Meet Leah Nelson | Owner of Mom N’ Pop Marketing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I think everyone starts a business based on money, freedom, and time. Most entrepreneurs, like myself, always have an inch no matter what their current work position, income, or how much time they have and their current job or precision. They might actually like their job or boss. They feel as though something is missing or there’s no challenge. The entrepreneurship that last craves challenge and struggle. My guess is a lot have experienced struggle at a young age and in personal relationships. So being comfortable is actually uncomfortable for them.

For me growing up was interesting, to say the least. My mom had me when she was 15 and my dad 18. I went to foster care for a while then went to go live with my father after he had finished his jail time for creating me with my mother (being under age).

I grew up in a small town in Kansas. Growing up visiting food banks and knowing very well what food stamps were it was safe to say we were poor. My dad did his best and took care of me and my three sisters. I knew though I would have to play a sport to go to college and start saving young. I started selling knives, jewelry, and any other booth I could get paid under the table in Hutchinson, Kansas at age 15. Growing up with a father that was never home I had a lot of freedom. I’d drink every weekend then get up at 6:00 am to go running. In my head, it evened out. I did this from age 15-18 when I headed off to college on a track scholarship. I had accomplished my full ride.

I then set. a goal to become an all-American with a 4.0. I accomplished a 3.9 and an American record in the 800-meter dash and ranked in the 600-meter dash in college. I then set a goal to work at one of the top agencies in the world. During Winter break I drove down in my mini cooper I had managed to save up for and had bought at a police auction. I remember fort collins was in a blizzard. I called the first agency on the list. Of course, I lied and said I had gotten an interview and was here from Kansas. At the time they got 1000s of applications and had thought they made a mistake. So, they welcomed me into the office. I told them I didn’t really have an interview but we might as well go over my resume since I’m here. In college, I had come up with multiple ways to make money while still making it to practice and track events. I have started a bar promoting business. (really just me telling college students to come to that bar, running a couple of ads, hanging a couple of posters, and then getting all cash that comes through the door). I had also failed at running an agency in high school. I told them this and they put time in a sales position at their agency.

In two years I had become one fo the top consultants hitting goals for two years in a row. I loved working at the agency. We sold digital marketing while tossing the football around, riding scooters, and playing ping pong. It was the google of digital marketing agencies with 600+ employees. I still had an itch though. I would sit with my director and toss him business ideas almost every week. He would say,” nothing more dangerous than Leah having free time”. Or, “I’m sure of three things, death, taxes, and Leah hitting goal’.

Both were true. The sale was starting to bore me. I loved helping people and learning about their businesses and I love the grind of always having a dial tone in my ear or being in a zoom meeting. Sales were never really stressful to me. I knew if I did the day-to-day activities I’d always hit my goal.

To stop the itch I ask for a promotion to the business development side of things to sell franchise partners to expedite growth goals. I did that but the itch never stopped. I wanted to do more.

I walked in teary-eyed and told them I was going to have to leave. The family culture was strong at thing agency so I had met people I didn’t feel like leaving, I was also leaving a 6 figure job and the freedom to travel or even the ability to nap in the office if I was tired. I didn’t need more time, more money, and more freedom. BUT, I had the itch to do more. I wasn’t feeling fulfilled.

I needed struggle and the ability to create. I had topped out on goals. I had a goal to pay for college, graduate with good grades and excel in track, work at a top agency, and become the best sales rep they’ve had, but that wasn’t enough. I really needed a place to grow without ceilings.

In the end I think that’s what people need to stay energized in life. A place to always grow.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own Mom N’ Pop marketing. We’ve connected businesses to their community through online channels. We also ways say. If people are searching for your product or service online there’s a way to get you in front of them. I really strive to make digital marketing affordable to everyone. Providing plans to small businesses that I’ve sold to agencies for 10k+ for 2K+. This is because I think every consumer benefits from having free marketing with Mom N’ Pop businesses. You just get better services and products with people that really care. I don’t want to grow a huge agency. I want to grow a family that cares about each other. We don’t have any contracts, “if we don’t make money for you then you shouldn’t keep us around. I love what I do and the people I help. I think the best thing we’ve done is create a team full of very talented people.

You can’t do everything! Learn that soon and learn that fast.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Greeley Colorado- Margies Coffee Really Fun Place – COFFEE
AUNT HELEN’S COFFEE HOUSE – COFFEE
COYOTE’S SOUTHWESTERN GRILL – FOOD
CAFÉ MEXICALI – FOOD
COLORADO MODEL RAILROAD – MUSEUM
477 DISTILLING – BAR

Fort Collins
Horse Tooth Resivor- Hikes
New Belgium Brewing Company – BEER
Silver Cafe – Coffee
BLUE MOOSE – ART GALLERY
Ginger and Baker – FOOD
Trails Head- BAR

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mom – Sarah Nelson Father – Kenny Nutt
Mentor – Zak Bigelow
Mentor – Luke Barnes
Mentor – Haris Reis
Mentor – Coach Stanbrough
High School Teacher- Rane Case
First Client – Romia Pritchett
Chamber of Commerce – Greeley, Fort Collins, Evans

Website: mompopmarketing.com

Instagram: @momnpopmarket

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-nelson-b23901143

Twitter: @momnpopmarket

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MomNPopMarket

Youtube: Mom N Pop Marketing