The term The Invisible Hand was referenced by Adam Smith, an 18th century Scottish philosopher, in a late book of his work, The Wealth of Nations.
It had to do with the consequences of risk aversion in some merchant traders who preferred to trade locally rather than in foreign markets, for their own security.
Nowadays, his metaphor is assigned to all manner of things, good or bad, economic or not.
Some say Mr. Smith was a deist who also believed a benevolent God steers the Universe to maximize our happiness; that the world is pretty much perfect, all of us happy, but our nature makes us think we will be happier if we are wealthier; leading us to work to become richer through “the mechanisms of exchange and the division of labor.”
Remember those security-conscious merchants? Presumably, an invisible hand pushes them unintentionally beyond their borders in pursuit of greater wealth, and consequent heightened feelings of happiness. For my purposes, let’s assume this is true.
What does this have to do with voice over?
As I was waiting for my lesson with Coach one day, it occurred to me only months earlier I was plenty happy, retired from the world of work, minding my own business, enjoying the good life.
Then, bam.
I’m back at the Morristown Train Station in the early morning, buying tickets, commuting a couple hours to and from Manhattan Island, and walking the Big Apple Canyons, again.
As Coach counseled at our first meeting, voice over is not a hobby. Not if you want to succeed at it. It is work, plain and simple. Voice over requires daily attention and honest effort.
And so, it appears some invisible hand is hard at work on me, nudging me beyond my borders and through the thickets of the Voiceover Forest. Simply doing its job, I suppose.
Can’t wait to experience those blessed, blissful, joyous sensations ascribed by some to Mr. Smith’s ideas. And, the abundance and prosperity in store. Just imagine.
Next time: Jazz
Tags: Adam Smith, bliss, happiness, Invisible Hand, voice actor, Voice Over, Voiceover Forest, wealth, work
