Episode 4: Why I Built My Leadership Brand Around JOY (And You Should Too)

🎧 Listen to Episode 4: Why I Built My Leadership Brand Around JOY (And You Should Too)

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Let’s get one thing straight:

Joy isn’t cute.

It’s not soft.

And it’s definitely not a luxury.

It’s strategy.

When I walked away from my corporate career in 2021—after leading billion-dollar teams and enduring 14 corporate reorgs—I did a full audit of my career and asked: What actually helped me rise?

The answer wasn’t perfection, performance, or proximity to power.

It was joy.

I Didn’t Choose Joy Because Life Was Light—I Chose It Because It Was Hard

There were so many moments I wanted to quit—getting divorced with two little boys, losing my mom suddenly, working under toxic leadership, being told to “tone it down” or “act more like a man.”

Every time I was down and out, I bet on myself.

Every time, joy brought me back.

Joy Helped Me Lead Better—Not Softer

In one of my final corporate roles, I was problem-solving in a tense meeting when a senior VP snapped,

“Jesus, Lori—not everything is rainbows and unicorns.”

That moment stopped me in my tracks. Not because I was wrong—but because it showed me that the corporate world often confuses optimism with ignorance.

Joy isn’t about ignoring problems. It’s about refusing to swim in them.

It’s the anchor that helps you lead from your values—not just your calendar.

The Data Doesn’t Lie: Joy Is a Leadership Advantage

I’ve spent the last few years researching this:

✅ Joyful leaders are 31% more productive

✅ They are 3x more creative

✅ They see improved sales, customer service, and retention

Joy isn’t a buzzword. It’s a profit lever—and a people one.

When your team feels your presence, your belief in them, your energy—they show up differently. They stay. They grow. They trust.

Joy Helped Me Reclaim My Body, My Boundaries, and My Voice

I stopped chasing worth.

Stopped surviving on Diet Coke and pretzels.

Started sleeping 8 hours, drinking water, and nourishing my body.

Joy taught me that boundaries aren’t walls—they’re self-respect in action.

Joy Is Also the Secret to Legacy

Metrics matter. But people won’t just remember your dashboards. They’ll remember:

• How you made them feel.

• If you slowed down long enough to see them.

• Whether you remembered their kid’s name or that big championship game.

If we want to build careers that mean something, we have to build lives that do, too.

Final Thought: Joy Is Not the Aftermath of Success—It’s the Engine

“Joy helps you rise without losing yourself.”

In a world full of burned-out leaders and broken systems, joy might be the most radical thing we can lead with.

📩 Reflection Prompts:

• Where are you chasing achievement but feeling empty?

• What’s one way you could prioritize joy as a leadership strategy this week?

• How would your team describe the energy you bring?

📲 Connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram

🗓️ Book a Discovery Call: loripine.com

Because joy isn’t personal—it’s powerful.

And it’s your strategic edge.