Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Ondo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, John thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
My journey was a critical junction in my life. I had been working in the media field for over three decades, and I was involved with a faith-based business that encouraged entrepreneurship. After being a part of different media companies that use consultants and contracted help, I began to note that these consultants would lean on my advice when evaluating the company. They would repackage much of what I would say, put it in a proposal, and walk out with a check. I would be left then to do the work. I said to myself, I can do that. I needed the experience I gathered in the last 10 years of my work, I believe, to have the street credentials to start my business. In media, you can’t just have 3 or 5 years of experience to consult; you need a big toolbox, as I like to say.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I grew up in a small market with a big love for television and radio. When a group of people were building a faith-based television station and were looking for volunteers, it seemed like a great opportunity. I volunteered as a teen for a time and learned everything I could. I loved it all. I ended up on staff and soon as I graduated from High School.
I worked at that TV station for 18 years, recognized nationally for aggressive local production. I moved to Columbus, Ohio, to work with several other non-profit media companies. I also worked part-time at the local iHeartRadio NewsTalk radio station.
My passion is telling stories. I’ve been producing documentary-style content since the mid-90s. I believe that the best way to do anything in media is to look at it as story-telling. I started my business primarily with non-profit clients who needed to tell their stories through fundraising videos. Along the way, I also added everyone from podcast clients to national ministries who wanted their stories told.
During the pandemic, I was hired by several organizations to train and build their media teams. We have been recognized as a top media company in Columbus and awarded four Emmy awards and ten Telly Awards. We are not the biggest company, nor are we anywhere close to driving expensive cars and sitting in the VIP clubs at airports. But I love what I do, and I make enough money to take care of my family and keep my quality of work at the highest level.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
We all hear the term “pay it forward,” but I do believe it is a great philosophy. In my early days of business, right after my divorce, I had a lot of time and not many clients. I donated them instead of saying No when some non-profits couldn’t afford to pay for my services. I would always ask for promotional trades at events where my videos ran, which led to more business. It also brought me invitations to be on advisory boards and leadership teams. I even received an excellent article about my business in a magazine due to an organization being so appreciative of my donation.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I know some starving business owners say, “I need to hold tight to my rate card:”. However, I felt it was more important to create work, get my name out there, than sitting idle. You need to set limits and ensure you get some “promotion” in return for your donation. In those early days, I worked on a small book about media and self-published it, which allowed me to say I had written a book about my field and quote myself.
I’m very proud of my work, but often, it’s difficult to explain that to clients, as well as ask for increases in my rate card. When I submitted my work for various awards, which was a financial investment, it allowed me to set myself as a “higher-end” consultant, bringing me larger clients and, thus, more income.
Contact Info:
- Website: ondomedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/johnondo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ondomedia
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnondo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/john_ondo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC88RTQ07B-gHIFqx1N6Dh8A
Image Credits
Headshots Columbus