We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Khristine Hvam. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Khristine below.
Hi Khristine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
When most of us hear the phrase “taking a risk” it conjures up all sorts of feelings. Fear, excitement, nervousness, joy, terror. I’m sure you could add a few more of your own. My story of taking a risk is continuous and never ending because I took a risk on me. Or as I say, I bet on myself. Throughout my early life I dreamed of a larger than life kind of life. Stardom, fame, fortune. But, I was too afraid to go after it and so I squandered years of my life doing not much more than dreaming and complaining and wishing. I was working the typical dead end job, living in dead end relationships, and was struggling with how to change it. I was looking to everyone else in my life for answers, and I hated all the answers coming my way. “Pick something and stick with it, Just be a secretary, What about teaching?” I realized that the people that I was surrounding myself with had NO IDEA who I was. How could they possibly think that these were possibilities for me? Didn’t they know who I was? And the answer was yes, they did. Because I was showing the world around me that I was lost, directionless, unfocused and confused. So, of course, the advice they came to me reflected that. It was in that moment that I realized I needed to start BEING the person I wanted to be and stop TALKING about what I wanted to be. I needed to take action. A first step. A risk. So, I quit the dead end jobs, the relationships, and took a chance on myself. Trusting that I had all I needed to become a successful full time artist. It was time to stop dreaming and start being. It was scary, and exciting, nerve wracking, fun, and terrifying and sometimes I was hungry. It still is. I continue to take a chance on my own abilities to create the life I want to live. And when I’m feeling dissatisfied, restless, or stuck, I remember that the only risk worth taking is the one on myself. And then I leap. And trust.
Khristine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Khristine Hvam. Creator and wearer of many creative hats. Here are some of the things I’m doing these days.
I am co-founder of Curated Audio LLC. We are a full service audiobook production company serving major publishers, small press and independent authors. Quality and excellence are at the core of what we produce.
I am a voice actor and audiobook narrator.
I am a director of audiobooks, guiding and supporting talent through their performances.
I am a producer of large scale multi cast children’s audiobook programming.
I am an audiobook narrat and voice over coach. I strive to be the coach and mentor I never had. I guide my students through a personalized curriculum to help them achieve their personal performance goals.
I am a workshop creator. I built a workshop centered around PLAY. Helping adults achieve more satisfaction in their lives through the art of play.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I chose this question because I think its the easiest one to answer. LOL. If you want to support creatives go see their live work, download their creations, buy their work, review their work on social media, chat with others about the work and tell your creative friends and family how proud you are of them. This creative stuff can be pretty lonely and scary. So ya know, a pat on the back from time to time feels really great. And for me personally, lets grab a coffee. Boy do I love that!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Mentors. I wish I had known about mentors. Better than that I wish I had known where to find one. Having someone who’s even just one step ahead of you in the process can be a game changer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hvamaudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvamaudio/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khristine.hvamkies
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khristine-hvam-4106ab4/
- Other: https://curatedaudio.net/
Image Credits
HMcGuirePhoto