By Jim Hunt for the Harrison County News and Journal
Sometimes, the most memorable encounters happen when we least expect them. On a recent trip to Champaign, Illinois, for the Illinois City/County Management Association Conference, I received a surprise upgrade to First Class on my short flight from Chicago. As passengers settled in, the seat beside me remained empty until a woman pointed to it and said, “Excuse me, that’s my seat.”
As I stood to let her in, she asked what was bringing me to Champaign. I explained that I was attending the city managers’ conference, and her face lit up. “So am I—I’m the keynote speaker,” she said. Her name was Joy Baldridge, and I soon learned that she was on the list of the Top 41 Motivational Speakers, engaging audiences across the United States and beyond. As we exchanged stories, Joy was intrigued to learn that I was also a professional speaker, and our conversation quickly turned to the issues facing city managers today. As the plane prepared to land, we exchanged business cards, and I told her I’d love to give her a copy of my new book, The Entrepreneurial City.
The next morning, I spotted Joy doing a sound check in the conference room and wished her luck. She laughed and told me she planned to give me a shout-out in her presentation. As the room filled, I took a seat with my colleague, Gary Lott of HdL Companies, anticipating what was sure to be an engaging talk.
Joy’s approach to speaking is anything but conventional. She captivates her audience using dynamic storytelling, unexpected props-colorful stress balls, tiny bottles of bubbles—and an infectious energy that makes every moment interactive. True to her word, she shared our chance meeting with the audience, mentioning a tweak I had suggested for one of her stories. Then, to my surprise, she held up my book and encouraged the city managers to read it from cover to cover. Before I could sit back down, she lobbed a stress ball in my direction, and I caught it midair.
Beyond her entertaining delivery, Joy’s message resonated deeply with the room. She emphasized leadership, self-awareness, and the importance of prioritizing mental fitness. One of her breathing exercises—inhale for four seconds, hold for four, then exhale for six—stuck with me. That evening in my hotel room, I found myself trying it, realizing how effectively it calmed my mind and refocused my thoughts.
Joy left the stage to a standing ovation, surrounded by attendees eager to share their appreciation.
Later in the day, she stopped by the HdL Companies booth, and we chatted about her presentation. I invited her to be a guest on the Amazing Cities and Towns podcast, and she enthusiastically accepted before heading off to her next engagement.
Our chance meeting at 30,000 feet added something special to the conference, proving that sometimes, unexpected connections lead to lasting impact. It was truly a “Joy” to meet my new friend, Joy Baldridge.
