How to Build Your Brand Before You’re Ready: The Step-by-Step Path to Own Your Lane With Clarity, Visibility & Authority with Bernie Borges

Ever felt the pull toward a new path, a passion project, business, or message, but kept waiting for the “perfect time” to start? 

In this episode, host Michelle B. Griffin sits down with Bernie Borges, speaker, executive leadership coach, podcast host, and founder of Fulfilled@Work, who shares how he stepped into a bold new lane before he felt fully ready.

From launching a podcast while still in corporate, to building a leadership framework, to walking away from a full-time role to pursue his mission, Bernie shares the full behind-the-scenes of how he put himself out there and turned passion into purpose and visibility into authority.

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 – Intro: The power of starting before you’re ready
 03:15 – Bernie’s backstory: From VP of content to fulfillment-focused founder
 07:20 – How podcasting helped him find his true lane
 10:40 – The moment he knew it was time to pivot
 14:25 – Positioning: Carving out space in a saturated niche
 19:30 – Building brand presence through content, podcasting, and partnerships
 24:10 – The mindset shift that helped him push past fear and visibility blocks
 28:45 – Frameworks + thought leadership: why you need one
 32:30 – Elevating authority: what builds trust and recognition
 37:00 – Bernie’s long game and vision ahead
 42:10 – Key takeaways for owning your lane and taking that first step

Whether you're still in a corporate role or already building your thought leadership brand, Bernie’s story is a powerful reminder that clarity comes through action, and your lane is waiting.

Own Your Lane® Recognition Roadmap

This episode highlights all four steps of the Own Your L.A.N.E.® framework—because Bernie models what it looks like to launch, articulate, navigate, and elevate over time:

✨ L: Launch Your Vision – Follow the pull toward a deeper purpose
✨ A: Articulate Your Difference – Define your positioning in a crowded space
✨ N: Navigate Your Brand – Shape and share your brand online and offline
✨ E: Elevate Your Authority – Establish trust with audiences and open new doors

🔗 LINKS

• Visit Bernie’s website: https://midlifefulfilled.com
• Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernieborges
• Get free personal brand resources: https://michellebgriffin.com

🎧 Be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review so more experts like you can Own Your Lane® and build a visibility-driven brand of impact.

Own Your Lane™ - Personal Branding & Marketing For Experts

The podcast for expert-led business owners ready to confidently position, brand, and market themselves to win clients and industy oppotunities.

Hosted by Michelle B. Griffin, speaker, strategist and LinkedIn® visibility expert. As the founder of Brand Leaders and with her Own Your Lane™ Recognition Roadmap, Michelle helps expertise-led business owners become the clear choice in their field.

Learn more at MichelleBGriffin.com/chat

WEBSITE: MichelleBGriffin.com
GET VISIBLE ON LINKEDIN: Free Audio Masterclass
READ: My Personal Branding Books
LISTEN: The LinkedIn Branding Show
CONNECT: With Me on LinkedIn