to eliminate rejection.
We’re trying to make it survivable.
Useful.
And less personal.

Because freelancing can feel like applying to your own job over and over again — like you constantly have something to prove.

But you don’t.

Whether the client swipes right or swipes left,
you are still talented, capable, and valuable.

Never forget that.

This article is based on an episode of my Freelance Fitness podcast, where I combine short workouts with honest conversations about building a sustainable creative freelance business. If you work in video production, audio production, or any creative field and want business advice without hustle culture nonsense, you’re in the right place.

Accountability for Creative Freelancers: How to Stay Consistent Without a Boss

by Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost, Bilingual Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

Accountability Without a Manager Looking Over Your Shoulder

All right—what’s on your agenda today?
For the week?

Are you checking things off your to-do list…
or does it feel like the pile of tasks just keeps rolling over and growing, like a cartoon snowball heading downhill?

This is one of the core challenges of creative freelancing.

Having business goals is one thing.
Making a plan is another.
And actually executing that plan? That’s a whole different skill set.

When we miss a mark or a milestone, it’s easy to spiral:

  • We beat ourselves up
  • We question our discipline
  • We quietly avoid the task altogether

So the real question becomes:
How do we hold ourselves accountable in our creative business—without using shame as the motivator?

Before trying to “fix” anything, it helps to pause and ask why things feel stuck—and what, if anything, is actually within your control to shift.

And here’s something I want to name right away:

You’re already being accountable.

You pressed play.
You showed up.
You made time.

That counts.

Accountability in fitness is straightforward: if you want results, you show up and do the work. And you already understand this instinctively—because you live it every day as a freelancer.

You:

  • Show up for your clients
  • Deliver on time
  • Respect budgets
  • Problem-solve
  • Follow through

But what about your business?

Not client work.
Your business.

Where’s that business plan?

If your reaction to that question is a mix of guilt and avoidance—you’re not alone.

Why Accountability Feels Hard (Even When You Care)

Let’s say you do find that plan. You dust it off. You read it with fresh eyes.

You notice things like:

  • How many cold outreaches you planned per week
  • How much time you wanted to spend training, learning, or improving your craft

And then you ask yourself honestly:
Am I doing these things?

If the answer is no, that’s not a moral failure.
It’s information.

Often the issue isn’t a lack of motivation—it’s unrealistic goal-setting.

We stack stretch goal on top of stretch goal and then act surprised when we feel behind all the time.

Here’s the reframe:

  • Attainable goals keep you moving
  • Stretch goals keep you growing
  • You need both

But if everything on your list feels heavy and overwhelming, something needs adjusting.

Lowering the bar isn’t giving up.
It’s choosing sustainability.

And accountability doesn’t exist in a vacuum. There are real obstacles that get in the way of doing the things we knowmatter:

  • Fatigue – creative work is mentally demanding; decision fatigue is real
  • Overwhelm – when everything feels important, nothing feels doable
  • Perfectionism – if you can’t do it “properly,” you don’t do it at all
  • Fear – of rejection, of wasting time, of doing the wrong thing
  • Lack of external structure – because no one is checking in on you

Understanding these obstacles is necessary—but they can’t become permanent excuses.

Empathy doesn’t mean letting yourself off the hook forever.

Practical Accountability That Actually Works

So how do we work with these obstacles instead of pretending they don’t exist?

Start here:

  • Break tasks down until they feel almost too easy
  • Set reminders instead of relying on motivation
  • Decide in advance when and how you’ll work on your business
  • Share goals with someone who will actually ask you about them

You don’t need more motivation.
You need better systems.

And then there’s procrastination.

Sometimes the task is in your plan.
You know it’s important.
You know it supports long-term growth.

And still… you avoid it.

That doesn’t make you lazy.
It usually means the task feels uncomfortable, uncertain, or emotionally loaded.

But here’s the truth we don’t always want to hear:
If you keep putting it off, it doesn’t get easier.
It just stays undone.

At some point, accountability means doing the thing even while you’d rather not.
Not all at once.
Not perfectly.
Just enough to move it forward.

That’s how accountability works in business.

We all have strengths we lean on—the parts that feel competent and familiar. And then there are blind spots: the skills we avoid, the habits we don’t love examining.

Those areas don’t get stronger if we keep ignoring them.

  • Awareness is step one
  • Consistent, imperfect effort is step two

And finally, let’s normalize this:

Bad days happen.

Days where things go sideways and you don’t even know why.
Days with no lesson, no insight, no neat takeaway.

It wasn’t your intention.
It wasn’t your fault.
And it doesn’t mean you’re doing everything wrong.

Some days, accountability looks like getting through, shutting things down, and trying again tomorrow.

That still counts.

You’re already accountable in more ways than you give yourself credit for.
You show up.
You deliver.
You care.

The next step is applying that same care and consistency to yourself—not just your clients.

Identify where you’re compensating.
Notice what you’ve been avoiding.
And commit to working on it in a way that’s realistic, kind, and sustainable.

Because the goals you set for yourself matter too.

This article is based on an episode of my Freelance Fitness podcast, where I combine short workouts with honest conversations about building a sustainable creative freelance business. If you work in video production, audio production, or any creative field and want business advice without hustle culture nonsense, you’re in the right place.

The Scarcity Thinking Trap: Creative Freelancing Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

by Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost — Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

f you’re a creative freelancer—whether you work in video production, audio production, design, animation, marketing, or voiceover—you’ve probably felt it at some point.

That quiet, nagging belief that opportunities are limited.
That if someone else gets the job, lands the client, or receives recognition… there must be less left for you.

This mindset has a name: scarcity thinking.
And while it’s incredibly common in creative freelancing, it’s also deeply misleading.

What Is Scarcity Thinking in Creative Freelancing?

Scarcity thinking is the belief that creative work exists in limited supply—and that success is something you have to compete for.

It shows up as:

  • Constant comparison with other creatives
  • Second-guessing your work or your pricing
  • Wondering if you’re “too late,” “not good enough,” or missing some secret formula
  • Feeling like there’s a small group of people who get chosen while everyone else is stuck knocking on a locked door

Scarcity thinking is learned.

It often grows out of:

  • Inconsistent freelance income
  • Quiet seasons between projects
  • Watching other creatives appear to “blow up overnight” while you’re still putting in steady work

Over time, it can start to feel like there’s a hidden system behind the scenes deciding who succeeds.

But here’s the truth—whether it feels comforting or uncomfortable to hear it:

Creative freelancing doesn’t actually work like that.

There is no gatekeeper council.
No secret cabal.
No hidden list deciding who gets to succeed and who doesn’t.

The reality is far messier—and far more open—than scarcity thinking would have you believe.

Why Scarcity Thinking Holds Creative Freelancers Back

Scarcity thinking quietly shapes how you show up in your business.

It makes creative industries feel like ladders—when in reality, they’re ecosystems.

There isn’t one correct path.
There isn’t a single definition of success.

Yes, trends exist.
Certain visual styles, formats, sounds, and platforms rise in popularity—especially in marketing and advertising, video and audio production.

But trends always shift.

When you chase them out of fear instead of curiosity, a few things tend to happen:

  • You do work you don’t even enjoy
  • You start to sound or look like everyone else
  • You jump on bandwagons out of desperation instead of strategy

Scarcity thinking shrinks your decisions. It leads to:

  • Underpricing because you’re afraid to lose the job
  • Overworking because you feel replaceable
  • Saying yes to projects that drain you
  • Copying others instead of trusting your own voice

And one of the biggest costs?

Comparison.

When you’re busy monitoring what everyone else is doing, you stop experimenting—and experimentation is where real creative growth happens.

Scarcity thinking doesn’t protect you.
It doesn’t make your business safer.

It just keeps you small.

A More Sustainable Way to Build a Creative Freelance Business

So if scarcity thinking isn’t serving you—what replaces it?

Not blind optimism.
Not magical thinking.
And not pretending everything “just works out.”

What replaces it is abundance thinking with grounded action.

Abundance thinking means trusting that:

  • There is room for many creative styles
  • Creative work isn’t about being “the best,” but being right for a specific moment, client, or need
  • Your job isn’t to replace someone else—it’s to show up clearly as you

Authenticity is a business strategy.

You can sustain being yourself.
You cannot sustain pretending.

The clearer you are about what you do—and how you do it—the easier it is for the right clients to find you.
Authenticity creates clarity.
Clarity attracts alignment.

In practice, this looks like:

  • Coming back to your own lane when comparison creeps in
  • Supporting peers without erasing yourself
  • Sharing your work even when it feels imperfect
  • Building relationships instead of guarding ideas like scarce resources

You didn’t choose creative freelancing to blend in.
You chose it to express something specific.

There is no race to win.
There is only a direction to keep moving in.

Keep moving.
Keep creating.

There is room for you—
exactly as you are.

This article is based on an episode of my Freelance Fitness podcast, where I combine short workouts with honest conversations about building a sustainable creative freelance business. If you work in video production, audio production, or any creative field and want business advice without hustle culture nonsense, you’re in the right place.

Day One Energy: A New Year Reset for Body & Business

by Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost — Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

A Reset Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Starting Over

Today, I want to talk about new beginnings.
Or better yet—resets.

You don’t need to burn everything down and start from scratch to feel nerves, doubt, or uncertainty. You can feel all of that even when you’re experienced, but still evolving. Even when you’re working. Even when things are technically “going well.”

I feel it too.
New year. New plans.
Branching out in my voiceover business.
Closing doors on things that weren’t working. (Hello, doubt!)
Stepping into new areas. (Hello, terror!)

Waiting, stalling, or staying comfortable doesn’t grow a freelance business—especially not a creative business like voiceover. So instead, I’ve had to learn how to move forward with the nerves. Adapt. Pivot. Reassess. Keep going.

If you’re feeling nervous—or honestly scared—about a new direction in your freelance career, welcome. That reaction is normal. Healthy, even.

So, what if today wasn’t just another workday, another audition, another January resolution?

What if this was Day One?

This day.
This action.
This feeling in your body right now.

You know what we forget as adults?

You’re allowed to be bad at the beginning.

But Being Bad Is Embarrassing!

Let’s be honest with ourselves.

Your first voiceover auditions? Probably rough.
Your first demos, edits, marketing emails, reels, websites? Clunky.
Your first attempts at anything new in your creative career? Awkward.

There might be flashes of brilliance—little diamonds in the rough—but mostly, it’s messy.

And you know what? That’s great news.

Because if everyone sucks at the beginning, the pressure is off. You don’t need to wait until you feel ready. You just need to begin. And beginning is the only way anything ever improves.

Here’s another truth that applies directly to running a sustainable creative business:

When things start to feel automatic—when you could sleepwalk through your reels, your reads, your designs—that’s usually your cue to switch things up.

Because when you’re phoning it in:

  • Is that really your best work?
  • Is that what your clients deserve?
  • Is that why you chose freelance voice acting in the first place?

Those butterflies you feel before a job?
Before a workout?
Before trying something new?

They’re not a problem.
They’re a signal.

They mean you care.
They mean you’re challenged—not bored.
They mean you’re alive in the process.

But this is also where shame tends to creep in.

All the “I shoulds”:

  • I should be further along.
  • I should be more confident.
  • I should have launched already.

Here’s a small shift that changes everything:

Replace “I should” with “I would prefer.”

I would prefer to be more consistent.
I would prefer to feel more confident.
I would prefer to move forward.

That’s very different from tearing yourself down for not being somewhere you’ve never been before.

I had to learn this lesson the hard way when I launched Freelance Fitness. I had a plan. A timeline. A neat little deadline that made perfect sense—until real life showed up.

Work. Family. Learning curves I didn’t anticipate.
I missed my own deadline and felt ashamed… even though I had never launched a podcast before.

Would I talk to a friend—or one of my kids—that way while they were learning something new?

Never.

As adults, we forget how learning works. Kids fall, wobble, look silly, and keep going. Adults worry about being watched.

Hate to break it to you, but most people aren’t watching.
Most people are too busy with their own stuff.

So forget about it.

Growth requires failure.
Creativity requires courage.
And laughter helps more than shame ever will.

A Practical Reset for Your Business

So what do we do with this reset—especially as freelance creatives trying to build something sustainable?

First: manage your expectations.

Freelance life isn’t a salaried job. No one covers your tasks if you don’t finish them. Your energy is limited. You’re one human.

Starting a freelance business is a lot like having a newborn:

  • If the essentials are handled, the day counts as a win.
  • Some days, you’re polished and client-facing.
  • Some days, you’re in pyjama pants eating cereal over the sink.

Both days are valid. Both move the business forward.

Yes, you need a plan.
Yes, you need checklists.
But you also need wiggle room.

Course corrections aren’t failures. They’re part of the process.

So here’s your New Year reset, simplified:

  • Treat today like Day One, not a test.
  • Let yourself be bad while you learn.
  • Switch things up when you feel stale.
  • Welcome the butterflies.
  • Speak to yourself like someone you love.
  • Keep moving forward—even if it’s slower than you planned.

You don’t need a perfect start.

You just need an honest one.

Strong Body, Strong Vision, Strong Business: Making a Business Plan

by Leave a Comment

By Alison Pentecost, Bilingual Voice Actor & Host of Freelance Fitness

Why Creative Freelancers Need a Business Plan (Yes, Even You)

Alright, let’s get focused.
New year, new strength, new clarity.

In the latest episode of Freelance Fitness, the workout is built around effort and intention — and your business goals need that same energy.

You probably have goals for this year.
Maybe they’re crystal clear. Maybe they’re still a little fuzzy.

But even with grit, motivation, and talent — and if you’re here, you have all three — goals don’t magically turn into results on their own.

They need a plan.

Not a 40-page corporate document.
Not something rigid that boxes you in.

A clear, flexible business plan that outlines:

  • where you’re going
  • how you’ll know if it’s working
  • and what doesn’t belong on the path

I avoided this for years. I tried winging it. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes… not so much. And the inconsistency was exhausting.

Life has no guarantees — only risks worth taking. You can’t control outcomes, but you can control your focus, your effort, and how often you reassess your direction.

Success isn’t about following the algorithm or copying someone else’s strategy.
It’s about defining what “enough” looks like for you — and building toward that on purpose.

The Hidden Cost of Distractions (a.k.a. Energy Leaks)

When we talk about focus, most people think distractions = phones, notifications, endless scrolling.

But for creative freelancers — especially voiceover artists — distractions are often sneakier.

They look like:

  • Projects that don’t align with your long-term goals
  • Clients who drain more energy than they’re worth
  • Marketing tactics you “should” do but secretly hate
  • Busywork that feels productive but moves nothing forward
  • Tweaking your logo instead of sending auditions or pitches
  • Constantly comparing yourself to other creatives

All of the above?
Yeah. Been there, done that. More than once.

Here’s the rule of thumb I come back to again and again:

If something doesn’t move you toward your goal —
or support your well-being so you can reach your goal —
it’s a distraction.

Your energy is a limited resource.
Where you spend it matters.

Focused creatives deliver better work. Clear systems create better collaborations. A sustainable business benefits everyone involved.

How to Build a Simple, Effective Business Plan

This is where most people overcomplicate things — so let’s not.

A business plan for a creative freelancer should be simple, actionable, and aligned with real life. A few pages. Not a thesis.

Here’s a practical framework you can actually use.

1. Your Vision

Ask yourself:

  • What do I want my work life to feel like?
  • What kinds of projects light me up?
  • Who do I genuinely want to work with?

This is especially important in voiceover, where burnout can sneak in fast if you say yes to everything.

2. Your Offer

Be clear:

  • What do you actually sell?
  • What problem do you solve for the client?
  • What’s the value or transformation they get?

3. Your Market & Positioning

  • Who needs your work the most?
  • How do you stand out naturally — without forcing a niche that doesn’t fit?
  • Where do your best clients spend their time?

4. Your Numbers

Nothing fancy — just honest:

  • Income targets
  • Baseline expenses
  • Booking rate or project volume needed
  • Time capacity

Simple metrics you can check monthly beat perfect projections you never revisit.

5. Your Systems

Write down:

  • How people find you
  • How you onboard clients
  • How you deliver
  • How you follow up

Even a bare-bones version of these five sections gives you more clarity than most freelancers ever take the time to get — which gives you an edge.

And remember:

  • You can adapt the plan
  • You can rewrite the plan
  • You can throw parts of it out if they stop serving you

The goal isn’t rigidity.
It’s direction.

Your Next Steps (Keep It Simple, Silly!)

  1. Picture your goal clearly — and put it somewhere you’ll see it.
  2. Identify one distraction you can eliminate this week. Just one.
  3. Sketch a one-page business plan using the five sections above.
  4. Track what you actually do (real behaviour > ideal behaviour).
  5. Adjust with curiosity, not shame.

This is your path — not anyone else’s.

You’re allowed to want great things.
You’re allowed to take up space.
You’re allowed to build a business — and a body — you’re proud of.

Let’s train with purpose.
Let’s work with intention.
Let’s make this our most focused and productive year yet.

Disappointment: When the Business Plan Doesn’t Go As Planned

by Leave a Comment

Who knew? The Creative Career Doesn’t Always Match the Plan

Every freelance creative professional eventually bumps into the same wall: disappointment.

You can be doing everything “right” — marketing consistently, sending auditions, nurturing clients, improving your demos, updating your portfolio, refining your outreach — and still… the week, the month, or the quarter doesn’t deliver.

I’ve felt the sting.
Like the time I was shortlisted for several “almost guaranteed” voiceover jobs… and lost every single one in the same week. One after the other.

You know you shouldn’t count your chickens before the contract is signed — but you still get hopeful, because you’re human. You get excited. You mentally rearrange your schedule. You start imagining what that booking or project means for your momentum.

And when it evaporates?
It feels like the air’s been let out of your tires.

If that’s you today, hear this clearly:
You’re not naïve. You’re not failing. You’re just human — and you’re definitely not alone.

Disappointment Isn’t Failure — It’s Data

The emotional rollercoaster is baked into the creative freelance profession.
Voice actors, designers, writers, photographers, editors — we all operate in industries where beautifully executed work can still flop. Outcomes don’t always match effort. It’s not a moral judgment; it’s just reality.

We would never tell a kid learning to skate or ride a bike that they “failed” when they fall. We tell them it’s part of the process.
So why do we talk to ourselves so harshly?

It’s a paradox we all live in:
We crave originality, novelty, boldness… but we punish ourselves when things don’t land.
We want to stand out… but standing out sometimes means a very public faceplant.
We want growth… but growth requires attempts that don’t always succeed.

Disappointment isn’t the end.
It’s data — about what mattered to you, where your hopes were invested, and what you’re stretching toward next.

How Freelancers Get Back in the Game

Here are practical, mindset-friendly, business-friendly steps to recalibrate when things don’t go as planned.

1. Remind Yourself You Have Agency

Just like twisting that gain knob, choose the variation that works for you.

  • Adjust your marketing strategy.
  • Refresh your demos or portfolio.
  • Try new audition styles or formats.
  • Reconnect with clients.
  • Post something honest about your disappointment — you’ll be surprised how many freelancers show up saying “me too.”

Agency is a muscle. Use it.

2. Separate Feelings From Facts

Your feelings are real and valid — but they aren’t the whole story.

Ask yourself:

  • Why about this disappointment is hitting me so hard?
  • What am I afraid will happen (or won’t happen) as a result of this project falling through?
  • What might just be timing?
  • What’s actually in my control, and what isn’t?

That clarity alone can lower the emotional temperature by half.

3. Aim for Small Wins to Rebuild Momentum

If you’re in a slump, go for the low-hanging fruit:

  • Sort your paperwork
  • Clean your equipment or booth
  • Tidy your files
  • Do a low-stakes creative warm-up. Write, draw, sing, record something just for you.

Momentum doesn’t return through willpower alone — it returns through small actions.

4. Build Emotional Resilience Tools

They’re useful in your business and in your personal life.

  • Feel discouraged, but don’t camp there.
  • Remind yourself how many times you’ve bounced back.
  • Anchor yourself in the long game — not the single gig that fell through.

Resilience is a competitive advantage in creative work.

5. Celebrate What Makes Freelancing Powerful

When things go sideways, you’re still the one steering the ship.
No boss. No approval committee.

You choose how to adapt, evolve, pivot, or experiment.
That kind of autonomy is rare — and worth protecting.

Bad weeks, slow months, or “meh” client relationships don’t define you.
They’re simply one chapter in a much bigger story.

That’s also what I’m covering this week in the Freelance Fitness podcast, so if you like music, movement, and exercise tips along with your business bites, go check it out here.

©2026 Alison Pentecost // Voice Over Site by Voice Actor Websites

514-290-2101
VoiceTalent@alisonpentecost.com