We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna Larson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.

Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

I’m a veteran military spouse. What does that mean? It means that for nearly two decades I lived the military family life. Most people don’t know what that looks like, so let me share a little of what that meant for me. I moved eight times, lived on three continents, lived in a travel trailer inbetween moves for 8 months while waiting for an assignment, worked remotely if we were living in the states, homeschooled my kids because our move schedule was in November and December (right in the middle of each school year), sent my servicemember off on three deployments and countless 3-6 month long training missions, spent hours with sick children in hotel rooms while waiting for houseing, and learned to live out a single suitcase for months at a time.

Why does this matter? Military spouse unemployment is around 3X the national average; sitting at around 25%. I got lucky. For nearly 16 years I worked for a company that was willing to put me on extended leaves of absence when we moved to another continent. When I returned to the states I was able to pick up the same or similar job on a new contract and continue to be professionally employed.

Most military spouses are not quite as lucky so now I spend a lot of my time supporting those spouses who are eager and ready to start their own businesses. I love to brainstorm big-picture strategies and help small to medium sized businesses think outside the box. I support military spouses who need to identify a strong brand, understand their customer base, and build a focused marketing plan that doesn’t feel like random campaigns. I want every military spouse to have the opportunity to build a business that makes them feel valued, utilizes their skills and professional expertise, and supports their family with a second income despite the challenges that come with living that military life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Creative solutions have always been my strength. I am the team member that wants to be sure whatever is going out to our clients, customers, or internal team looks good, sounds great, and makes them want to come back for more. I started my own business after working for nearly 16 years for a Fortune 500 corporation as a marketing director and business growth strategist. When my spouse decided to retire from the military, I wanted to be able to focus on my career.

NomadAbout supports small to medium businesses with their strategic marketing goals – whether that be brainstorming, creating a full-scale marketing plan, or crafting content for their social channels.

I’m all about finding adventures…even in the mundane. That’s where the name NomadAbout came from — my love of travel and adventure. I apply that to my clients and their campaigns as well. Through digital marketing, copywriting, and marketing strategy support I help create customer journeys that are fun, exciting, interesting, and engaging. In short, I write great stories for your business.

I help companies be smart about where they spend their time and money in marketing their products and services, and I’m fully invested in helping them build a stronger brand. This has been my profession and passion for 20 years.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Most Tuesday mornings you’ll find me ready to go live on the 15{ish} Minute Coffee Chat with Anna + Selena. This weekly live stream is for small business owners and entrepreneurs that want the latest in best practices, business tips, and smart solutions from our guests – other successful small business owners. and entrepreneurs Being the co-host to this live steam and podcast has allowed me to meet so many amazing people that have affected change in their industry and wanted to share how others can do the same. We’ve had some superstar guests as well, Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020, Inger Vandyke, National Geographic photographer, and Maria Reed, Moving with the Military producer. Networking and sharing through the 15{ish} Minute Coffee Chat has been instrumental in growing my reputation as an entrepreneur that is invested in others.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Four things have significantly impacted my management and entrepreneurial thinking:

1. The Big Enough Company: Creating a Business that Works for You by Adelaide Lancaster and Amy Abrams – this book has helped me better understand how to make sure that my business is built in a way that helps me achieve success on my terms and not by trying to keep up with my competition.

2. Mentorship through American Corporate Partners. They paired me with Tara Collison, owner of Meddlers. Having a successful and inspirational female entrepreneur share her time, wisdom, and expertise has influenced many of the decisions I’ve made on services, profitability, and time management, in particular.

3. Birthing of Giants roundtable was a special application then an invitation-only opportunity I received via my membership with the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs. We were able to ask questions of entrepreneurs that are now millionaires and billionaires. They gave us real-life advice about when they first started out – many. of them at their kitchen table – just like we did. It gave me a vision of what possibilities there are for the growth of my own business.

4. Volunteering for Scouts BSA. This organization thrives on servant leadership which is all about giving back to the youth that I’ve been fortunate enough to mentor. In order to be at my best, I’ve taken advantage of the many training opportunities that focus on diversity, trust, unselfish mindset, and leadership. It keeps me grounded, out in nature, and having adventures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nomadabout.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnomadabout/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamnomadabout
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadlarson/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamnomadabout
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annaandselena