We recently had the chance to connect with Andrew O’Donnell and have shared our conversation below.
Andrew, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I’ve been working on building structure into my mornings, and the first 90 minutes of my day are now focused on personal development and starting strong. It definitely wasn’t always this way, but with everything I’m working on right now, I’ve realized how important it is to use my time intentionally.
I usually start my mornings around 4:00 am with some light cardio in my apartment gym. During that time, I read a short mantra I’ve written for myself to help set the tone for the day. Afterward, I head back upstairs to shower and take my supplements. By then it’s about 4:45, and I use that quiet time to review my schedule and make any small adjustments.
Around 5:00 am, I make an espresso and dive into creative work—things like editing content or working on client websites—since that’s when I feel most clear-headed and creative.
It’s not a perfect routine, but it’s been a game changer for me. Those first 90 minutes help me feel grounded and prepared before the day really gets moving.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone!
My name is Andrew O’Donnell, and I am the Founder and Owner of 718 Marketing, The Novello Co., and Motion by Movements. These are three companies/brands that I have been developing for the last couple of years and I have finally been able to launch all of them as of this year. What makes these companies special is the mission for how and why I started them.
718 Marketing was made to help bring awareness to small and local businesses of St. Louis Missouri, and to help these businesses express their passions through our creative abilities to market and sell.
Novello is a cosmetic company based on giving impactful and transparent, natural solutions for hair care, skin care, and wellness products.
Motion by Movements is a personal brand that will showcase personal growth, business interests, and connections made. I will also be hosting the first event next year with a focus on bring people together. I would also like to create a small group of like minded individuals that can help me, help others.
Together, I want to make an impact not just in St. Louis but across the world. I believe people have a lot more potential than what they give themselves credit for. The problem with potential is that it’s meaningless unless continuous actions are taken in the right direction. I want to help people take action.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
When I was 21 years old, I had an opportunity that would shape what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was a marketing and sales job that gave me the chance not only to learn about marketing and sales but also to teach, train, and develop others. Immediately, I fell in love with the impact I could make on people and the way they viewed their own potential. I knew right away this was my purpose, and I needed to make sure I stayed in an industry where I could continue doing so. Luckily, this job lead to me starting my first company in NYC.
This has shaped almost everything I do now—from the businesses and brands I’m currently building to the personal development I put myself through. I’m 26 now, and although times get tough and I sometimes stray from the path, I always return to it, because I know this is my calling.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that not all success is created equal, and not all success is equally fulfilling. It also taught me that the best lessons are learned the first time around—so learn quickly and with purpose, or suffering is likely to continue.
Suffering and fatigue are the great equalizers.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
One of the biggest reasons I’ve struggled to get started with the social media side of my business is because I kept questioning whether my story was worth sharing.
For a long time, I had a hard time accepting the hardships and difficulties I’d been through. The last thing I wanted was to fake an image just to get attention. I always wanted to inspire people, but I thought that meant I had to live a perfect, “inspirational” life first. In some ways I wasn’t wrong—but looking back, I would’ve told myself to just start. Because along the way, I ended up doing some amazing things and hitting milestones that I never would’ve reached if I’d waited for the “perfect” moment.
At the time, though, I was younger and didn’t believe someone my age could be inspirational without the fancy things or a million dollars in the bank. Now, a few years later, I’ve grown a lot, and I finally feel ready to share my story with the world—flaws and all.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I’ve asked myself this question many times. To be honest, my first thought is simply: I hope there’s a story worth telling. I believe the companies and brands I’m building will speak for themselves, and the impact they create will be the story most people come to know.
But for me, it’s not really about being remembered for my name—it’s about whether what I’ve built can impact enough people to matter. Beyond that, I want my legacy to live on through my future children and those who follow. I hope my morals, values, and character are reflected in them.
That’s how I want my true story to be told when I’m gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: 718marketing.com, thenovelloco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/718marketing.stl/, https://www.instagram.com/thenovelloco/
