As we step into September, a month of transition, I’ve been reflecting on a story I want to share with you.

A few weeks ago, I connected with Gary on LinkedIn. At first glance, you might see Gary as a Service Delivery Manager. That’s his title, his work. But over a series of messages Gary revealed something deeper, his ethos in life is to share joy.

And suddenly, the job title faded into the background.

Because Gary isn’t only a Service Delivery Manager. He’s a husband, a father, a friend. He’s a musician, a poet, a writer. He volunteers his time to bring joy to children in hospital. He is, in every sense, so much more than what his LinkedIn headline suggests.

It made me pause and reflect. How often do we stop at surface-level questions?

“What do you do?” “Where do you work?”

We rarely ask the richer questions that open doors into someone’s passions, values, and dreams. Yet, it’s in those deeper layers that real connection, and real joy, lives.

Our work may be what we do, but it isn’t who we are. By choosing to look beyond titles, beyond small talk, we invite in fuller, more meaningful relationships.

And isn’t that what September is about? This is a season of change, leaves begin to turn, routines shift, and we’re invited to look inward at what really matters.

For me, that reflection is flowing into the preparations for my Strength & Serenity Women’s Retreat later this month. I can’t wait to gather with professional women who are also seeking to reconnect with themselves beyond their roles, to embrace their passions, values, and deeper strength.

So, I want to leave you with this invitation for September:

👉 Instead of asking someone “What do you do?”, try asking:

What lights you up?

What values guide you?

What brings you joy?

And then, think about how you can spread a little joy of your own this month. Whether it’s through a kind word, a smile, a shared laugh, a creative gift, or simply being present for someone else, because joy multiplies when we choose to give it away.

My question for you is: As we move into this new season, how will you spread joy?

I’d love to hear your reflections, drop me a comment below 👇.