Kelly Clarkson is my dream girl

The other night I had this dream in which I realized I was married to Kelly Clarkson.There was a legitimate feeling of increased status and cachet in having such a direct connection to a rich, famous, superstar.Except there was one big problem.In addition to the fact that Dream Geoff had no recollection of ever having met Kelly, he was also married to our actual wife, Nicole, of whom we are both quite fond.Dream Geoff was trying to sort out if it was legal to be married to two different people – as long as they lived in separate states – when I woke up.I’m sure Kelly Clarkson is great, but it was a relief to wake up next to Nicole because I love Nicole.And Nicole is real. In our 28 years of marriage, we’ve weathered a few storms, had a few laughs, raised a human, and been teammates in the trenches. Day in and day out, we’ve made it work together.And that’s better than a sudden connection to fame and fortune.Throughout your career you might find yourself in situations where ingratiating yourself to someone with money, or power, or influence feels like a great way to improve your status.Just don’t do it at the expense of those who have been there, day in and day out.And don’t confuse clever networking with loyalty and actual concern. Transactional relationships are fleeting. Don’t believe the hype.OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION: Make a list of five people who matter most to your real-life leadership journey—and ask yourself: When’s the last time I invested in that relationship? This week, do something to reconnect or reinforce at least one of them.PS: I’m not arguing against having strategic relationships that help you move your career forward. I’m just arguing that you shouldn’t mortgage your real relationships in an effort to enrich relationships that are transactional in nature.My free PDF, “100 Questions for Better 1-1 Meetings,” will help you upgrade the 1-1 conversations with your people so you can easily unearth their hidden potential and uncover valuable insights about your organization. Grab it today!