Episode 102 – 5 Branding Lessons I Learned Since Launching my Business

December 26, 2018

5 Branding Lessons I Learned Since Launching my Business | b is for bonnie design #brandstrategy #podcast #branding

Welcome to episode 102 of the Brand Strategy Podcast. Today I’m sharing more behind-the-scenes of my own story as a creative entrepreneur.

One of the biggest questions I so often get asked is: how did you get started and how did you get to where you are today?

So in this episode, I want to walk you through how I built a high-end brand through humble beginnings and five branding lessons I learned along the way.

WHO IS BONNIE BAKHTIARI?

Hi friends, I’m Bonnie. I am a self-taught brand designer based in beautiful Waco, Texas. I have been a brand designer and strategist at b is for bonnie design for almost seven years now.

I feel so honored to be able to work with hundreds of creatives over those past seven years to really build beautiful and intentional brands that reflect the heart of their life’s work.

But more than what I do, I absolutely love who I get to share it with. And that is my husband, Armon, my college sweetheart and husband for eight years. And together, like I said we live in Waco in the sweetest little bungalow with our golden retriever, Boone. And our newest little addition to the family, Quinn, an 8-month-old Golden Retriever who is all legs, smiles, and whip smart.

We are really passionate about chasing after life through an approach of loving others fiercely, giving grace freely and choosing to enjoy every single day.

MY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

I started b is for bonnie design back in 2012 with little more than a big dream and whole lot of gumption. I was in a big transitional season of life, and it seems crazy to think that’s when I started this beautiful business. (2:45)

I was graduating in May. Getting married in July. And as if that weren’t enough, I was moving halfway across the country for my husband who was stationed in California with the Air Force.

At that time, I was struggling to figure out how I could help provide for our family. And how I could utilize my passions, skills and gifts to really bring something positive into our lives. But I hit publish on that very first etsy shop website anyways and b is for bonnie design was born.

Something slowly started to click in my mind where I realized how beautiful-purposeful design when paired with strategic words, could really help tell a story in a really full and robust way. (4:35)

My formal degree is in journalism. Which means I learned the basics of graphic designs when I was designing the front cover of newspapers.

Catch the rest of my untraditional journey from journalism college student to wedding stationery designer to high-end brand designer and strategist in episode 102 using the player above!

REACH YOUR LEVEL OF SUCCESS

The journey to a profitable and purposeful business was not easy. But I’m passionate to share what I know with others because I want to see you achieve a similar level of success. To be honest, I want to see you achieve a level of success that honors your definition of success. (14:15)

At the end of my business journey, I want to look back and feel a deep sense of impact and fulfillment through the lives I was able to touch. Not to selfishy feel good about myself, but purely because my heart is built to pour into others. (Thank you Enneagram type two). (15:30)

With all that to say, I love going deep into the heart of other’s stories and the dreams they are chasing after. This podcast is just another avenue for me to share with you all that I know to help give you a few key tools, and encourage you to take a few purposeful steps in order to lay the foundation of a business that gives you the space to do what you love. (17:00)

FIVE LESSONS I’VE LEARNED THROUGH MY BUSINESS JOURNEY

And today, I’m sharing the five biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout this humble business journey of mine and I can’t wait to dive deeper into each in this episode. (18:40)

It’s okay to grow slowly

Stop striving for perfection

Build a brand that honors your authenticity

Focus on serving not selling

Be willing to let go

Now here is the good news about these five lessons and the encouragement I hope you have from each of them. You don’t have to start perfectly to build something that is designed to endure. (36:35)

CHASE AFTER YOUR BIG BEAUTIFUL DREAMS

As you chase after your goals I would love to partner alongside you to help navigate this journey. But here’s the thing, you don’t have to start from scratch and you don’t have to make it perfect in order for it to be worthwhile.

Through my six-month group coaching and mastermind program, The Heartfelt Brand Society, I am walking alongside 10 incredible, seasoned entrepreneurs as we chase after bringing their biggest and brightest dreams to life in 2019.

This is an intentional approach I’ve created to help you elevate your brand strategy, woo your ideal client, and transform your bottom line as together we are focusing on actionable ways to make 2019 the year we hit your goals. And the year we do things differently.

This is a great opportunity for you if you are an established entrepreneur who is in an active season of growth. Or maybe you are pivoting, introducing a new offering, or in a season of refining the types of ideal clients you want to work with on a day-to-day basis.

The Heartfelt Brand Society applications are currently open. So if you are interested in working together in this way as we kick things off in January 2019, well then I would love to spend the next six-months together chasing after your definition of success and walking through lessons you learn about your business along the way.

I encourage you to click here to get all the details on this group coaching program and to fill out an application for a complimentary 1:1 consult to see if this mastermind is right for you.

Tune into episode 102 using the player above for a full breakdown of the five lessons I’ve learned throughout my business journey and tell me in the comments below what lesson you most relate to during this season of your business!

Show Note Links:

Brand Strategy Podcast

b is for bonnie design

The Brand Strategy School

Type Two Enneagram

The Heartfelt Brand Society

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My name is Bonnie – I’m a brand designer, strategist, and writer which all adds up to one eclectic conglomeration of qualities that enables me to serve you well! Past clients have dubbed me "the Joanna Gaines of brand design," and I've had more than a few call me a dream maker, a game changer, and a design wizard (my Harry Potter-loving heart didn't hate that one, let me tell you!). At the end of the day, I'm a big-hearted creative who will get teary-eyed as you share the heart behind your business; who will lose sleep over the perfect font pairings and color selections to bring your brand to life visually; and who will work tirelessly to empower, encourage, and equip you to share your work with the world intentionally. 

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