Own Your Lane™ - The Thought Leadership Branding Podcast
For trusted experts ready to build visibility, grow influence, and lead with authority in their field.
Are you a professional services expert, consultant, advisor, founder, or speaker whose brilliance is hidden behind the scenes? You know you deliver real value, but your visibility, LinkedIn presence, and brand positioning don’t reflect the true level of authority you bring.
This podcast is here to change that.
Own Your Lane™ - The Thought Leadership Branding Podcast is the show for credible experts ready to build their personal brands, grow visibility and lead with thought leadership on LinkedIn, on stage and in the media.
Hosted by Michelle B. Griffin, TEDx & keynote speaker, advisor, author, and founder of Brand Leaders, this show offers actionable insight for building your personal brand, positioning your thought leadership, and becoming the go-to voice in your industry.
Each episode aligns with Michelle’s proprietary Own Your L.A.N.E.® Recognition Roadmap, her 4-part thought leadership brand positioning system designed to turn hidden experts into in-demand authorities
🎙️ In this podcast, you’ll learn how to:
- Clarify and position your message for greater visibility and recognition
- Grow a trusted presence on LinkedIn and across your digital footprint
- Step confidently into thought leadership with speaking, media, and books
- Build a platform that attracts ideal clients and career opportunities
With real conversations, solo insights, and practical strategies, this podcast helps you move from hidden expert to visible authority—one bold step at a time.
It’s time to Own Your Lane™ and lead with visible authority.
About Michelle B. Griffin
TEDx speaker (TEDxFSU – April 15, 2025), 2x author (Position Yourself, The LinkedIn® Branding Book), and host of two top-ranked personal branding podcasts.
Featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., and Authority Magazine, Michelle advises, speaks, and trains professional services leaders to build personal brands that drive visibility, trust, and business results.
When she’s not helping others own their lane, Michelle’s walking outdoors in sunny Florida, listening to ’80s tunes, and making meaningful connections.
Ready to Own Your Lane & Lead With Authority?
Book a clarity chat or invite Michelle to speak/train: MichelleBGriffin.com/chat
Own Your Lane™ - The Thought Leadership Branding Podcast
How to Become a First-Time Author and Build Authority Writing a Mini Book With Gehan "G" Haridy-Ardanowski
Want to write a book to share your business message? But think, "Nah, not me." It's too long and too complicated. Why bother?
Good news: For those who want to share their gifts, brilliance, or message, a mini book is your ticket to sharing your work in months, NOT years.
Each episode of the Own Your Lane® Personal Branding Podcast highlights one of the four steps of the Own Your L.A.N.E. personal branding roadmap to help you gain clarity, confidence, and a clear path to growing your influence and impact.
L: Launch Your Vision – Lead with clear intention and purpose
A: Assert Your Difference – Define what uniquely sets you apart
N: Navigate Your Presence – Shape your personal brand foundation
E: Elevate Your Authority – Grow impact and influence with publicity
This week, we're focusing on "E- Elevate Your Authority" with host Michelle B Griffin and expert guest HR (human resources) consultant and public speaker Gehan "G" Haridy-Ardanowski, founder of Golden Synergy Touch Consulting. Although a book was NOT on her radar, G wrote and published an Amazon #1 bestseller in just four months.
She's here to share her best-selling mini-book for those interested but unsure how to do it. As G says, "This can work even when starting smaller than you think. And it's not as dawning as it needs to be, or they think it should be."
If a business nonfiction book is on your radar, learn how she did it so you can share your wisdom with the world in months, not years.
LINKS
Connect with Gehan on LinkedIn
Gehan's Website
Gehan's Book
Ready to Own Your Lane? - The Brand Leaders® Podcast
Michelle B. Griffin is a keynote speaker, personal brand and PR strategist, author, podcaster and LinkedIn® visibility expert who helps high-achieving professionals elevate their visibility and influence for business growth.
As the founder of Brand Leaders® Executive Branding and creator of the Own Your Lane® Recognition Roadmap, she helps B2B founders, leaders and industry experts position their personal brands and leverage LinkedIn + PR to grow influence, increase demand, and become top-of-mind authorities to accelerate business growth.
Book a chat with Michelle to discuss speaking, advising or workshops to scale visibility, influence, and business growth. MichelleBGriffin.com/chat
WEBSITE: MichelleBGriffin.com
EXECUTIVE BRANDING ADVISORY: Brand Leaders
READ: My Personal Branding Books
LISTEN: The LinkedIn Branding Show
CONNECT: With Me on LinkedIn
Michelle B. Griffin: Welcome back, everyone! I'm Michelle B. Griffin, and today we’re talking about mini books—how to become a first-time author or create something impactful even if you’ve already written a book. Mini books are a powerful way to build authority, and I’m thrilled to welcome Gihan Haridy Ardanoski to the show. Welcome, G!
Gihan Haridy Ardanoski: Hi, everyone! Michelle, thank you so much for having me. I’m so excited to be here and share my journey.
Michelle: G is a first-time mini book author with an inspiring story. For those who don’t know you yet, G, tell us a little about yourself, and then we’ll dive into your journey to inspire more mini book authors.
Gihan: Absolutely! I’m G, founder and creative consultant at Golden Synergy Touch. With over 20 years of HR experience, I now focus on fractional HR consulting, LinkedIn training, and CliftonStrengths to amplify value and visibility for career victories. My passion is helping HR leaders dive deeper into LinkedIn and self-discovery, which led me to write my mini book.
Michelle: G, you gave an incredible five-minute speech at a DisruptHR event. I remember watching it and immediately texting you, “This is phenomenal!” And what did I say next?
Gihan: You said, “You should write a book!” That led to our conversation about mini books, and you introduced me to Chris Stanley’s mini book format. I was blown away by how accessible it was.
Michelle: Then you joined our cohort, where we guided people to draft their nonfiction business books—specifically mini books. Tell us about that experience.
Gihan: The cohort was incredible. It gave me the structure and support to expand my five-minute talk into a mini book. I had a clear goal, and within months, I wrote, edited, and published my book. A few weeks ago, it came out and became an Amazon bestseller!
Michelle: That’s amazing! Writing a book doesn’t have to take years. A mini book—focused, digestible, and actionable—can make a huge impact. Let’s talk about your three key lessons for aspiring mini book authors.
Gihan: Absolutely. First, target your audience. Know who you’re writing for. Second, go smaller. A mini book isn’t about writing 300,000 words. It’s about creating something concise and impactful. Lastly, just start. Use your talks, LinkedIn posts, or existing frameworks to get writing. Bonus: be excited! If the process doesn’t energize you, reassess your approach.
Michelle: I love that! You also self-published through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. How was that experience?
Gihan: It was seamless. I worked with Jillian Whitney and her husband, Devin, who have a step-by-step self-publishing process. It was cost-effective, straightforward, and perfect for my goals.
Michelle: Your book isn’t just a one-and-done project—it’s part of a bigger ecosystem. Where do you see it taking you next?
Gihan: My book has opened doors for corporate training, public speaking, and more books. It’s a tool to empower others and spark meaningful conversations in HR. I’m excited to see where it leads.
Michelle: For those listening who are on the fence about writing a mini book, what’s your one key takeaway?
Gihan: Your idea matters. Share it with others, and you’ll be amazed by the support you receive. Start small, stay focused, and enjoy the process.
Michelle: So well said! Thank you, G, for sharing your journey. To everyone listening: you have a message to share, and a mini book might just be the perfect way to do it. Until next time, keep putting yourself out there—you have a brand to build, a message to share, and people to impact. See you next week!