In a digital-first world where automation rules and inboxes are jammed with pitches, one company has quietly taken the opposite route — and succeeded.
OLN Inc, founded by Elijah Medge in 2007, runs on something older than the internet: face-to-face interaction. With its roots in Nashville and its reach now across 30 U.S. cities, OLN Inc specializes in direct sales for some of the world’s biggest brands. Think Amazon, Verizon, Staples, and T-Mobile. But what makes this company unique isn’t just its client list — it’s how they reach people.
“We go where the ads can’t,” says Medge. “There’s something powerful about showing up in person — not selling to a screen, but to a human being.”
The Unseen Advantage
OLN Inc, which stands for Outsourced Licensee Network, helps large corporations connect with hard-to-reach small business customers. Instead of bombarding people with ads or cold calls, OLN Inc reps knock on doors, start real conversations, and build trust face-to-face.
It’s not always glamorous. It requires resilience and grit. But it works.
“Mass emails get deleted. Flyers get tossed. We show up, we listen, we connect,” Medge explains. “That’s what makes the difference.”
Their focus is on practical, everyday services — telecom, business utilities, office supplies. Services small businesses need, but rarely have time to shop for. OLN Inc offers a bridge between those businesses and the Fortune 500 giants that serve them.
Starting with Nothing but an Idea
Elijah Medge started OLN Inc with little more than a drive to prove himself. As a young immigrant to the U.S., he wasn’t handed an opportunity — he built it.
“I didn’t have a clear blueprint,” he recalls. “But I had a belief that people are the best investment.”
At first, Medge did everything — recruiting, training, selling. He didn’t wait for perfect conditions. He moved fast, made mistakes, and learned on the go. Over time, his approach shaped a company culture built on initiative and constant movement.
“Standing still just isn’t part of our rhythm,” he says.
Training Ground for Leaders
Unlike many companies where advancement depends on seniority or politics, OLN Inc uses a different formula: you rise if you perform.
Employees begin with the basics — learning how to sell, communicate, and work under pressure. But the real goal is leadership. OLN Inc develops its top performers to lead their own operations, often providing the resources to help them launch their first brand. “We’re not here to hand out titles,” Medge says. “We’re here to give people the chance to earn real responsibility — and to own something.”
Ownership isn’t just a buzzword at OLN Inc. It’s built into the business model. Those who prove themselves are given the tools, support, and even capital to launch their own office. The network grows this way — branch by branch, leader by leader.
Surviving a Shutdown
In 2020, the pandemic hit OLN Inc’s model hard. The company’s core — outside sales — was no longer possible.
“We’d never done remote work. It was a foreign concept,” Medge says. “But we couldn’t just wait it out.”
The company pivoted quickly, partnering with Amazon to launch an inside sales program — a new track for the business. In an uncertain moment, OLN Inc avoided layoffs and created a new lane for growth.
“We proved to ourselves that flexibility wasn’t just helpful — it was necessary,” he says.
That experience changed the company’s mindset. What had once been a boots-on-the-ground-only culture now embraced hybrid strategies.
Playing the Long Game
Every year, Medge sets a long-term revenue goal — what he calls a “big, hairy, audacious goal.” But the real work, he says, is in deciding who to bet on.
“I spend more time thinking about people than numbers,” he shares. “Each quarter, I ask: Who’s ready for the next level? Who’s been showing signs of leadership?”
He believes in guiding from behind — letting his team lead while he supports them with insight, structure, and belief.
That people-first philosophy goes deeper than most companies. OLN Inc isn’t just a stepping stone. For many, it’s a launchpad.
“Some of our leaders never thought they’d run anything,” Medge says. “Now they’re mentoring others, opening offices, building teams of their own.”
Not Flashy, Just Focused
There’s no corporate buzz, no viral campaigns. OLN Inc doesn’t chase hype. It keeps its head down and its standards high.
The culture is deeply competitive, but also patient. Success takes time. Development is intentional.
“You don’t become great by rushing,” Medge notes. “You become great by getting better every day — by being in the game, learning as you go.”
That’s the heartbeat of OLN Inc. A company that values experience over noise. A company that sees people not as resources, but as potential.
Lessons from the Field
Looking back, Medge doesn’t point to one defining moment of success. For him, it’s the quiet wins — the reps who gain confidence, the managers who find their voice, the teams that learn to trust each other.
“Progress isn’t loud,” he says. “It’s steady. You might not see it right away, but it compounds.”
He tells his team to keep asking questions. To stay curious. To outgrow yesterday’s version of themselves.
“Knowledge doesn’t age,” he says. “You either build on it or you ignore it. We choose to build.”
The Road Ahead
As OLN Inc grows into new markets and tests new models, its mission stays the same: connect humans to humans, and do it well.
It’s not reinventing technology or riding trends. It’s sticking to a timeless idea — that real connection still matters.
In a world that often celebrates speed and scale, OLN Inc reminds us that growth doesn’t have to be noisy. It can be grounded, steady, and deeply human.
And sometimes, showing up in person is still the most powerful strategy of all.
Read more:
How OLN Inc Built a Sales Army One Door at a Time