It Was All a Dream: What Biggie Still Teaches Us About Joy

 

Joy in leadership does not always arrive loudly. Sometimes it shows up in a quiet moment that reminds you why your work matters. I felt that kind of joy the first time I was able to promote someone at Amazon. She was talented, trusted, and ready, but the first promotion attempt did not go through. She handled the disappointment with grace, but I knew the no did not reflect her impact. I stayed with her. I coached her through the feedback. I made sure her contributions were visible to the people who needed to see them.

When the yes finally came, calling her to deliver the news filled me with a joy that stayed with me. It reminded me that leadership is often about helping someone step into a moment they once only hoped for. That was when Biggie’s voice entered my mind and his song “Juicy” started playing in my head. This classic is a reminder of what it feels like when possibility becomes real. I pulled three lyrics from the song to share leadership insights this week. 

One of my favorite lyrics in the song gives us our first leadership lesson.

1. “It was all a dream...”

This lyric captured the moment perfectly. It mirrored the feeling of watching someone step confidently into something they once only imagined. Leaders can get so focused on targets and execution that we forget we are also dream keepers. We hold space for the dreams our people carry. We support them as they shape those dreams into something real. Joy shows up when you witness someone claim what they have been working toward with quiet dedication.

What to do:

• Identify one person you need to advocate for this quarter.
• Meet with them to align on one key goal they want to achieve this year.
• Partner with them to identify a project or opportunity that showcases their strengths, then commit to advocating for their visibility in that space.

The leadership lesson: Joy grows when leaders honor the dreams their people carry.

2. “Don’t let ’em hold you down, reach for the stars.”

This lyric is more than ambition. It is a reminder that joy often lives in the climb, not just the moment you arrive. There is a unique kind of joy that appears when you see someone push past discouragement and keep reaching anyway. Leaders get a front row seat to that. We see the courage it takes to stay committed after a setback. We see the spark return when someone realizes they are more capable than they believed. That is joy too. The quiet kind that strengthens trust and deepens connection.

What to do:
• Take five minutes this week to name one area where someone on your team has shown growth or resilience.
• Share it with them directly and explain why it stood out to you.

The leadership lesson: Joy deepens when leaders notice and name the moments people rise, even before the final win arrives.

“Damn right I like the life I live.”

This lyric rose up the moment I hung up the phone after giving her the news. Not because leadership is perfect or predictable, but because moments like that remind you that joy is part of the work. There is a real joy in witnessing someone step into their next chapter. Not because of anything you did alone, but because you had the chance to walk alongside them. You get to support people, learn from them, and celebrate the milestones they work hard to reach. That line in the song reminded me that joy is not something leaders wait to feel. It grows through presence, partnership, and the small acts of encouragement that help someone see what is already in them.

The leadership lesson: Joy becomes a leadership practice when leaders take pride in the growth they help others achieve.

The Joy You Create Matters

Leadership will always come with pressure, expectations, and days that stretch you thin. But it also comes with moments that remind you why you chose this path. Joy is one of those reminders. It is a leadership signal that tells you your work is creating movement, meaning, and momentum for someone else. Joy is not a soft skill. It is a competency that shapes culture, strengthens trust, and builds the kind of connection that makes teams want to follow you. When leaders practice joy with intention, they create workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow.

🎶 TLDR: 

• Joy grows when leaders honor the dreams their people carry.
• Joy deepens when leaders notice and name the moments people rise.
• Joy becomes a leadership practice when leaders take pride in the growth they help create.
• Leadership is not just about outcomes. It is also about the joy you create along the way.

🎤 Mic drop: Joy is not what leaders wait to feel. Joy is what leaders choose to create.