We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cam Cornelius a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cam, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I think that desire is in us since childhood. As kids, many people pretend to do what they eventually become. Many bankers have always loved numbers. Many in law enforcement used to pretend to be police. Mr. Rogers said it best when he identified (to paraphrase) play as the work of childhood. When it comes to the creative arts, I was fortunate enough to have a supportive family and as a kid… I loved acting, singing, funny voices, video production, etc. I followed that path through adulthood… working in radio, television, video production, and on camera / voice acting.

Many children who love the creative arts, however, are discouraged from making it a career. They grow up to do something that isn’t related to what they loved doing as a child. They end up not enjoying their job, stuck on a path they were never meant for. I see so many people who go on to have a successful second career as a creative because they can “now afford to do what they love.”

I always ask people what they loved to do as a child and most of the time what they answer is what they should be doing as an adult. That passion never leaves.

As kids, one thing we always do (because we have to) is look up. Everything is taller and bigger than us. We are always looking up and dreaming. As we grow, the need to look up becomes less an less as we grow into the system…we are now as tall as everyone else and everything is at eye level. I say if you looked up as a kid, continue to look up as an adult. Continue to dream. If you don’t, you are cutting yourself off from the creativity you enjoyed as a child.

Cam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My parents were singer/songwriters and producers. My mom wrote songs for several well-known artists such as Tom Jones. My dad produced artists such as Sawyer Brown, Johnny Paycheck, and Alan Jackson. I was surrounded by creativity. In elementary school, I met my friend Kyle who was big into cameras and video production and I caught the behind the camera bug as well as the acting/singing bug I already had.

I continued to follow that path and became an air personality on several radio stations (I started voice acting during this time as well), followed by becoming an investigative photojournalist in TV News, then a Director of Photography doing music videos and eventually working as DP for radio host Dave Ramsey. While working at Ramsey, Producer Joe Loesch called me up to let me know that they were releasing a project I had recorded 12 years prior and that they missed a page, lol. He wanted to know if I could come in and match my voice from 12 years ago. I did, it went well, and I fell in love with voiceover all over again.

I was a full time DP at Dave Ramsey and then also started doing voice work regularly again. It got to the point where I could not do both full time, so a few years ago I decided to focus everything on voiceover.

I have been blessed to voice work with such clients as Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s, The CW, Crayola, The Food Network, and Dollywood to name a few. I also do radio imaging and voice several radio stations in the US. Call my manager HOSS if you need a radio imaging voice! :-)

I’m most proud of the work that helps people. I was blessed to be the Crimson Commander in “Captain Fusion and the Protectors,” a VR Game for children with hemophilia to play while they are having their infusions. It helps give them joy and take their mind off of the pain. Projects like that are what I love the most.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Good to Great by Jim Collins is an amazing study of long term results over short term thinking/gain.

Start With Why by Simon Sinek helped me realize that any business in nothing without a purpose.

The Legend Of The Monk And The Merchant by Terry Felber outlines some key principle for success.

QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller has helped with taking personal responsibility and “just getting it done.”

The Little Black Book of VO by Liz Atherton my former agent and founder of CastVoices. This little book of “Lizdom” is free and full of motivation and encouragement for any voice actor.
https://publuu.com/flip-book/187064/457105

Anything my wife, Leian, says :-)

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Helping others and making the world a better place. I know, it sounds like a Miss America answer, but I truly believe that when we give, the world is made better for everyone. A person who thinks only about themselves is missing out on what life is really about. Life is not easy, but when we help each other, something joyful happens.

Helping others is the whole reason my friend (and film director) Jason Crossman and I started The Entertainment Dudes Show. Our video podcast seeks to pass on valuable information and life experience to both established creatives and those just starting out. At the core of it all, we never forget to have fun while learning. It amazes me that no matter the guest (well known or behind the scenes) that they are always willing to share their secrets to success. I believe that is because we all had someone to help us in the beginning and we never forget the impact that person had on our lives and success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.VoiceOverDude.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/videocam
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVoiceOverDude
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/camcornelius
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VideOcam
• Other: IMDB – http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1479288/ My Podcast with Jason Crossman: http://www.EntertainmentDudes.com

Image Credits
Cam Cornelius