When doing something for the first time it's easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Nerves can overtake and swallow one's confidence. Then self doubt creeps in. But this is the very moment when you need to be brave, to be bold.     And after recounting a story I often hear, "Wow that was so brave." Or, "I could never do that." I realized no one can see our self doubt.   So here's the secret, any time you're tempted to doubt whether you could do something yourself, ask the storyteller for the backstory. Not all will share, but it never hurts to ask.   Do you share your backstory?   This is important. So let me repeat it:   No one can see our self doubt.   We're not walking around with a blinking billboard arrow pointing down at us screaming "Danger. Danger. Will Robinson. Imposter! Imposter!"  

The more I talk to successful entrepreneurs the more I realize they have one thing in common: extreme focus. They don't just work hard, they work smart. (They actually work hard AND smart, but that's another post.)     As I talked with them, extreme focus seemed obvious. One of those insights where you go D'ouh why didn't I think of that sooner? Of course! Focused, concentrated efforts push entrepreneurs towards realizing their goals faster than diverse, broad efforts.   But how does one achieve this focus?  

I've always paired wine with food. Like my obsession with finding the right wines to age, I was similarly obsessed with finding the right wine to go with my culinary creations. I never followed white wines with fish and red wines with red meat. I dissected the flavors of a dish and the aromas of a wine and looked for synergies. Similar to my taste in music, I looked for harmony over discord. So I'm especially excited about my 2015 The Year of the Appellation project.     In 2015, my goal is to know California wines as well as I know Texas wines (actually planted vines and harvested grapes). Because the Zinfandel Experience is at the end of January, I decided to start exploring California appellations that produce Zinfandel. (Once we complete our exploration of Zinfandel we'll be moving on to Pinot Noir.)  

I wish I believed in revisionist history. Because if I did, I’d say that two years ago I walked away from Corporate America and never looked back. I’d say everything went as it does in fairy tales. I’d say I clicked my heels together and lived happily ever after (I know I’m combining stories here).   But… I don’t believe in revisionist history. And when spinning a yarn I teeter on the verge of oversharing or TMI (too much information). So, here goes: my tale of life after corporate America.     Did you make a break with corporate America in 2014?  

New years often mean restarts, new goals, and new directions. 2015 for me, while a new year, will be a continuation of a 2014. Rather than restart, like I do most years, this year I choose to continue to build.     How did you do with your 2014 goals?