A Skunky Situation!

I’m sitting in my office, typing away, when suddenly...

💨 BAM! A smell hits me like a freight train.

It’s horrific. Like burnt rubber mixed with rotting onions.

“Riesah?? What’s that smell?!” I yell upstairs.

“I just got sprayed by a skunk!” she hollers back.

😳 Wait—what?!

I bolt upstairs to find her frantically stripping off her clothes, trying to contain the chaos. And then I see it...

Right there—on the back of our couch—a skunk-sprayed shirt, quietly seeping death into the fabric.

NOOOO! 🛋️💀

I grab it and race it outside, but it’s too late—the couch already smells like a crime scene.

I sprint back downstairs, dive onto my computer, and frantically type:

“How to get skunk smell out of furniture.”

After a quick store run and a prayer to the Google gods, I apply the recommended product. Miraculously, it works! 🙌

Riesah’s clothes? Not so lucky.

It took three full washes before she smelled human again.

Crisis averted. Or so I thought…

I head out to the backyard, enjoying the crisp air—when I freeze.

There it is.

A skunk, sitting quietly in one of Riesah’s varmint traps.

Oh. My. God. 😱

Now what?

I’ve faced tough leadership moments before—but this? This was new territory.

So, naturally, I did what any modern problem-solver would do...

👉 I went to YouTube.

And believe it or not, there was a video for this exact situation. (I’ve linked it below—you’re welcome!)

Following those steps, I managed to release the little stinker safely, without getting sprayed myself. Victory! 🏆

Every messy, smelly, chaotic moment in life has a lesson tucked inside it.

From this experience, here’s what leadership reminded me of:

✅ Listen to all the facts before taking action
✅ Ask for help — even from YouTube 😅
✅ Use the right tools for the job
✅ Be compassionate, even when it’s hard (or stinky)
✅ Stay calm under pressure
✅ Plan for outcomes where everyone wins
✅ Step into your fear — don’t run away from it

Sometimes leadership lessons don’t come from boardrooms or books.

Sometimes... they come from a skunk in your backyard. 🦨✨