Vino Voyage was hatched to solve a very simple problem. Cj wanted to take her mother wine tasting. She went online trying to find a sweet white wine (her mother's favorite) and a cheese plate (because, well...cheese) under one roof. Week after week, attempting to build a day of wine tasting, she created a spreadsheet with other types of winery experiences like outdoor seating and those that were dog-friendly. This launched a very steep learning curve into building a team and a business, or, more aptly, building a sand castle from individual grains of sand.
This was always a group effort. Every idea, advisement, and direction was bounced off of at least a dozen people, every step of the way. Tapping the brain trust of peers and advisors kept progress moving forward in a warm direction. There were 200 hours spent talking to winemakers and sippers initially validating the idea, before the business model was even drafted.
Early on, a few common denominators emerged in the team; nerdy, creative, humble, articulate, and a need to create a good product with good values. These standards remained at the helm through every problem solving session, and every feature release.
Our story is still unfolding. Every day brings highs and lows, excitement, anxiety, opportunity, and exercises our flexibility. It's great to have a plan, and it's even better to be able to laugh at it. Frequently.