Connection is In Season
This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about connection and how it affects work.
One of the clearest signals that nudged me toward leaving one of my first companies wasn’t burnout or dissatisfaction on paper.
It was when I realized I no longer had friends at work.
My team was wonderful. I respected them. We worked well together—but they weren’t the kind of people who got me. And over time, that absence started to matter more than I expected.
Because without that sense of belonging, something essential was missing. You know?
Friends at work matter.
They’re what turn collaboration into connection and what make work feel less like something you endure and more like something you share. They’re the people you celebrate wins with and lean on when a day feels heavier than it should.
They make a workday feel lighter simply by being there.
Even as an introvert—someone who genuinely loves time and space on my own—I’ve learned just how much community and collaboration shape my energy for the work itself.
That’s why, today, as a team of one, I’m deeply grateful for the community around me: creative, thoughtful, like-minded people I feel genuinely lucky to call friends.
Scroll a bit further to see a few of my favorite collaborations—and to learn how you can cultivate that kind of connection for yourself
Cultivating Collaboration: Artist- Heather Eck
Heather Eck is the artist behind the In Season planner covers, and collaborating with her has been one of my favorite experiences.
I first met Heather through her Spirit Portrait process. That moment cracked something open in me. My spirit portrait reflected where I was in ways words couldn’t, and the experience opened new doors (a story I share more about in Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Letting Go
When it came time to create the In Season planner covers, I knew I wanted them to carry the same energy I felt in my Spirit Portrait—intuition over timelines, reflection over pressure, and color as guidance.
Choose Your Bloom: The In Season Planer
Heather designed the In Season covers the same way she creates Spirit Portraits—by tuning into energy and translating it into color and form.
Instead of asking “Which one should I choose?” notice which one you’re drawn to—often that reveals what you need most in this season of life.
Cultivating Connection: The Flourish Careers Podcast
One of the unexpected joys of hosting The Flourish Careers podcast has been the connections—meeting new people, learning about their work, and forming real friendships.
Natalie Benamou is one of those connections. We clicked instantly, the kind of professional spark that feels both energizing and effortless.
This month, we did a pod swap.
Natalie joined me to talk about staying relevant in the age of AI.
And I joined her show, Women Leaders On The Move, to talk about what happens when you outgrow a career path.
Two conversations and one belief: real connection is always In Season.
Staying Relevant in the Age of AI with Natalie Benamou
You’ve Outgrown Your Career… What’s Next? with Jenn Smith
Careers In The Age Of AI: Why Human Connection Matters More Than Ever
It’s safe to say the online job application process is officially broken. But here’s the good news: In the era of AI-driven job searches, your humanity—your judgment, story, and voice—will still be the thing that gets you to the front of the line.
Special Gift
FREE In Season planner with purchase of the Fried to Flourishing career change experience (this month only!)
Join Fried to Flourishing by February 28, 2026, and receive the In Season planner as a companion to support your career change.
Already have the planner? Give it to your work bestie!
Send an Unexpected Note of Gratitude
What if you paused right now to notice who’s been there for you and take a moment to thank them? A simple, handwritten note can make someone’s day.
Bonus points: Mail it! Receiving something that isn’t a bill feels like a tiny celebration. Lately, I’m obsessed with Farmette—a handmade paper/card subscription. It feeds all my favorite things: beautiful paper. Snail mail. Supporting artists who create with love
Fried to Flourishing Course
A comprehensive experience in making meaningful career change
Want more career wisdom? Check out these podcast episodes/blog posts!
+ Careers In The Age Of AI: Why Human Connection Matters More Than Ever
+ Staying Relevant in the Age of AI with Natalie Benamou
+ Career Reinvention Roadmap (Part 3): Practical Steps to What’s Next
For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.
