Leadership was never meant to strip you of your joy–or anyone else’s. And yet, somewhere along the way, that’s what happened. It Starts with Joy is a wake-up call for anyone who has ever believed that fear, pressure, or disconnection are just part of the job. It’s an invitation to choose differently. Not just for your own well-being, but for the teams, cultures, and futures you're shaping every day. This book is so much more than a guide for formal leaders because the truth is, we all lead. In our homes, communities, classrooms, and companies. We lead through our presence. Through our choices. Through the energy we bring to the room. Sheryl Raphael Whitaker–executive coach, leadership strategist, and speaker–shares her personal story of losing and reclaiming joy inside systems that said she had to trade authenticity for achievement. Through deeply honest reflections and a practical, soul-deep framework, she shows how joy isn’t a reward you earn once the work is done. It’s the strategy, fuel, and way back to leadership that feels human again. This book was written to stop harm before it starts. To reach the leader who’s quietly burning out. The one who’s performing excellence but feeling empty. And the one who never believed joy and leadership could co-exist–until now. This is the beginning of a different way to lead. Rooted in alignment and fueled by joy. Powerful enough to change everything.