Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and nutrition but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly Ryan, Owner of Nerd Mom Nutrition, located in St. John's, NL, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm on a mission to help moms, dads, and their kiddos up-level their health so they can activate their superpowers through nutrition, mindset, and lifestyle changes. Helping you level up your health and wellness in a fun way... one level at a time.

Tell us about yourself

About Kelly, I've always been interested in food and health. I've also always loved Star Wars, playing video games, Harry Potter, DnD, and reading fantasy/sci-fi books.

When I graduated high school, I decided to go to Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Ottawa. I proceeded to work in several restaurants and started a business degree at Memorial University. Then, by the age of 22, I opened a small restaurant in my hometown, St. John's, Newfoundland. Fast forward a few years, I met and married my wonderful husband, and we have two young children. I started to take a real interest in healthy foods to help start my children out on the best possible path. I decided to become a health coach to help me learn how to do this.

I remember feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and like Kelly was replaced by a doppelganger called "Mom," it was not fun. I learned how important it was to take care of myself so I could be the best mom I could be while helping my own family with their health.

Now I love to nerd out by making Wookie Cookies and Golden Snitches with my kids, gaming (I'm playing Spider-man right now), reading my fave fantasy/sci-fi novels or doing STEM crafts with the kiddos.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When I heard my client say, "Prior to working with Kelly, as a Stay at Home Mom to two young children, I would often mentally burn out: I hated when I resorted to screaming at my kids. It made me feel like I was a "Bad Mommy."

I have learned... that bad food choices have led to poor sleep, which has turned me into one exhausted Mama. From anger, lack of patience, not feeling well in your own skin, depression, and your relationship with everyone in your family. Simple changes made over the course of a few months have seriously impacted my life.

I am much more patient with my children, started a new part-time job, I even took on training a puppy (which, I'm not going to lie, is hard), and even my husband has noticed a big shift with me. Just noticing the small shifts within my children as their diets begin to adjust is quite astounding as well. I really hope every exhausted Mama can find their way into The Re-Energized Mama Program, and it seriously is life-changing."

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

What happens between your own two ears. I remember thinking when I just started out that once I opened my doors, I would be so busy with clients. What I didn't realize was that everything takes time, and I had a lot to learn (I'm still learning and always will be).

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be patient with yourself and don't compare yourself to others. It took me time to learn and discover who I wanted to work with, let alone all of the tech, marketing strategies, etc., that I needed.
  2. Ask for help. Whether it's a coach, virtual assistant, your own family... Being in business is a lot of work. As my dad used to say, "when you are a business owner, you end up being the chief cook and bottle washer." Basically, you wear A LOT of hats, so get help where you can.
  3. Take care of your health. In order to have the energy to run your business, you need to be at your best, and the only way to do that is to make sure you are taking care of your health. Drink water, exercise, eat clean and get enough sleep... Get help in this area if you need it too.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Like Dory says, "Just keep swimming." It takes time, but just stick with it, and you'll get there.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://nerdmomnutrition.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NerdMomNutrition
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdmomnutrition/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-r-ryan/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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