Conversations with Leslie Lesh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Lesh.

Leslie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began as a local business owner in Montrose and quickly became deeply involved with the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce. Through that experience, I learned the power of connection—how promoting, collaborating, and supporting other business owners could create real growth and community impact.

Alongside running my business, I organized my own business events, managed my website, and built my social branding—all on my own. When we eventually sold the business, I realized I had discovered something I truly loved: connecting with people, understanding what it takes to stay in business, and finding creative ways to promote and grow.

With encouragement from a mentor who owned his own marketing company, I decided to step fully into this passion. During the pandemic—a very uncertain time—I took a leap of faith and launched Clear Minded Marketing. It was scary, but I knew I had something valuable to offer.

Today, my greatest reward is helping other businesses thrive. I get to combine creativity with strategy while building authentic connections, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle for me has been my own mindset—overthinking and doubting whether I was “good enough.” In the beginning, I compared myself to larger marketing companies and felt intimidated. But over time, I realized my strength was in being a boutique agency that could offer something they couldn’t: genuine, personalized attention.

I’ve invested countless hours educating my clients, offering honest feedback, and giving free advice because I truly want to see them succeed. I don’t just take someone’s money and run a campaign—I tell them what’s really working and what isn’t in their Google presence and online strategy.

Overcoming the fear of not being good enough, and pushing through the intimidation of all the “techie” side of marketing, has been a big part of my journey. And in the process, I discovered that those challenges became my advantage—they taught me resilience, authenticity, and how to serve clients on a deeper level.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in helping service-based businesses build a strong online presence. That includes website design and development, creating strategic keyword-rich content, and optimizing their sites so they can be found on Google. I also focus heavily on Google Business Profiles—making sure they’re not just set up, but truly standing out and outperforming the competition.

Beyond websites and SEO, I manage social media posting for businesses that want to tie their Instagram and Facebook presence into their overall marketing strategy, strengthening their visibility across multiple platforms.

What I’m most proud of is the way I serve my clients. I don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach—I get to know each business personally and create a strategy that reflects their unique story and goals. What sets me apart is that personal touch: I treat every client as a partner, not just an account, and I make sure they feel supported, understood, and set up for success.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone just starting out is this: give yourself permission to fail. Don’t wait until everything feels perfect—just start. Every step, even the mistakes, is part of the process. And most importantly, don’t compare yourself to others. Your journey and your gifts are uniquely yours.

If I could go back, I’d remind myself to lean into learning, trust the process, and know that confidence comes with experience.

And finally, never stop promoting yourself—your business deserves it! That’s become my personal tagline, and it’s something I live by every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clearmindedmarketing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearmindedmarketing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clearmindedmarketing
• Other: https://share.google/lsALMORHQ9dwAx6Er