The “Situation” Every Leader Should Avoid " 🕒 3 min read  By Desiree Grace Your body’s hotter than a brothel in Guam." Singer‑songwriter Johnny Blue Skies drops this line in his song Situation , where he describes becoming infatuated with a woman, losing all good sense, and landing himself squarely in a “situation.” It’s a great song with an even better lesson. Give it a listen ,  though I cannot recommend the video . Johnny Blue Skies’ lyric captures the exact tension leaders face today: the pull of short‑term gratification versus the discipline required to make decisions that support long‑term organizational health. Some sales leaders and salespeople find themselves in a similar predicament when they become overly fixated on an attractive bonus. They forget that certain decisions require consideration of company goals, organizational alignment, and overall brand reputation. These situations are the professional equivalent of the aforementioned object of Johnny’s infatuat...

From Passenger to Pilot: Own Your Career with SMART Goals ! By Desiree Grace Last week we talked about SMART goals. But now it's time to look at things from the perspective of the salesperson. Salespeople, it’s that time of year again, the mid-year review. Like any good traveler, preparation is everything. And when it comes to your career, you need to be SMART. Think of it like this: if you’ve ever spent a night in an airport hotel without your luggage, you’ve probably learned to stash a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a clean t-shirt in your backpack. The same logic applies to your performance review, except your backpack is full of data, accomplishments, and SMART goals. Step 1: Preparation is a Year-Round Activity Mid-year reviews shouldn’t sneak up on you like turbulence over Chicago. You prepare all year long. How? Save the wins. Every large order, every glowing customer email or thank-you text? File it away. Keep a running record on your desktop so you're ready when revi...