This past weekend I toured beautiful vineyards in the Walla Walla wine country. For those of you unfamiliar with this lush region in Washington state, it produces such wines as L'Ecole, Woodward Canyon, Pepper Bridge, Three Rivers and Seven Hills. All vineyards have a backdrop of the Blue Mountains.



We had a rare opportunity to meet the winemaker at Walla Walla's most opulent winery. He was not what I imagined a winemaker to be—elderly, short, and stout with a red nose. He was young, athletic, toned and he enthusiastically demonstrated a love for his craft and for life.

I asked him how he got into this profession, thinking it had been handed down for generations. Another surprise! He told me that in the past, he'd worked for Nordstrom as a corporate purchasing agent. The next question was obvious. "How did you get here from there?"

As with many individuals wishing to make a change, he woke up one morning and decided he wanted more. He was not unhappy with his profession or place of residence. He was accomplished, respected and well-compensated.

A person doesn't have to be unhappy to seek out more in life. They just have to be curious, have that undeniable inner inkling, and the drive to make it happen.

Where most of us get held up is with the 'what ifs', 'how's' and 'what will people think if I fail.' We allow old tapes of 'but this is all I know' to hold us back. You recognize it as much as I do: your skills are at a high level and you haven't even thought of how else they might be used.

I love it when an executive tells me: "All I know is this product. I don't want to go back to school, but how can I transfer this knowledge into a more intriguing profession?"

I then have them list the expertise developed in working with this specific product and ask: "What proficiencies do you have that could be valuable in an entirely different industry than your current position?" This time, they are the ones who are surprised.

The Nordstrom corporate buyer decided that the life he wanted for his family was in the Walla Walla Valley Appellation. And what skills was he able to transfer? Stop reading for a moment, close your eyes and think about it. What does each vineyard really require?

Yes, his sales and marketing acumen. He made a deal with a winemaker. If this winemaker would teach him to make wine, then the former buyer would teach the winemaker to market and sell it. Brilliant!

This week think of your experience. What expertise have you developed that are now transferable skills? You don't have to plan a major life change to appreciate this new knowledge. It's simply another tool in your toolbox that can be pulled out as is needed. Enjoy your discoveries and have a superb week.