Wine Angels reposted this
In the 1970s, a young man with a love of music opened a popular chain of record stores. Fifty years later, a dyslexic entrepreneur revolutionized private space travel. In the time between, a kite surfer bought a Formula One racing team. What’s the secret to their success? They are all the same widely diversified person. His name is Richard Branson. Richard Branson’s career exemplifies the value of what I call diversifying your personal portfolio. A wide array of activities and interests increases your quality as a professional. It’s especially vital for people in creative jobs. Productivity and focus are often prioritized by young professionals. But if you become too specialized, you lose the energy that drives creativity. You might think of me as a communication expert. That’s true. But I also sit on the board of a gummy company. I’m a surfer. And I invest in wine. I don’t invest in wine for the money. Rather, the other benefits. Contact with earth. Often the energy I need comes from being in the vineyard at Château EDMUS, just walking there, tasting wine with partners that became friends (Laurent DAVID, Jolan Vereecke and many more). Much of what I do is abstract; agriculture is super concrete. The randomness of weather teaches resilience and innovation. That gives me the capacity to take a step back in corporate situations where my impulse is to find an immediate solution. It's much like waiting for a good wave. You have to listen to the sea and take into account the context around you. You look for signs that the wave you’re taking is rideable. That applies to clients as well. The diversity of moments is where I get back my energy. All these experiences provide valuable networking opportunities. The more experiences you have with different people, the richer your ability to collaborate becomes. Are the moments in your life stagnant? If they are, what’s the cost of the experiences you’re leaving unexplored?