Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jen Greenfield. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Risk by definition means “to take a chance on”. I think most of of us were risk takers as children… you know, before logic and executive function fully kicked in. lol For example, taking the training wheels off your bike and going for it on two wheels. Maybe with sweaty palms and a guilty conscience attempting to cheat on a test. Or that time you summoned the courage to tell your crush that they were in fact your crush and truly not knowing what the outcome would be. Eeek! These are all risks. I know, I know, they’re not make it or break it risks, but you’re taking a chance, even when you’re scared, and doing it anyway. Once an adult, however, a switch gets flipped, and that logic and fear we’ve managed to avoid, starts dictating how we approach decisions. But me? I like to reference popular TikTok-er Elyse Meyers who said she was born with the how-hard-can-it-be gene. Yeah, I have that. But I would also add the what’s-the-worst-that-can-happen gene. Yeah, I have that too.
Being a risk taker is a lot like a taco seasoning packet- there are key ingredients you find in common: a pinch of ego, a couple healthy shakes of confidence and optimism, two heaping spoonfuls of who gives a sh*t, and fill it to the top with passion, grit and fortitude.
What I have learned from each risk is that at the very core of taking them is doing it strategically… not just willy-nilly and without forethought. I did an interview recently and the interviewer referred to me as someone who takes moonshots. I decide on an objective and go for it. Of course, I always hope for a positive outcome, but I’m also a believer that if the answer is no, it could just mean not right now. But the bigger message I want to convey is that having the courage to send the email, make the phone call, ask the question, put YOU out there is an even greater accomplishment than many are willing to take. Facing hard things, “even if your voice shakes”, (Kuhn, M.) is so empowering, and only gets easier the more you practice.
This is where strategy comes in, and why I believe a lot more people would be less reluctant to take risks if they made a point to put their ducks in a row. When I want to take a risk, I begin with the mantra, “If you never ask, the answer is always no”… so I ask! I do my research. Who can I connect with? Who can I email? Who can I call? Who is the decision maker? What am I trying to get out of this? What if they say no? And what if they actually say yes? The key is to have some semblance of a plan, and above all, remember that person on the other end of the line or email is.a.human! Just another person who puts their pants on one leg at a time. They have a job to do, just like you. Now maybe they’re smarter than you, make more money than you, have a fancy home, but at the end of the day, they are not better than you. No one is above talking to me, even if the conversation ends in a no. They are not above reading my email, even if they don’t reply. If you have a plan, you are compelling and to the point, you’ll be amazed how far you can go.
My most recent risk has been to shine a light on the positive impacts of including more women’s voices when advertising products and services that historically have been marketed exclusively towards men, can have on the market. For example, Big Box stores often use men’s voices in their advertising, they show women buying flowers, while men buy power tools. In this house, I handle the renovations, I make furniture, and don’t mind getting my hands dirty. Automotive advertising is another. From cars to motor oil, advertising is usually geared towards men, when we know full well that women buy cars, race cars and even maintenance cars. Same with men’s sports. Women buy the tickets, buy the jerseys and usually cheer louder than the men, so why not reach a whole other market (women!) by featuring more women’s voices? That said, I have taken risk after risk and reached out to the major decision makers in ALL of these arenas. CEOs, CMOs and Sr Creative Directors, emailing, phone calls and even Zoom calls, and I’m excited to say the glass is cracking in that damn ceiling! Look out advertising world!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As the first grand baby in the family, it goes without saying, I got a lot of attention. My mother tells stories of just putting me on a blanket in the living room and my family sitting around just waiting for me to do something. lol I guess you could say I was literally born to entertain. I was an Army brat, and as a young child we were stationed in Germany and lived in base housing apartments. The top floor was an open flex space, and I used it to choreograph dance routines to my favorite Beach Boys songs. My mother recalls coming home from work and the neighbors excitedly telling her they were looking forward to the performance that night… she having NO idea what they were talking about. Unbeknownst to her, I decided to host my own recital and delivered hand drawn invitations to all the neighbors. Why wait for an opportunity, when you can make your opportunity, right?
I attended college on a full ride scholarship for musical theatre, and had every intention of moving to NYC and making my way on Broadway. This, however, was one risk I didn’t get the chance to take. Instead, I met and married a wonderful officer in the United States Air Force. And to those who know, that in and of itself is a risk. Moving every 2 to 3 years, taking care of the house, the car, the kids, the finances with and without a deployed husband. Remember that taco packet? This lifestyle takes grit and fortitude. Often, military spouses have a difficult time getting employment at each duty station, because your schedule is unpredictable, and the employer knows by the time they train you, there’s a good chance you’ll move (PCS) so you’re kinda stuck. Ha! Not me! Not unlike my childhood, I took advantage of each move and viewed it as a new opportunity to try something new and share it with new people.
My entrepreneurial risk-taking endeavors would likely fill this entire magazine, but I’ve just always been driven to create and and be challenged. Whether it was a sewing business, creating baby products for boutiques all over the U.S., running a dance studio, being a volunteer fire fighter, teaching fitness classes, running a gymnastics gym, or managing home renovations, each opportunity has led me to where I am today.
Towards the end of my husband’s career, we found ourselves in the Northeast – Pennsylvania then Connecticut. This was amazing for me, as it allowed me access to cabaret theaters and musical theatre audition opportunities. I was the lead singer for a swingin’ 19-piece Big Band and a fantastic jazz trio. It was an easy train ride to NYC and I could get my fill of the Broadway lights. But alas, the Northeast wasn’t for forever. Fast forward to 2020, my husband retired from the Air Force, and his new job landed us in San Antonio, TX. The kids were now in school full time, and I was getting the itch to start performing again. But then something life changing happened. Covid. Life changing in that we were now living in a pandemic that was truly horrible, and required us all to stay home. But life changing again in that, gone were any stage or on-camera opportunities, so instead, I found a new way to perform… voiceover.
Ever the risk taker, I jumped in feet first! (Remember that how-hard-can-it-be gene?) I did my research. I learned about audio equipment, how to edit and lay music tracks, I reached out to a dear friend who worked in radio and he helped me put together a demo of commercial samples. I reached out to family and friends and found a site that listed auditions and booked my first job in 2 weeks. And I loved it! Having a solid business acumen and marketing skills, I quickly started building my business. In less than 5 years, I have developed amazing relationships with clients and colleagues, I have been invited to speak at voiceover conferences about business and marketing, I teach workshops on utilizing LinkedIn, and have teamed up with two other amazing voice actors to create a successful podcast called VO Booth Besties where we interview industry pros and discuss the ins and outs of the VO biz.
It’s been an amazing ride. But I know I’m not done yet. I’ve always been driven to go BIG. To what end? No idea! Maybe we’ll find out together.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I saw a t-shirt once that said “A real musician will spend $100 in gas for a $50 gig.” I imagine for many not-so creative people, this defies logic and simply baffles the mind! lol But, it’s true. There is something inherent about the process of just doing what you love, and literally pouring your heart and soul into bringing it to life. The greek root for “passion” is in fact pain. Ohhh how we artists suffer for our art!
When I spoke earlier about risk… just taking a chance on something without fear, that is definitely a right-brained trait. Creatives struggle being put in a box. We are not good with boundaries. A daily checklist of duties? Ha! Creatives need the freedom to let their minds wander. To let the process and product organically take shape. Whether it’s a novel, a sculpture, a new logo for a brand, a ballad, or a haute couture look for the runway, there’s risk… but one we’re willing to take.
Now don’t get me wrong, we still want to make money. We need to make money. But when push comes to shove, we’re a scrappy, resourceful bunch and can usually find a way to get the money. But I get it, to the not-so creative person, this doesn’t make for the most consistent, reliable lifestyle for a family, longterm investing, etc. but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that for every right brain in the world, there’s a good chance there’s a left brain out there too, and maybe you get married and together you find a way to make it work. I might have personal experience ;) The universe is all about balance after all!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Ahh social media… the beauty and bane of our existence, right? I actually really enjoy social media. For me it’s an opportunity to laugh, learn, sing, dance, be silly and create. But here’s the thing… that’s how I use it. Not everyone is like me. I make sure to follow people, businesses and agencies who add value to my feed. Maybe they can hire me, maybe I can learn something from them. Maybe I’m a customer, or maybe they bring me joy and that’s enough. Curating your feed to not include things like controversial, hateful, maybe political content makes the scrolling experience a lot more enjoyable. So that’s step one in getting started with any platform.
I recently hosted a workshop on getting started with social media and have found the easiest way to answer “what do I even post about?” is to lean into one of these 5 topics: educate, motivate, inspire, challenge, and entertain. And at the heart of each of these is bringing YOU into it.
And then there’s the three “Or’s” of social media posting: Creator, Collaborator or Sharer-or (I know- but I ran out of Or words, so just go with it-lol) What does that mean? Well, a Content Creator does it all. They make a video with a particular message, edit it, add captions, maybe even incorporate some graphics. And while it’s fun, it’s a lot of work. Which is why as a Collaborator, the pressure is off a bit. You can stitch or duet existing content and simply add your two cents. This is nice cause you’re not starting from ground zero and it’s still bringing YOU into it. Now, if you’re like me, and don’t really have time for either of those Ors, then don’t reinvent the wheel- simply share it! As a Sharer-or, you can share a video or meme that resonates with you and may resonate with your followers. Share a pic or someone else’s post. I get great engagement with this technique and as a bonus, it still supports my branding because it showcases my pov. And I also just love sharing the love for other creatives’ content.
But the biggest takeaway I have found from building a social media presence is having NO expectations. So often creators begin posting just anything without any thought or purpose and then wonder why they don’t get any engagement. They might start tagging a bunch of people or business in hopes to get noticed, or hash tagging the post to death with no results. Going over the top to get noticed can really backfire, and just gives the feel of being only about the sale, rather than giving us an insight into who you are, your world, and your authentic self. I find it’s a balance. Sure, post about you as a business owner, but that’s not all you are. I bet you have other hobbies that give you some depth and shaped who you are today. Providing your audience with a variety of posts for them to engage with should help grow your followers.
The first time I went viral on Instagram, it was a for-fun yoga challenge. There I was in my living room, my son videoing me, and I managed to twist myself in a pretzel, grunt a few times, and ta-da! I had done it. I had absolutely no idea why or how this managed to be the video that would get ridiculous engagement, but it did. And you know what happened after more than 2 million views and over 110K likes? Ab-so-lu-te-ly Nothing! Hahaha. Yep, that’s the reality. I call it American Idol syndrome. Folks who hang their hopes and dreams on that one post. Hoping it will go viral and suddenly fame and fortune are theirs! But while that might happen for some, it is most certainly the exception to the rule. So just show up and just be you… cause I bet you’re pretty neat.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jengreenfieldvo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamagreenfield?igsh=MXY4M3BvM3V4dTJ5bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jengreenfield1/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Mama_Greenfield
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY6MYPSqU_D6cA_CX9lWvIg
