TIME with Melanie Cross- From Tax To Travel

Send us Fan MailThinking about a bold career switch or trying to make sales work smarter, not harder? Meet Mel from Melbourne, who traded a decade in Big Four tax for a front-line role in cruise sales and built a system that turned burnout into balance. We dive into her leap into the travel industry, how she pitched transferable skills to land a strategic sales manager role, and the mindset that powered her first year of relentless yes—then the turning point that followed.Mel opens up about finding a mentor who helped her replace chaos with clarity. Together they set three pillars—structure, efficiency, and the confidence to say no—and started with tiny, tactical changes that paid off fast. That includes writing a precise out-of-office that set expectations, nudged partners to the right self-serve channels, and protected time for deep work. From there, we unpack the road plan audit that ranked accounts, prioritised high performers, and brought focus to weekly travel. The result didn’t just calm her calendar; leadership rolled the model out nationally.You’ll hear practical tactics for territory planning, partner enablement, and building a scalable sales motion across Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. We also get real about energy and joy: country coffee versus city espresso, celebrating wins with bubbles, and the power of simple rituals like a family-made dog calendar to keep spirits high. Networking in Melbourne gets a spotlight too—why smaller rooms can create deeper conversations and stronger outcomes.If you’re navigating a pivot, managing a crowded inbox, or racing between client visits, this conversation offers a playbook: pitch your story, build systems that serve you, and choose focus over frenzy. Stick around for light-hearted moments—lime green uniforms, dog-friendly office visits, and a shared mantra to always have something to look forward to. Like what you hear? Follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find us.