On May 31, Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was invited as one of the speakers in Impact Hub’s “Fuck Up Nights Volume 5.” The event started out as a normal gathering and networking event, which turned into an event where people can learn and be inspired by the failures of now-successful entrepreneurs. Each speaker was given 15 minutes to share their “fuck-up story,” which was followed by a 5-minute question and answer session.
Pocholo came onstage as the first speaker. He began by introducing what he does as a voice artist, and even impressed the audience with a “sample” of the character voices he has dubbed. Pocholo then went on to share his first-hand experience of the monopoly and politics that surrounded the voice acting industry. He recalled his first dubbing experience, where he was told by a veteran that he is no good and that he will not make it in the industry.
Pocholo transitioned into telling his “fuck up” story, where he invested a huge amount of money to build his own recording studio, with little experience in handling a business. He bought a large office space which he turned into a studio complete with state-of-the-art equipment. The business closed in just half a year because in that short moment, Pocholo lost hold of his vision to make the Philippines the center of voiceover excellence in Asia.
Pocholo then told of how he bounced back in 2005, and built his second company as well as the first voice acting school in the country. Even though he started out small and in a more shaky ground, it was then that he let his passion for voice acting take over, and his business turned out more successful than expected.
In closing, Pocholo shared the number one lesson he learned in his experience: STICK TO YOUR WHY. Ultimately, it’s his passion that fuels him to work on his business, and to keep giving opportunities to those who aspire to become voice artists like Pocholo. Because of Pocholo’s school, what was once an elusive and closed-door industry became open to those who wish to become part of it.
Impact Hub is one of the country’s leading innovation labs and startup incubator, with its headquarters at the Picadilly Star in Taguig City.
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