From Fine Lines to Fine Wine

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What was your former work?

Graphic Designer, Art Director, Illustrator, Fine Artist, and Art Instructor at the University level.

What is your new work?

Prisoner to my quixotic search for as many sublime moments as will fit in a day, in the form of wine broker-wine sales and education.

What or who inspired you to make the change?

A great unhappiness with the state of design, the despair of creating art, and the dwindling renumeration from both. I decided that art is a training ground for Baristas and a one-way ticket to palookaville. Wine, on the other hand, is an endlessly fascinating subject and sales is like fishing - there's always a big one in the next pool.

What was the biggest hurdle to making the change?

Breaking in and getting that first job. My first full time job in the field was telemarketing wine to rich clients all over the country and I commuted an hour each way to do it. You have to suffer for your wine!

Did you read career books?

Yes, my wife made me read the book she read: I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It (Paperback) by Barbara Sher

What skills from your old career are useful in your new one?

Teaching cured my fear of public speaking, so getting up in front of groups to do wine education is easy, fun, and stress free. Also, I can draw shelf-talkers (those little point of sale cards that describe wine) that shock and amaze my compatriots in the field!

Is there anything you miss about the old career?

The summers off...(which were not really vacations, but at least no students). Other than that, my wife hardly recognizes me--she says I am a happy person now.

How do you feel now that you've taken the leap?

Like I have arrived at where I am supposed to be...free of the yoke of oppression I think every artist feels to constantly be creating something important. I can watch TV and not hate myself; revel in total trash reading; drink on the job. And, I make a decent salary and have a 401K.

Now when you go to a party, how do you introduce yourself?

By my name. But wine comes up pretty quickly because I am usually found around the drinks table--then it is always an easy conversation to have with people, because everyone wants to talk about wine.

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