"Together Talks" #84: WAMO and Founder, Oni Colston.
KLS - Klimson Logistics Solutions
www.klimsonls.com --- 708-980-0920 --- [email protected]
Some Background on WAMO
Today's edition of "Together Talks " campaign, KLS had the opportunity to interview WAMO and Founder, Oni Colston. WAMO provides the conversation game where cooperation and competition collide. The wild ride where "Truth or Dare" and "Dear Diary" collide. This game of self-discovery lets you peel back the layers and show your friends the real, uncensored you.?With the option to choose your own risk and comfort level, you’ll compete and cooperate with players in a game that’s all about finding out who you are and learning from others. Get ready for a laugh-out-loud adventure like no other!
Nurse to podcast
Oni's original career was as a registered nurse prior to creating her company and debut game. She mentioned she enjoyed it because of the connection to people and being able to provide good. But she knew that in her bones she had a passion for creativity. She had always dreamed of and envisioned creating something that was her own. Her first transition into this was a YouTube channel she created. Her channel was a challenge for her to create fresh new content.
New Mother
Oni and her husband welcomed her daughter. While on maternity leave she experienced the challenges of raising a new born and the strain it can have on a relationship. Noticing that her attention was being directed towards her baby daughter she consciously made a decision. She started creating little cards with questions to start dialogue between her and her husband. Shortly after their nightly routine she felt she was on to something. Oni had found the conduit to her creativity and chasing her dream.
She set out to start her business and create her company to bring randomness to a night of fun. "The game is designed to connect with your friends. This is the friend's edition. I love being able to engage other people and that is what WAMO is all about.", Oni explained. Being home with her daughter she felt a greater purpose. The drive to create something of her own and show her daughter what she is capable of when she grows up was important to Oni. She made a commitment to herself to see it through.
She took that leap in August. She subconsciously did something that would hold herself accountable. On her YouTube page, she made it public that she was leaving nursing and making this career pivot. We asked her if putting this out there helped push her, "Oh absolutely. I had the fear of rejection initially and asking myself if this fails do I end up back in nursing. Then I remembered I just did this public statement saying I'm done with nursing and it drove me to give my all to WAMO."
Partner with KLS
KLS offers LTL and FTL for both dry and reefer transportation.
Our nationwide coverage provides companies a reliable, consistent, and dependable logistics partner to handle your trucking needs.
For more information on how we can help call our office today 708-980-0920 or reach us via our email quote request here !
Creativity
Creating her own company and product Oni said one of the challenges is not getting caught up in watching competitors. It is hard to not want similar type of success, growth, opportunities. But Oni understands this is her path, her journey and she recently found a new level of appreciation and gratefulness.
Her passion she believes is the strongest impact she brings to her company. She credited her creativity to God, "I feel like God gives me these incredible ideas and I just have to make them work.", Oni explained. Being so new to the space and her business she said she continues to remind herself of staying the course. Her goal continues to remain to move forward and don't stop progressing. This will allow her creativity to reach as many people as possible to engage as she originally set out to do.
Being not only a woman but an African-American woman in the gaming space is incredibly rare. Oni explained how special and powerful it was when she saw her initial run of product. "I dreamed of this, but never knew if I could really do it. I don't really see anyone who looks like me in the gaming industry. To create this on my own really is such an incredible achievement."
Next phase
The next product that Oni is working on is a family edition of her WAMO game. She said of the two the family version has been more difficult to create, "Trying to balance it being appropriate but also engaging is challenging. We don't want it boring, again engaging is our word. So I'm making sure it is suitable for all ages and still captivating." She plans to continue growing her business and hopes to sell out inventory.
Oni also wants to revive her YouTube but change the angle of her content. She hopes to create a network for other creators. Oni envisions creating an opportunity that wasn't present when she started her career in the space. She would love to pass it forward and increase resources, allies, connections where innovating can be supported and given an opportunity to thrive.
Having a new set of challenges being the entrepreneur keeps things unique, fresh, and interesting. Oni mentioned that is the aspect she enjoys most as each day brings something different for her to conquer. And conquering is the mindset of Oni as she hopes to build her company to eventually have a team to run and train. The plan is to create expansion packs and other editions of the game with one day getting into Target which she shared is her ultimate goal.
Piece of Advice
Our conversation with Oni ended with her sharing two pieces of advice.
1 – money
"There are videos that say you can start with nothing. I don't agree. You will need money to run your company. It is ok to start it on the side if you have to keep working during the initial process, but be aware that it will require funding."
2 – dealing with adversity
"Share your work/products/skills because there's someone who needs it. If you keep it to yourself or allow fear, self-doubt or what others think stop you, you're doing the people who need you a disservice. Don't give up.?"
Buy WAMO here and receive 10% off with the code below!
KLS10 ---> 10% off
Interested in being featured with "Together Talks"?
KLS is booking our upcoming schedule now!
Contact us as we would love to learn your story and share it amongst our audience.
Weekly we provide 2 companies our platform to expand their reach courtesy of our campaign. Let's collaborate!!!
In Closing
KLS wants to thank Oni Colston, Founder, of WAMO for today's "Together Talks " feature. Follow along for the WAMO journey with their social handles below!