Johnny Mendez shares the raw story of how his successful video production company hit rock bottom financially in December 2017, and the seven-year journey of rebuilding with better systems, mindset, and business foundations. He reveals how this painful experience transformed not just his company but his entire approach to life, work, and personal growth.

Key Takeaways

• The shift from being "filmmakers who had a business" to "business owners who provide filmmaking services" is crucial for long-term sustainability
• Managing your finances properly isn't optional - even successful companies with great clients can collapse without proper cash flow management
• Personal growth and development are just as important as business skills - "you don't achieve your goals, you grow into them"
• Joining communities of like-minded professionals provides both support during difficult times and accelerates your learning and growth

About Johnny Mendez

Johnny is the co-owner of Hen House Media, an award-winning video production company serving clients for the last 22 years. Before launching his business, Johnny worked in film production and broadcast television. He's had the honor to film nationally and internationally working alongside truly remarkable clients. 

He has experienced his share of lows in both his personal life and business endeavors. These challenges led him to embrace personal growth and continued learning, which has profoundly impacted his life, helping him navigate through tough times, especially as the industry changes. Now, Johnny is rewriting his story and code, and wants to share that story in hopes of helping others. 

Above all, Johnny enjoys long walks on the beach with his family, and is planning a tell-all book on his love of sandwiches. 

In This Episode

• [00:00] Welcome to the Show!
• [04:54] Meet Johnny Mendez
• [05:44] Hen House Media[14:15] Financial Wake-Up Call
• [26:21] Managing Your Assets
• [29:06] Financial Tips
• [36:28] Investing In Yourself
• [43:52] The Great Reframe Podcast
• [45:49] Connect with Johnny
• [48:07] Outro

Quotes

"We used to be filmmakers who had a business, and now I think we're business owners who provide filmmaking services." - Johnny Mendez

"There's a great quote. There's a guy Jim Rome who has a quote that says you don't achieve your goals, you grow into them. And that like is something that I want to just like half printed on my wall because it's so true." - Johnny Mendez

"The money that comes in is not the money that you have. You have to put it through all of its filters to see what's at the bottom that you actually are. And then you can control that number by controlling everything that happens in the middle." - Johnny Mendez

"For me, what's really important is family, right? My family is like the center of my universe and everything I'm doing now is in service of them. I want to spend more time with them. I want to be present." - Johnny Mendez

Guest Links

Find Johnny Mendez online

Check out The Great Reframe on YouTube | Instagram

Check out The Great Reframe podcast

Follow Henhouse Media on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Links

Find out more about 10xFILMMAKER  

Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group 

Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram

Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram

Check out the full show notes