One of the weirdest things for me about leaving my old life in banking behind to join the wine industry has been the people I’ve met. They just seem to be smiling all the time, I’m not used to it!
In fairness they’ve mostly been either wine makers or wine drinkers. The passion and enjoyment that they both feel flows naturally out of both subsets. I haven’t spent a lot of time with the sales and marketing people, those (who like many a disgruntled office worker) have performance targets and pressures to wipe that wine-related grin off their faces.
It is all so weird to me. I worked in my old job to make money. There, I said it! I didn’t enjoy the work, I didn’t find it interesting (although a lot of guys and girls did, and fair play to them!), I just slugged my guts out, 6 til 6 Monday to Friday picking up a salary and, fingers crossed, a bonus once a year. Well unfortunately I chose the wrong career at the wrong time. There was bugger all money for anyone but the 1% at the top, and plenty of frustration for the rest of us. Not a lot of smiles knocking around my office I can tell you. C’est la vie!
So when I got my head straight, decided life was too short, and decided to give this wine thing a proper go, I was just not used to it. The smiles and the enthusiasm were just foreign to me.
Lots of people who know my change of direction assume it’s one big laugh working in wine. It’s hard to tell them that wine makers live on their nerves as much if not more than anyone else. Most people can control how their year turns out. Winemakers can’t control the weather, can they? And it’s not like their kids will be off to Eton or Harrow anytime time soon!
Without a doubt it is the enthusiasm and passion they feel for it. I’ve gone from a job where I could have one day done ok for myself (financially) to one where I might just cover the mortgage. But if I get one thing out of working in this industry, I want to learn to smile. Everyday.
Cheers
Mike
Now working as the UK Director of 20h33, sign up for free at www.20h33.co.uk for UK site, www.20h33.com for French site
Well said that man… I couldn’t agree more!!
You know it, right?
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! What are you now doing in the wine industry?
Ha, no idea!!!! 🙂 I’m running 20h33 in the UK, very good fun!
Oh that’s right. I remember you writing about that now. I am excited for you!!!
Thanks so much
Welcome to the wine industry 🙂 Best place to be….
So I’m finding!
Top post! And I hear ya!! (ex-banking but still with an office day job… for now)
How do you have time for an office job????????
I’ve learned to live off 5 hours sleep or so… 😉
nutter!
I’d like to think there’s a method to my madness Mike… but who am I kidding! 😉
doesn’t matter if there’s a method to the madness or a madness to the method, you keep enjoying yourself mate 🙂
Bravo! Similar story – I still refuse lucrative opportunities in corporate America (puke) and what keeps me going (although I miss the bonuses) is the smile on my face, people I meet in the industry and time with my kiddo. They recognize me now. Happy for you! Congrats.
And to all of us it seems!!! Finding the things that make you enjoy getting up in the morning
You do know that you are my hero, right?
🙂 very kind boss, I’ll be my own hero if I can make a living out of it!
So inspiring! Congratulations for finding your path! It’s hard not to smile with a glass of wine in hand!
Try it with two glasses, the smile gets bigger still! 🙂
It’s a simple principle: do more of what makes you happy. I should learn to live by that too 🙂
Wine’s a great place to start!