The Underswell with Derek Sabori

🎯 Start Before You’re Ready: Building Bold, Balanced Careers with Matt Raminick

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What happens when you're laid off, have a newborn at home, and decide to build a business from scratch anyway?

In this episode of The Underswell, I sit down with Matt Raminick—founder of Sunnyside, a creative and marketing agency helping lifestyle brands grow through strategy, storytelling, and standout creative. Matt walks us through his unconventional career journey—from aspiring touring drummer to eComm lead at Quiksilver, Volcom, and PacSun, to agency owner. The best part? He’s still figuring it out, and he’s sharing it all as he goes.

This one’s full of perspective for career builders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone wondering if now is the right time to leap. Spoiler: start before you’re ready.

What We Talk About

  • How getting laid off became the push Matt needed
  • Transitioning from brand side to agency founder
  • Why Sunnyside rejects the typical agency playbook
  • What it really takes to grow an intentional business
  • Lessons from action sports, music, and fast-paced industries
  • Cultivating client trust, team culture, and creative excellence
  • Real talk on work/life balance and leadership in remote teams
  • Career advice for early journey professionals and entrepreneurs

    • 🔑 Key Takeaways

    đź’¬ One-Liners Worth Repeating

    • “Start before you’re ready.”
    • “Help others first. Always be building trust.”
    • “Be humble, but be bold when it matters.”
    • “Balance doesn’t always equal hours—it takes intentional energy.”
    • “The best marketers today are part analyst, part storyteller.”
    • “Everything takes longer than you think—and that’s okay.”
    • “You can’t build trust without clarity and consistency.”
    • “Be relentlessly curious. Keep showing up.”

      • Matt’s Advice for Entrepreneurs

      • Don’t wait for the perfect moment—just go.
      • Build something you’d want to hire.
      • Find your niche, then dominate it.
      • Delegate early and often—find the “who,” not the “how.”
      • Be ready for the unglamorous parts (bookkeeping, HR, admin).
      • Long-term > grind: “It’s not about hustle; it’s about building something meaningful.”

        • Lessons for Career Builders

        • You don’t need to be a specialist—generalists who think cross-functionally are in demand.
        • Culture can be built in remote teams through intentional check-ins, mentorship, and shared values.
        • Find leaders who care about your whole journey, not just your productivity.

          • Listen to This If You Are...

          • Building or considering building your own business
          • A marketing/creative professional navigating career pivots
          • Curious about starting an agency or creative studio
          • Tired of grind culture and ready for a more intentional path
          • Someone who appreciates candid, real-talk career advice

            • Music by LidĂ©rc.

            đź”— Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattraminick/

            ⚡ Explore Sunnyside: sunnysidecalifornia.com

            #careerjourney #entrepreneurship #creativeleadership #marketingstrategy #TheUnderswell #careeradvice #boldmoves #careerstories

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            The Underswell with Derek SaboriBy Derek Sabori