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

Nick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Sink or Swim: You are Your Own Life-preserver

My start was in multimedia back in 2008. I took classes, experimented, and kept learning throughout high school. I went to college for Engineering, but it was not the right fit.

I moved back to Santa Barbara and shifted my focus. I built my skills to a higher level, moving from the technical side into marketing. I wanted to connect the work to strategy, not stay stuck in the details.

That path opened doors. I was hired to run marketing for an eCommerce company. Fourteen months later, an architecture firm recruited me to lead their marketing. Six months into that role, I knew I needed to build something of my own.

I formed my LLC and gave myself one year to go full-time. I spent eight months preparing. Building backend processes. Growing my client list. Putting systems in place. The transition was risk-heavy, but I trusted myself.

I always figure it out. No matter the scenario, I rely on my instincts, and they guide me. That mindset allowed me to keep moving forward when others would have stalled.

The hardest part was ignoring the doubt from others. People will tell you to hold onto the stable job. To avoid the unknown. If I had listened, I would still be working on someone else’s vision.

The truth is simple. You have to bet on yourself. Surround yourself with people who share that mindset. Business owners. Creatives. Builders. People who see risk as a requirement for growth.

No one can save you except yourself!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started in multimedia in 2008. I studied design, photo, and video throughout high school. I entered college for Engineering, but it was not for me. I returned to Santa Barbara and shifted into marketing. I wanted to connect creative skills to strategy.

I worked in marketing roles for an eCommerce company and later for an architecture firm. Those roles showed me the limits of working inside someone else’s vision. In 2023 I formed SYNRGY Creative, a full-service agency focused on helping brands grow with strategy, content, and design.

SYNRGY Creative provides:

-Website design and development

-SEO and Google Ads management

-Brand identity and graphic design

-Photo and video production

-Social media and content strategy

The clients are startups, established businesses, and creative professionals who need more than a single service. They need a partner who can connect everything. A website that ties to SEO. Ads that drive to landing pages. Photography that fits brand strategy.

The problem I solve is fragmentation. Businesses hire separate vendors for each need and lose consistency. I provide everything in one place. My strength is building systems that connect design, marketing, and content.

What sets me apart is experience across disciplines. I have worked hands-on with video production, photography, coding, design, and marketing. I understand how each piece works and how they fit together. That allows me to give clients results that look professional and also perform.

I am most proud of building SYNRGY Creative from scratch and going full-time in less than a year. It shows clients that I take my own advice. Strategy, consistency, and execution work.

What I want people to know about my brand is simple. I care about results. I want my clients to grow. Every decision is made with that in mind.

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

Reputation is built on consistency. My focus has always been good business practices and clear communication. Clients know I will be transparent, responsive, and honest. That trust is why 98 percent of my clients are repeat or referrals.

I also focus on effective communication. Projects move faster when clients understand the process and feel included. I explain timelines, budgets, and results in plain language. That keeps expectations aligned and relationships strong.

On the technical side, I stay current with the tools that drive results. SEO, Google Ads, and social platforms change constantly. I invest time in learning updates and applying them to client work. The same applies to design, video, and web development. Clients see that I am not guessing. I rely on proven methods and data.

The mix of good practices and technical skills is what builds trust. Clients know I will communicate openly, deliver quality, and continue improving. That combination has shaped my reputation in the market.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The mission driving my work is simple. I want financial stability and control over how I run marketing. I believe the best results come when you set the strategy without outside limits. Building my own company gave me that freedom.

Time is my biggest motivator. You cannot get it back. I want to spend more of it on the things I enjoy, like freediving and beach volleyball. Running my own company gives me the chance to protect that time.

My goal is not only to grow SYNRGY Creative but to keep exploring. In my free time I work on other ventures, including a SaaS startup. Business for me is about building systems that support both work and life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.synrgycreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synrgycreative/