Real Stories Real People

Peter Bowers - Corporate veteran breaks free to start VinoSquare!

I first found out about Craig Nathanson through Career Advice an online newsletter. I was intrigued by the message and continued to read on thinking about the possibilities of being able to do what I love and make a living at it. I discovered that Craig resides in Northern California not too far from where I lived, so I called him up and asked if we could meet face to face before any commitments were made. We set up a date and met for one hour at his office. I found Craig to be a truly sincere and trustworthy person, one that you could rely on for advice and support while making this career transition. A few days after our meeting, I called Craig and decided to engage him as my vocational coach to help me make this life changing move and to be my vocational guide.

At the time, I was working at a winery in Central California functioning as the Hospitality Director. On the surface it seemed like a dream job that paid well in an idyllic setting, however behind the scenes the position was like any other with its own set of mundane chores and problems. Most important I was having a very difficult time dealing directly with an idiosyncratic owner, and having to literally “walk on eggshells” every day. It was a matter of time before things got really bad, and so I decided to take matters in my own hands and respectfully resign the position.

During the transition period Craig’s set of audio CD’s and books became important motivational tools becoming constant companions. It is very inspirational to hear from other people in all walks of life make life & career changing decisions to pursue their vocational passion and do what they really love to do.

In my case, my goal is to become a wine lifestyle entrepreneur and use social networking on the web to promote wine centric events and travel. It’s still early in the process, but my ideas are beginning to take shape. I have a website www.vinosquare.com that will be used as a meeting and informational place to promote the events and travel. I am attending every special wine event I can find to speak with the wineries, meet the organizers and write about these experiences on my blog. Following Craig’s advice I am working with one of the local hotels to be part of their mid week wine tasting receptions and speak about the area and the places to visit. I am working with local artisans and farmers to explore ways to bring them exposure and let others know the important role they play in the community. If all of this sounds like a lot of fun, it is.

Yet, this career move has also its serious side. Trying and finding ways to generate income is proving to be challenging, especially in this difficult economy. It is important to be aware that it will take time to make the transition, and that part time income opportunities will need to be considered to bridge the money gap. They say that “the journey of 1000 miles begins but with a single step” and it’s very helpful when you have somebody like Craig cheering you on and helping you along the way. His 10 P method has proven to be successful in helping people who wish to follow their vocational inspiration. In my case the journey is just beginning and that is what it’s all about.