Life & Work with Nick Ordonez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Ordonez.

Hi Nick, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Long Beach, CA and have lived in the LA/OC area my whole life. I have an older brother, Jonathan, who is down syndrome. He is 11 months older than me, so he’s always been there and always been my best friend. In 2020, I wrote a book about my relationship with him called “Halo Effect.” He has inspired so much in my life. In 2008, my parents and I opened up a residential home care facility for the developmentally disabled. Soon after, I began my own personal career journey. I worked for a few different companies before I decided to open up my own business, again inspired by my brother, called JETCET. JETCET is a travel lifestyle brand specializing in hip packs, sling bags, and dopp kits. When I started JETCET, it was important for my business to give back. It was at that time that I met the founder and CEO of Campaign One At A Time, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make dreams come true for children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We created a partnership in which a portion of all sales would be donated to the nonprofit.

A few years later, I would start volunteering and working for the nonprofit. And around the same time, the founder of Campaign One At A Time and I started a new venture called the Spread Good Squad. The Spread Good Squad is a podcast, content creation, and merchandise manufacturing collective – all with the goal of spreading good in different ways, whether it’s through making people smile and laugh or raising funds through our content and merch. The Spread Good Squad is the biggest sponsor for the nonprofit Campaign One At A Time – helping the nonprofit make so many dreams come true for kids across the country.

In 2022, we were able to take 20 families with children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses from all across the US to Disney World at the same for an unforgettable trip. In 2023, we raised over $25000 for a young girl in Texas who was not only battling cancer but had lost both of her parents, her mother to a drunk driver nine months prior and her father to cancer three months prior. A few months later, we built a $40000 basketball court for a young boy in NH who is battling ALD. Through the Spread Good Squad and the nonprofit we have made so many dreams come true but there are still many kids waiting for their dreams to come true right now.

My goal is to help as many people as possible through the nonprofit Campaign One At A Time and through the Spread Good Squad, which has partnered up with many different organizations, causes, families, and individuals and is unlimited in its potential to help people. Our podcast which started in June of 2023 has already amassed a great following and we have had dozens of guests share how they Spread Good in their own ways and we are excited for the future of the Spread Good Squad.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If anyone says they have had a smooth road, they must be lying! There have been many struggles and challenges in my journey. From being a young boy, afraid of losing his older brother to the ups and downs of starting my own business. Every new venture requires a lot of learning, trial and error, and constant adapting. But the best learning came from the mistakes. The best lessons came from the hardships and challenges. A recent podcast guest said that his view of “success” is taking the path to a worthy goal. I’ve always thought of “success” as reaching goals, but every time I have hit my goals, I make new ones, and now I see that it really is the journey that matters. The obstacles and challenges that I have faced are what make me successful.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do a lot of different things! I wrote a book. I have a travel lifestyle brand. I run a home care with my wife and my family. I help run a nonprofit organization. I have a podcast and create content. I design and create merch for worthy causes. With everything though, there is a common theme, I want what I do to “spread good.”

I am most proud of the fact that I do what I want and what I believe in.

What sets me apart from others is that I am me. I have my motivations, my inspirations, my drive to never be content, and my vision that I can change the world in the way that I want to.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I, personally, don’t use a ton of apps or read many books or listen to many podcasts (other than my own!). For me, I like to talk to people, my family, friends, colleagues, podcast guests, and random people I meet – and I believe that helps me learn, adapt, and do my best in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: spreadgoodsquad.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/nickclassick
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickordonez
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/spreadgoodsquad