Episode 9: Why I Stalled for Weeks (And the Science Behind Why Actors Procrastinate)

Ever wonder why you can consume endless courses and workshops but still feel stuck in your voice acting career? The brutal truth is that most voice actors are addicted to learning but allergic to implementing.

In this episode of "Conversational with Carrie Olsen," I explore the psychology behind why we procrastinate on the very things that would move our careers forward and why implementation beats information every single time. You'll discover how to break the learning-without-doing cycle while staying authentic to who you are.

Episode Highlights:

• The Real Reason Behind Procrastination - It's not about time management - it's emotion management, and creative professionals struggle 23% more than others (04:09)
• Why Learning Feels Safer Than Doing - Information consumption gives the illusion of progress without the vulnerability of actual change (05:13)
• The Perfectionism Trap - How fear of judgment actually decreases performance and shuts down creative flow (06:14)
• Implementation Intentions Framework - The "if-then" planning method that makes you 300% more likely to achieve your goals (09:39)
• Fresh Start Effect - How to hack your motivation by treating each new project as a temporal landmark for improvement (10:02)

3 Key Takeaways

1. Define Your Clear Purpose Before You Start

When you lose sight of why you're doing something, you lose motivation to implement. Being results-focused isn't a flaw - it's a strength when channeled correctly. Before tackling any implementation, get crystal clear on the specific result you want and make that result bigger than your fear of failure.

2. Use Systematic Implementation Over Random Action

Moving from random practice to systematic implementation frees up mental energy for creative choices. This means trusting "yesterday you" who made the plan and following through as "today you," even when your mood or motivation shifts. Consistent systems actually make voice actors more spontaneous, not less.

3. Document The Process, Not Just The Successes

The messy middle parts - the stalling, forgetting, and course-correcting - are where real growth happens. When others can see your implementation journey, you're 67% more likely to follow through because social accountability creates natural motivation.

My Perspective

I stalled for three weeks before recording this episode because I lost sight of the podcast's purpose. My brain is wired to need clear results, which has helped me build my career but sometimes makes it hard to enjoy the process. I'm learning to appreciate the process for its own sake while still honoring my results-focused nature in my voice acting work.

What's Coming Next..

Next week, I sit down with voice actor Sion Dayson to explore her remarkable journey from ESL teacher in Spain to full-time voice actor. We'll dive into how a single question from a sound engineer sparked an instant career pivot, her strategic approach to going "all in" during COVID lockdown, and why she chose to embrace her authentic voice rather than polish away her natural speaking patterns when faced with criticism.

Action Step: The One Thing Implementation Challenge

Pick one thing you already know works but aren't doing consistently. Not the newest strategy or latest trend, but something you know helps you that you're avoiding. Give yourself a realistic timeline (2 days to 1 week) and document the process - both successes and setbacks.

Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Tim Pychyl's research on procrastination at Carleton University
• Dr. Brené Brown's research on perfectionism
• Shane Melaugh's "Focus and Action" course (90 Heroic Minutes method)
• Voiceover Success Intensive community

Connect With Me

• Follow me on Instagram @carrieolsenvo
• Text VOICE to 55444 for my free resources
• Leave me a voice message to let me know what you thought of the episode 

Subscribe & Review

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Thanks for tuning in to Conversational with Carrie Olsen! See you next week!