How COVID Triggered My 3rd Career

Like millions of people, I did some self-reflection over the past year to reassess my priorities in life. The result is that I’ve decided to make a career change. After two-decades in technology sales and another 13 years as a LinkedIn Trainer and Speaker, I have decided to make a lifestyle change by starting my 3rd career. I’ve stepped away from day-to-day duties at Vengreso – the Digital Selling training company that I co-founded 4 years ago with Mario Martinez, Jr., Viveka von Rosen, and Bernie Borges. I am proud of the company we built, the brand awareness, the talent we recruited, and the customers we’ve served.?While I won’t be posting many LinkedIn sales tips anymore, I will remain as an owner, advisor, and supporter of Vengreso and its mission to help modern sellers reach more prospects.?

So, what’s my 3rd career?

I am leaping into the Hospitality industry and joining Sonoma County Tourism this month. Sonoma Country is my home and one of the country’s top tourism destinations.?Just 30 miles North of San Francisco, it is famous for world-class wines, farm-to-table restaurants, and inspiring natural beauty including 55 miles of rugged Pacific Ocean coastline. My role is to bring more group meetings to Sonoma County – think board/sales meetings, executive retreats, and conferences.

My “Dream Job” fulfills three objectives that my self-reflection brought to light.

1. Build Strong Relationships in My Community - While many people first experienced Work from Home in the past 1.5 years, I’ve been doing it a while. In fact, I have not worked in an office with colleagues since my last corporate job in 2007. That’s a lot of solitude for a self-confessed “people person.” I’ve lived in Sonoma Country for 14 years, but because I did not grow up here, have kids in school here, or ever have an office with co-workers here, my social circle is smaller than I would like. I look forward to getting out and working with representatives of area hotels, restaurants, spas, wineries, and attractions and, as a result, being able to say “Hi” to more people in the grocery store.

2. Learn and Share Information About This Unique Area - With hotels and resorts, 425 wineries, award-winning restaurants, towering redwoods, rolling hills, and exhilarating outdoor adventures, Sonoma County has a lot to offer. It’s nine distinct towns are separated by acres of farms and vineyard. Each one features a variety of events and attractions including outdoor concerts, whale watching, zip line course through the redwoods, and even a holiday tree-lighting parade featuring lighted tractors that celebrate the county’s agricultural heritage. It will be my honor to take it all in and share my knowledge with groups looking to have unique experiences before, during, and after their meetings.

3. Keep It Fresh – Leaving the sales training industry after 13 years for an industry where I have little experience is Scary AND Exciting. Still, I know that the skills I’ve learned throughout my career are transferable. In fact, I believe many of the modern selling methods that I’ve taught for years will be new and helpful to my new network of hotel partners and 3rd-party meeting planners. From that perspective, I’ll be learning new things about the hospitality industry while bringing new techniques from an outside industry.

There are many people who contributed my success in the sales training industry. I want to thank my colleagues, customers, and partners who I worked with at my own sales training company (The Sales Foundry) as well as at Vengreso.

If your company or organization ever wants to host a meeting in America’s premiere Wine Country destination, now you know the guy to contact. Even if you just visit on a leisure trip, please reach out to me. I’ll be happy to make some recommendations and maybe even meet you to share a sip of wine.

In closing, I knew this was the right decision when I saw the official Sonoma County Tourism slogan/hashtag:

#LifeOpensUp