012: The Power of Storytelling for Your Brand with Nikki Takahashi

In this episode with Nikki Takahashi, we talk about the power of storytelling for your brand. This episode will give you great food for thought about your brand - whether you are looking to create one or you are looking to refresh your existing one - and having it authentically represent who you are and what you do. As well, you will be thinking about how you can make your brand unforgettable! Nikki Takahashi is a Digital Media Designer and Brand Strategist who has helped over 300 entrepreneurs embrace and amplify what makes them unique. Nikki is founder and CEO of Fetching Finn - an agency that gets clients noticed in person, online, and in print. She also hosts the Square Peg Entrepreneur podcast, featuring industry disruptors and mavericks in business. Nikki’s graphic and website design achievements earned her a Governor General’s Medal and the position as spokesperson for Tech 2000. With over twenty years in digital media, she has been featured in marketing articles and on podcasts such as Dissecting Success, Fearless and Successful, and The Business Society Podcast. Her keynotes on brand design and strategy have reached audiences around the globe. Nikki’s an aspiring videographer and avid traveler who has spent over a quarter century mastering and teaching the art of karate. Her most recent adventures include skydiving over the Canadian Rockies and flying to Berlin for a tattoo. She resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.   Listen in as we talk about: Using storytelling to create a connection between your brand and the market. Nikki shares a very moving story about reconnecting with the love of her life and becoming a stepmom, and how it proves the power of storytelling. Always learning and growing. One thing that Nikki loves, in particular, about being a Digital Media Designer and Brand Strategist is the “deliciousness” of learning and growing despite it being difficult. Creating a brand essence. Nikki talks about the intentionality behind the components of your brand essence. Mistakes to avoid when building a personal brand. Do you know which common mistakes you should avoid making? Nikki shares all about which ones to look out for.   Connect with Nikki: Website: https://fetchingfinn.com Instagram: @thenikkitak  Facebook: @niktakahashi  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkitakahashi/ Podcast: Square Peg Entrepreneur https://fetchingfinn.com/square-peg-entrepreneur Podcast episode shared by Nikki: https://fetchingfinn.com/obsessive-joy-disorder-with-leona-devinne/   Connect with Tiana: Website: https://tianafech.com LinkedIn: Tiana Fech https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianafech/ Instagram: @tianafech https://www.instagram.com/tianafech/ Facebook: @tianafech https://www.facebook.com/tianafech Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course https://amzn.to/3BujR21      USING STORYTELLING TO CREATE A CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR BRAND AND THE MARKET Nikki and I met in person at a conference, MamaCon, in Toronto. She shared an incredibly moving story about her one regret in life, which was not having children, and how she reconnected with the love of her life and is now becoming a stepmom.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. This segued into the power of storytelling and how important it is to understand the magnitude of your story and the impact it has. When you are confident in your story, your messaging resonates deeply with those who hear it, and it creates a ripple effect in the community.     ALWAYS LEARNING AND GROWING One thing, in particular, that Nikki loves about her industry is that you have to keep learning and you have to keep growing. Otherwise, you don’t have clients and you aren’t at the cutting edge anymore. Nikki talks about how this can become harder as we get older. We can get stuck in our ways or committed to a certain style or direction. Social media and brands are moving so quickly that it can be harder to keep up. Despite it being difficult,