In this episode of Art of Reading the Room, Gerard and Sarah dive deep into a struggle every leader faces — balancing hands-on involvement with strategic oversight. From Carl the fast food manager to lessons from UPS and real estate, this conversation explores how knowing when to step in and when to step back can define the success of your business.

You’ll learn:

• Why your team might respect you more when you “get in the fire”
• What a “crow’s nest” approach looks like in real businesses
• How to improve your operations without micromanaging
• The subtle signals employees give when a system isn’t working
• And why leadership is really about training, motivation, and accountability

If you’ve ever struggled with being too involved — or not involved enough — this episode is your blueprint for better management.

Topics Covered:

1. The myth of passive ownership — and when to get your hands dirty
2. Why smart bosses stay invisible until absolutely necessary
3. How to find your “perch” and run operations without micromanaging
4. Stories from fast food, logistics, daycare, and real estate
5. How to train, motivate, and hold people accountable — without burning out
6. The hidden value of doing every job yourself (at least once)

Quote of the Episode:

“If I have to come out and do your job better than you — why do I need you?”

🎧 Art of Reading the Room is where business meets emotional intelligence. Subscribe for more stories and hard-won wisdom from the front lines.

In this episode of The Art of Reading the Room, Gerard and Sarah dive into one of the most controversial topics in business and life: When do you reward bad service, and when do you walk away?

From tipping debates to frustrating experiences with vendors, this candid conversation explores the hidden emotional and financial toll of dealing with unreliable people — and the surprising lessons that come with paying someone just to leave.

We share real stories about trusting the wrong people, navigating work relationships with integrity, and the hard decisions every small business owner faces.

Topics Covered:

1. When tipping becomes emotional — ethics vs. customer service
2. What to do when vendors lie, underperform, or overcharge
3. How to exit work relationships without burning bridges
4. The danger of discounting your worth as a small business owner
5. Why communication failures ruin good working dynamics
6. How to set and revisit professional boundaries with clarity

Quote of the Episode:

“Don’t discount your rate and then get mad when you hate the work you’re doing.”

👀 Team Gerard or Team Sarah? Tell us in the comments: How do you handle poor service — pay anyway or push back?

Subscribe for more honest, unfiltered conversations from Gerard and Sarah every week.

In this powerful episode of Art of Reading the Room, Gerard sits down with Gianna Bullock — a 5x Tennessee State Champion, University of Oregon heptathlete, and one of the top-ranked NIL athletes in the country.

Gianna opens up about how she built her personal brand, secured major brand deals (including McDonald's), and turned social media risk-taking into a strategic career move — all while competing at an elite level and staying grounded in faith, discipline, and gratitude.

She shares honest insights into the world of student athletics, balancing academics, life on the road, and what makes a great team culture. Whether you're a parent, athlete, creator, or entrepreneur, her story will inspire you to stop waiting and start building.

Topics Covered:

1) Balancing athletic ambition with academic excellence

2) What it takes to build an NIL brand from zero

3) The courage to post online even when it makes you uncomfortable

4) How failure and family create a “safe space to fall”

5) Social media identity vs. real-life authenticity

6) How to pitch brands when you’re just starting out

Quote of the Episode:

“I’m not afraid of failing… because even if I do, I know you guys are here to catch me.”

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations that go deeper than the feed.

In this episode of Art of Reading the Room, Gerard and Sarah dive deep into one of the most debated questions in business and life: when to take the meeting, and when to walk away.

Gerard shares how “just showing up” opened unexpected doors early in his career — and the hard lessons learned from taking too many meetings later on. Sarah challenges the idea with thoughtful boundaries, and together they break down the real cost of time, intention, and hidden agendas.

Plus: a rant on social media politics, referral risk, and why building genuine relationships still matters more than ever.

🎙 Subscribe for more real, unfiltered conversations about navigating relationships, business, and leadership in the real world.

💬 What’s your take: Should you always take the meeting? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

For 27 years, we talked about starting this podcast — and life kept getting in the way. Kids. Work. Perfectionism. Excuses. In this first episode of The Art of Reading the Room, we finally stop overthinking and start doing. This isn’t just a podcast — it’s our story of learning to balance business, family, and the chaos of everyday life.

We talk candidly about starting imperfectly, leading with discipline, delegating tasks, and letting go of the need to be “ready.” Whether you’re building a business, managing a family, or just tired of putting things off, this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:

• Why 80% done is enough to begin
• The trap of overplanning and fear of failure
• Real-life lessons from marriage, entrepreneurship, and distribution logistics
• Why you should hire before you’re fully “ready”
• The power of communication and feedback in messy beginnings
• How momentum builds confidence — not the other way around

Quote of the Episode:

“I can’t stand getting ready to get ready. Just start. You’ll get better as you go.”

Let us know: What’s one thing you’ve been waiting to start? Drop it in the comments — we want to hear your story.

In this episode of The Art of Reading the Room, Gerard shares a powerful story about what happens when your life becomes flooded with “priorities” — and how to tell the difference between what’s urgent and what’s truly important. From warehouse logistics to family life and personal burnout, this conversation breaks down how modern life tricks us into feeling productive while slowly draining our purpose.

Learn how to identify your “glass ball,” let go of distractions, and finally align your daily actions with what really matters. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your to-do list or guilty for dropping the ball — this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:

1. Why most “priorities” are just noise in disguise
2. How to identify your glass ball — and why everything else can drop
3. Managing capacity like a logistics pro — even in your personal life
4. Digital vs. analog planning — the surprising productivity advantage of writing it down
5. What warehouse operations teach us about time, pressure, and triage
6. The myth of 24-hour productivity and the truth about your actual 17 waking hours

Quote of the Episode:

“When everything is a priority… nothing is your priority.”

🎧 New episodes weekly. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the next conversation that could change your life.

The Art of Reading the Room is a weekly podcast hosted by duo Gerard and Sara Bullock, blending candid conversations with hard-earned wisdom from life, leadership, business, and family. With over two decades of experience balancing entrepreneurship, parenting, and people management, they explore what it really means to “read the room” — whether that room is your boardroom, your living room, or your inner circle. Each episode offers unfiltered stories, practical insights, and tough conversations about conflict resolution, team dynamics, personal growth, and the subtle art of knowing when to speak up, when to listen, and when to walk away. This isn’t corporate jargon or guru talk — it’s real talk for real people trying to lead with clarity and live with intention. If you’re navigating business decisions, building relationships, or just trying to do life better — this show is for you.