In the latest episode, host Bernie Borges invites you into a crucial conversation about self-awareness, why it's vital for effective leadership, and how you can develop this skill for more fulfillment in every area of your life.

Three key discussion points from the episode:

1️⃣ The Surprising Self-Awareness Gap Among Leaders
According to a Harvard Business Publishing study, only 10–15% of people are sufficiently self-aware, with less than a 30% correlation between actual and self-perceived competence. This gap negatively impacts decision-making, collaboration, and conflict management, whether at work, at home, or in your community.

2️⃣ The Values and Fulfillment Alignment Guide
Bernie shares his own journey, revealing that even when external life looked successful, he felt “off.” This led him to create the Values and Fulfillment Alignment Guide, a framework to help you rate fulfillment across health, fitness, career, relationships, and legacy, and align these with your personal values. The guide is free and designed to bring life-changing clarity, often in less than an hour.

3️⃣ Action Steps for Lasting Impact
The five-step guide asks you to:

• Rate your fulfillment in the five life pillars
• Identify your top values
• Assess your alignment with those values
• Reflect on insights gained
• Commit to one actionable change

By embracing self-reflection with structure, leaders can foster meaningful change not just for themselves, but also for their teams, families, and broader communities.

Main Takeaway:
Becoming a self-aware leader isn’t reserved for CEOs or those with psychology degrees. It’s available to anyone willing to reflect and realign with their values. Start your journey to clarity with the Values and Fulfillment Alignment Guide.

Ready to unlock more clarity and fulfillment?
Get your free copy of the guide. Carve out a few minutes this week for yourself, and see what insights await you.

Connect with Bernie Borges

Book Bernie Borges to speak at your next offsite or leadership event: https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/speaking/ 

LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

In episode 260, host Bernie Borges dives deep into one of the most overlooked (yet powerful) drivers of workplace engagement: recognition. If you’re looking to boost morale, deepen connections, and foster true fulfillment at work, this episode is for you.

Three Key Insights from the Episode:

1️⃣ Recognition is More Than Rewards: Bernie highlights the difference between recognition and rewards. While rewards are transactional (think hitting sales targets), recognition is relational. It’s about genuinely seeing and valuing the effort, growth, and care people put into their work.

2️⃣ Peer-to-Peer and Self-Recognition Matter: Recognition isn’t just top-down. Some of the most meaningful moments often come from peers. A simple thank you or acknowledgment can quickly transform team culture. Plus, self-recognition helps us appreciate our own growth, quieting the constant urge to keep moving without reflection.

3️⃣ Authentic Recognition Powers Retention: Bernie makes it clear: recognition, when consistent and authentic, builds identity and belonging. When people feel seen, loyalty and engagement rise. He shares that training leaders in this skill is essential for truly impactful recognition.

Main Takeaway:
Recognition isn’t a “nice to have." It’s a low-cost, high-impact lever for engagement, culture, and retention. Make it a habit, not just a holiday!

Calculate the ROI of employee engagement with our ROI Calculator
https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/services/employee-engagement-fund-roi-calculator/

Connect with Bernie Borges

Book Bernie Borges to speak at your next offsite or leadership event: https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/speaking/ 

LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

In this episode of the Life Fulfilled Podcast, Bernie Borges explores how fulfillment at work takes shape across seven distinct career paths from physical labor and healthcare to tech, public service, retail/hospitality, manufacturing, and services. Drawing from years of insight and conversations with professionals from all walks of life, Bernie reveals that fulfillment is more than just loving your job, it’s about connecting to purpose, pride, and impact, no matter your industry. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, serving your community, or working with your hands, this episode will help you reflect on what really drives your sense of meaning at work.

Three Key Takeaway Points:

1️⃣ Purpose Fuels Fulfillment, Regardless of the Job

Even in physically demanding or high-pressure roles like law enforcement, healthcare, or manufacturing, fulfillment often stems from a deep sense of purpose. When individuals reconnect with why they do what they do, they unlock motivation that goes beyond a paycheck.

2️⃣ Each Career Path Has Its Own Fulfillment Triggers

What fuels fulfillment in tech might differ from what fuels it in public service, such as community trust or long-term contribution. Bernie shows how identifying your own “fulfillment trigger” helps you thrive in any career environment.

3️⃣ Change is Inevitable, but Fulfillment Can Evolve

With industries constantly disrupted by technology, automation, and societal shifts, careers evolve, and so can your fulfillment. Bernie encourages listeners to proactively shape their path by reflecting on how their skills and passions can adapt in a changing world.

Summary:

This episode takes listeners on a reflective journey across seven career sectors to uncover how people find meaning, satisfaction, and pride in their work. From burnout in healthcare to innovation in tech, Bernie frames fulfillment not as a static achievement but as a dynamic strategy for long-term success and happiness. Whether you're reevaluating your job, exploring new roles, or supporting others in their career journey, this episode offers timely insights into building a career that truly fulfills you.

Connect with Bernie Borges

Book Bernie Borges to speak at your next offsite or leadership event: https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/speaking/ 

LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

In this episode, Bernie Borges zooms out to explore quiet quitting through the lens of workplace culture. 

Here are three key discussion points you won’t want to miss:

1. The State of Employee Engagement: According to Gallup, global employee engagement dropped from 23% to 21% in 2024. That means nearly 79% of workers worldwide are disengaged, costing the global economy $8.8 trillion each year. For Bernie, fulfillment isn’t a perk, it’s essential to organizational performance.

2. The Real Power of Culture and Leadership: Quiet quitting doesn’t start or end with perks and policies. It’s rooted in leadership and a deeply ingrained culture. Bernie challenges leaders to ask themselves brutally honest questions: When did you last have a real human conversation with a team member? Do your people feel safe bringing you feedback? Is their work connected to a bigger purpose? These questions are at the heart of engagement and fulfillment.

3. Five Timeless Steps for Leaders (and Employees) to Rekindle Engagement: Bernie explains five action steps any leader can start implementing today:

• Check-in Weekly
• Recognize Often
• Create Clarity
• Model the Behavior You Want
• Stay Humble

Even if you’re not in a traditional leadership role, Bernie encourages listeners to influence culture within their immediate circles because quiet quitting spreads silently, but so does positive energy!

Main Takeaway: Fulfillment at work isn’t a luxury; it’s the fuel for your best work and your best life. Whether you’re leading a team or looking to reinvigorate your own engagement, you do have the power to spark positive change and move the needle toward a thriving culture.

Ready to move the needle?
Bernie invites you to take the free Fulfilled@Work Scorecard™ to assess your own workplace fulfillment and to schedule a complimentary strategy call if you’re ready to take actionable steps as a leader.

Don’t settle for a culture of survival. Build one where people thrive.

Take the FREE Fulfilled@Work Scorecard

Connect with Bernie Borges

Schedule a complimentary strategy call with Bernie: https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/contact/ 

LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

On the second of three episodes on quiet quitting, host Bernie Borges dives deep into why fulfillment matters and how it’s connected to the growing issue of quiet quitting. Whether you’re an employee feeling disengaged or a leader trying to inspire your team, there are practical steps you can take today to bring meaning back to your work life.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1️⃣ Alignment is Everything: True fulfillment at work isn’t about “having it all.” It’s about the alignment between your personal values and your everyday reality. When those are out of sync, disengagement and quiet quitting become almost inevitable.

2️⃣ Small Steps Spark Change: Employees don’t need a massive career overhaul to reclaim fulfillment. Sometimes, asking yourself what energized you in the past, volunteering for a new project, or having a candid conversation with your manager is enough to trigger a positive shift.

3️⃣ Leaders Set the Tone: 70% of team engagement is directly tied to manager behavior. Leaders who listen, provide clarity, and foster genuine connections create environments where team members stay engaged and motivated instead of slipping into autopilot.

Main takeaway: Fulfillment at work isn’t a luxury; it’s foundational to purpose and achievement. Whether you’re an individual contributor or a leader, self-awareness and small, intentional actions can turn the tide on quiet quitting.

Looking for ways to measure where you stand? Try the Fulfilled@Work Scorecard, and see where you’re thriving, or where you might need a spark.

Take the FREE Fulfilled@Work Scorecard

Stay tuned for the next episode (3 of 3), where Bernie digs deeper into quiet quitting and the impact on culture.

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

This week on the Life Fulfilled podcast, host Bernie Borges kicks off a three-part series all about quiet quitting. He explains what it really is, why it matters, and what you can do if you realize you’re in the middle of it.

Bernie opens with the tough question: How do you show up at work? Are you still motivated, or are you just going through the motions? Turns out, quiet quitting (emotional withdrawal—not open revolt or laziness!) is incredibly common, and it comes with a big cost, not just for your job performance, but for your energy, health, and relationships.

Three Key Discussion Points:

1️⃣ What is Quiet Quitting?
Quiet quitting isn’t about slacking off; it’s a serious disconnect where work no longer feels meaningful, often driven by layoffs, lack of recognition, or unfulfilling roles. Bernie connects the dots to fulfillment: when your work doesn’t align with your values or energize you, you’re at risk.

2️⃣ The Impact is HUGE:
Bernie shares alarming data: according to Gallup, 59% of workers globally are quiet quitters, costing the economy trillions in lost productivity. Teams with high engagement see 78% less absenteeism and 14% higher productivity!

3️⃣ Simple Actions You Can Take:
Whether you’re an employee, leader, or self-employed, Bernie gives actionable advice: reflect on what you enjoy, identify where fulfillment is leaking, and take small steps, like meaningful conversations or tackling new projects, to reignite purpose. Leaders, especially, must ask “How are you doing, really?” and listen without an agenda.

Main Takeaway:
Quiet quitting is a wake-up call because fulfillment at work matters deeply, not just for you, but for your team and your organization. When you reconnect with purpose, even in small ways, you reclaim your energy and potential.

Take the FREE Fulfilled@Work Scorecard

Stay tuned for the next episode (2 of 3), where Bernie digs deeper into how fulfillment fuels both employees and the health of organizations, and how you can turn things around, one intentional step at a time.

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

This week, host Bernie Borges speaks with Chief People Officer Shamayne Braman, a fellow speaker at the upcoming HR Wellness and Executive Summit. They explore what it really means to experience career fulfillment, moving beyond titles, compensation, and prestige.

Here are three powerful takeaways from their conversation:

1️⃣ Redefining Failure and Building Resilience

Early in her career, Shamayne joined Teach for America expecting to connect effortlessly with her students. Instead, she faced unexpected rejection, an experience that tested her assumptions and pushed her to build trust through humility, grit, and self-awareness. These early lessons became a foundation for her leadership journey across industries.

2️⃣ Leading with Genuine Care and Human Connection

Across roles in education, healthcare, retail, and tech, Shamayne’s leadership has been grounded in deep care for people. Whether supporting students or leading HR teams, she focuses on unlocking individual potential and closing the gap between where people are and where they can go.

3️⃣ Wellness as a Professional Advantage

Shamayne shares how her personal health and fitness practices, including mental well-being, fuel her performance as a leader. By prioritizing self-care, embracing stillness, and rejecting the stigma around mental health, she ensures she leads from a place of strength, clarity, and empathy.

One Main Takeaway:
Career fulfillment isn’t defined by what’s on your résumé. Through resilience, authentic relationships, and intentional self-care, we build a living legacy that’s felt in every interaction, not just remembered after we’re gone.

This episode is brought to you by the HR Leadership & Wellness Summit in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. 

This invite-only experience brings together senior HR professionals from companies like Warner Bros., Morgan Stanley, Paramount, and more for three days of transformative conversations, strategic networking, and actionable insights.

Apply for a complimentary invitation to the HR Leadership & Wellness and Culture & Engagement Executive Summits. https://bit.ly/lifefulfilledxopal 

Connect with Shamayne Braman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamaynebraman/
75 Hard Challenge

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Take the FREE Fulfilled@Work Scorecard

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker.
Explore a tailored workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

This week, executive coach and author Danielle Baldwin joins us for an eye-opening conversation about the transformative power of inspiration. Danielle shares why inspiration isn't just an emotional spark, but the force behind greater fulfillment, peak performance, and a deeper sense of purpose in both life and work.

Three impactful insights from our conversation:

1️⃣ Why Inspiration Is More Powerful Than Motivation
While motivation relies on external goals or internal discipline, inspiration taps into something deeper. Danielle explains how true inspiration ignites intrinsic energy and clarity that drives people to go beyond what’s expected. Inspired individuals don’t just perform, they excel and find meaning in the process.

2️⃣ The CHART Framework: A Blueprint for Inspiring Stories
From her forthcoming book, Sparking Greatness, Danielle introduces the CHART framework—Courage, Hardship, Authenticity, Resilience, and Transformation—as the five core elements of stories that spark genuine inspiration. Whether in leadership, teams, or personal development, CHART helps people connect to their “why” and channel inspiration into purposeful action.

3️⃣ Inspiration as a Remedy for Burnout and Disconnection
Danielle dives into the difference between being overwhelmed and truly burned out, describing burnout as a place where energy and purpose feel completely drained. Her approach: help people create intentional space—mental and emotional—for inspiration to re-emerge. When we feel inspired, we reconnect with our purpose and build the resilience needed to thrive long-term.

Main Takeaway:
Inspiration isn’t accidental. It’s not just about creativity or temporary motivation; it’s a sustainable force that fuels fulfillment, performance, and purpose. When we intentionally create conditions for inspiration, stillness, reflection, and meaningful storytelling, we unlock our true potential and reignite our vision for what’s possible.

Connect with Danielle Baldwin
Website: https://daniellebbaldwin.com/
Book: Sparking Greatness: https://daniellebbaldwin.com/sparking-greatness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-bruno-baldwin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dbbaldwin 

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Take the FREE Fulfilled@Work Assessment

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attr

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

Episode 253 features Heather A. Campbell, an entrepreneur, author, and founder of Ready, Set, Recover. If you’ve ever faced a surgical procedure with a sense of dread, this conversation will change your approach.

Here’s a quick recap of our three key discussion points:

1️⃣ Turning Anxiety into Empowerment:
When Heather faced surgery herself, she found the typical advice lacking (“just take pain meds or do PT later”). Drawing from her wellness background, she developed a holistic preparation plan. Her surgeon noticed her great recovery and wished all patients could do the same. This sparked Heather’s mission to help others approach surgery feeling empowered, not anxious.

2️⃣ Creating Win-Win Solutions in Healthcare:
Ready, Set, Recover isn’t just focused on patient wellbeing. Heather designed it to benefit hospitals, insurers, and employers, too. It's for anyone invested in better health outcomes and lower stress. Her approach connects patients to practical steps and helps organizations improve their bottom line. Win-win-win!

3️⃣ Celebrating Milestones and Everyday Progress:
Heather’s philosophy, and her book Good is Amazing, encourages us to celebrate incremental progress, not just final achievements. Whether recovering from surgery, writing a book, or looking for a new job, she reminds us to honor the small wins and give ourselves permission to feel fulfilled along the way.

Main Takeaway:
We often underestimate our control over challenging times like surgery or big life changes. Heather’s message is about recognizing your agency, advocating for yourself, and celebrating the journey, not just the outcome. By reframing our stories and giving ourselves permission to savor small victories, fulfillment becomes an everyday reality.

Connect with Heather Campbell
Website: ReadySetRecover
Website: HeatherCampbell Author
LinkedIn

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Website

Take the FREE Fulfilled@Work Assessment

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!

This episode features Kristin Pascual, VP of Communications, Culture, and Community at Seagate Technology. Kristin shares the story of how Seagate faced a massive market downturn, losing 50% of revenue and 35% of its workforce, yet emerged stronger, with a renewed sense of purpose and record-high employee engagement.

Here are 3 key takeaways from our conversation:

1️⃣ Authentic, Transparent Communication Builds Trust: Even when news was tough, Seagate’s leadership prioritized in-person “Connect Sessions,” open dialogue, and myth-busting dashboards, forging trust through transparency. Leaders showed up with empathy, even admitting when they didn’t have all the answers.

2️⃣ Fulfillment Grows from Connection and Recognition: Fulfillment isn’t just a buzzword; it’s fueled by creating spaces where every employee feels seen and valued, from engineers to supporting staff. Seagate’s new recognition platform celebrated 15,000+ “moments that matter” in its first month, reinforcing community and belonging even in challenging times.

3️⃣ Human Skills are Leadership Skills: Connection, trust, and transparency aren’t “soft skills,” they’re essential leadership capabilities. Real impact comes from meeting employees where they are, actively listening, and ensuring managers recognize achievements at every level.

💡 Main takeaway: Fulfillment at work is not a destination; it's a journey shaped by struggle, growth, ownership, and shared purpose. Seagate’s experience shows that when organizations lead with empathy and genuine connection, both people and performance thrive.

This episode is brought to you by the HR Leadership & Wellness Summit in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. 

This invite-only experience brings together senior HR professionals from companies like Warner Bros., Morgan Stanley, Paramount, and more for three days of transformative conversations, strategic networking, and actionable insights.

Apply for a complimentary invitation to the HR Leadership & Wellness and Culture & Engagement Executive Summits in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. https://bit.ly/lifefulfilledxopal 

Connect with Kristin Pascual  

Website
LinkedIn

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring Bernie as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored training workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

Get the Weekly Fulfill weekly newsletter and never miss an episode!