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

Nick, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Coming up with a business name can be quite a challenge. When it came to naming our brand, Upsway Marketing, the story behind it was a mix of inspiration and chance. Back in my college days, as the deadline for officially establishing the business as an LLC approached, I was on the hunt for a name that really captured our mission of helping businesses grow. At first, I thought of “Driven Marketing Solutions,” which tied into my love for cars, but I wanted something more unique, shorter, and less literal. Late one night, while searching for words synonymous with growth and progress, I stumbled upon the word “Upsway.” It just clicked – it was all about that upward movement that businesses strive for.

The name “Upsway” felt like the missing puzzle piece. It had a simplicity that conveyed exactly what we were about – lifting businesses higher. The word “Upsway” perfectly summed up our goal of fostering growth, the word itself meaning to swing upward into the air.

Naming our brand became more than just a task; it became a representation of our dedication to guiding businesses toward success, all wrapped up in a name that mirrors their upward journey.

Nick, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Upsway Marketing was founded out of a passion for helping nonprofits and small businesses. I grew up in a family of small business owners. When I lived in my hometown during COVID, a town filled with small businesses, it pained me to see the businesses struggle to stay afloat, often attributed to a lack of digital presence and remote/pickup/contactless services.

What kept these small businesses from growing their online presence? I took a deep dive and asked a number of owners. It came down to a lack of knowledge and lack of resources (money or hiring someone dedicated to digital marketing).

Out of inspiration to help small businesses tackle this never-ending need for digital marketing, I created an agency with an educational approach and solutions catered to smaller budgets. In summary, Upsway Marketing provides website development, social media management, and graphic design. To date, we’ve served over 50 clients across 12 industries, 11 states, and 3 countries.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World” has been a terrific read that deeply impacted my entrepreneurial journey. This book dives into the subtle but significant ways in which the frantic pace of the modern world was affecting not just my personal well-being but also the health of my business. Learning to prioritize emotional health and spiritual nourishment amidst the chaos of entrepreneurship has enabled me to make clearer decisions, foster more authentic connections with clients and partners, and approach challenges with a renewed sense of calm and purpose. As I embraced the principles of slowing down, mindfulness, and intentional living advocated by the author, I found that my ability to focus, innovate, and sustain my efforts improved. This book has been an invaluable guide in helping me strike a balance between productivity and personal fulfillment, ensuring that my entrepreneurial journey is not just successful but also meaningful.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that success stems solely from working tirelessly from early in the morning to late into the night. I realized that constant hustle and extended workdays didn’t always lead to productivity. Instead, I found myself in frequent waves of burnout and consistent stress.

Embracing the wisdom from “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” I understood that prioritizing mental well-being and incorporating breaks could enhance both productivity and the quality of my endeavors, challenging the notion that constant busyness equates to accomplishment. It was difficult to take this step as an entrepreneur and to intentionally shut off my brain throughout the day, but it’s definitely reduced levels of stress and burnout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.upswaymarketing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upsway.marketing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpswayMarketing/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsway-marketing/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UpswayMarketing