Fear, Failure, and the Truth About Building a Voice Over Career, with Paul Cartwright

Fear is one of the biggest reasons voice actors stay stuck. In this episode of the Everyday VOpreneur Podcast, Marc Scott talks with voice actor Paul Cartwright about fear, failure, persistence, confidence, rejection, and what it really takes to build a voice over career. Paul shares the truth about his journey, including a terrible first demo, the pressure of trying to “make it,” the fear that comes from not knowing what will happen next, and the mindset shifts that helped him keep moving forward. He also opens up about chasing dream representation, losing an agent he thought would change everything, and ultimately finding the right manager, one who helped triple his income. This conversation is honest, practical, encouraging, and a reminder that growth in voice over is supposed to feel uncomfortable. In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why fear of failure and fear of success often come from the same place • How to stop obsessing over outcomes you cannot control • Why failure is often just a learning experience • The story behind Paul’s first terrible demo • What happened when he forgot to hit record in a national session • Why persistence matters when pursuing agents and opportunities • How losing a dream agent led to something better • The reality of building a voice over business over time • Why “overnight success” is almost never overnight • How Paul balanced family, full-time work, and late-night hustle while building his career • Why coaching and mentorship continue to matter at every stage • How Paul pivoted from video games and animation into commercial voice over • Why the right people in your corner can change everything • The mindset that helped Paul keep going when things got hard One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is simple: You cannot fail if you do not quit. If you are in a season of doubt, fear, frustration, or uncertainty, this episode will encourage you to keep going. If this episode was helpful, share it with another voice actor and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. CONNECT WITH PAUL CARTWRIGHT 🖱️ Paul Cartwright Website - www.paulcartwrightvo.com 🖱️ Paul Cartwright Instagram - https://instagram.com/paultcartwright 🖱️ Paul Cartwright Facebook - https://facebook.com/paultcartwright 🖱️ Paul Cartwright X - https://x.com/paultcartwright 🖱️ Marc Scott on Instagram - https://instagram.com/marcscott 🖱️ Marc Scott on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@MarcScottVO 🖱️ VOpreneur® on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@vopreneur RESOURCES FOR VOICE ACTORS * VOpreneur® ➡️ Visit https://vopreneur.com * Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam ➡️ Visit https://voicezam.com/marcscott * For voice over services: ➡️ Visit https://marcscottvoiceover.com * Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group ➡️ Visit https://facebook.com/groups/vopreneur If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free