We hosted our annual employee Christmas party last week. Normally we would have nearly 100% participation plus the addition of spouses/partners. With the global COVID-19 pandemic spiking, we were forced to limit attendance to our staff members only and only about a third of the team made it to the party. Regretfully but, understandable, it’s all part of the impact of a global pandemic.
Each year at our Christmas party, I like to take a moment and share some thoughts with our team and to formally acknowledge and thank them and since I didn’t have the opportunity to share my message with our whole team this year, I thought I’d share it with you here.
In my early years in practice, twenty-five years ago, I attended a seminar where I heard a motivational speaker named Charlie ‘Tremendous’ Jones speak. He said, “5 years from now, you would be the same person you are today except for the people that you meet and the books that you read.”
Hang around better thinkers, you’ll become a better thinker.
Hang around better workers, you’ll become a better worker.
Hang around short cutters, you’ll become a short cutter.
Hang around givers, you’ll become a better giver.
And, it’s true. Maybe we pay attention to our phones than books today, but the message is still more valid now than ever. You see, we are responsible for creating our own reality, our own culture and our communities. At Colloca Estate Winery, we’ve created a certain look and feel inspired from our travels. The vision is to enhance the natural beauty to share with our guests and to create a culture of giving and sharing. But the physical appearances of the estate is only a tiny fraction of our culture. Culture is cultivated and it becomes what we have we nurtured - the customs and traditions that go with it - the wines, the food, the love, the people involved. Our Culture is what we decide it to be, and I think most of all, a culture is about its people and this is what makes us special.
Leaders present themselves, and we are blessed with leadership from our team in response to a growing need. We never imagined that we would employ 68 people during our busy season. When we started, I thought we’d need a handful of employees to pour wine in the tasting room noon to five and someone to look after the grounds. It seemed pretty simple. But, it never is and it didn’t turn out that way. Even during a global pandemic, we hosted thousands of visitors looking for a safe place to escape and enjoy the outdoors this past summer.
Success leaves clues, and I’ve learned that if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person, not a pontificator. Our General Manager, Monica leads with a take charge ownership mentality that is contagious to the team. Her unwavering commitment was above and beyond and this year, even more so with not only our growth but the ever-changing state requirements that we had to endure for public health and safety. In addition to her responsibilities, she had to reschedule 95% of our events and weddings that took an enormous amount of time and energy. Looking back, I don’t know how she did it, but the respect, admiration, and appreciation we have for her perseverance is unmeasurable. Often, guests mention how lucky we are to have her lead out team. We agree. Success leaves clues.
Our grounds and Estate Manager, Ryan, managed the vineyard, the 103 acres of grounds, and supported construction of our new 10,000 square foot Event Center. This required additional hours, nights, and weekends, and he still found time to improve the property installing a waterfall in our pond, and personally laying every single brick-paver in our Event Center courtyards after doing all the landscaping around the new building. His commitment and dedication are clear. Success leaves clues.
Our Executive Chef, Emil, helped us pivot to a Take-Out Menu when restaurants were shut down. We were able to attract people who drove over an hour for our food. We more than doubled our outdoor capacity and in July, we went through over a ton of flour to make our hand-made pizza dough due to the demand for our wood fired pizzas. From pizza to high end 7-course wine pairing dinners, and events, his work-ethic and commitment are remarkable. Success leaves clues.
There’s more. Our Director of Communications, Ken, witnessed a need for winemaking assistance. Without asking, he began learning and taking initiative himself to take on the daily tasks of topping the barrels, stirring the lees, racking wine from tank to tank, and all the stuff that head winemakers are usually bored with. Ken’s not bored. Ask him and he will say he is having more fun than he has ever had in a job. These duties aren’t even part of his job description. In addition to developing our website and promoting our brand, he has helped to nearly double our wine sales. Still, when we host a large event, or when we get busy with Take Out orders, without asking, he shows up to the kitchen, puts on an apron and helps. Success leaves clues.
From those who have been with us for a while, like Marilyn, Carol, Kat, and Marnie to our new shining stars, Crissy, our Beverage Manager, Andrea, Sheila, and Emilia at the bar and tasting room, always smiling, and providing excellent service. From Diana who has committed to furthering her culinary education, to our committed grounds crew in the trenches, Tom, Ethan, Olivia and her family – Success leaves clues.
A business coach once told me, “Get the right people on the bus, and then drive the bus.” It takes time, but we believe in our people. We’ve created a culture of openness, transparency, authenticity and work ethic all around our people - a work family unit who has each other’s back. Our future will be what we want it to be. It all begins with Gratitude. Being Thankful for all that you have because there is always someone worse off.
As we embark upon this season of Christmas, we're encouraged to be joyful, charitable, generous, kind, and forgiving—which are all behaviors that run counter to our inclined responses to the stresses caused by holiday shopping, holiday travel, and general holiday interactions. Add a global pandemic into the mix and we have trying times.
It is the spirit of wanting to give and help people in need. People who have Christmas spirit are cheerful and happy about celebrating to birth of Jesus Christ. To to give up one's very self – to think only of others – how to bring the greatest happiness to others – that is the true meaning of Christmas.
It’s Giving without expectation of receiving anything in return.
It’s Appreciating what we have and living out of your own abundance as opposed to scarcity.
It’s Service. Embracing the spirit of Christmas also means giving to those most in need.
My wife, Mindy, sponsored a local family for Christmas this year and it was more fulfulling to her than most anything else. This is the spirit of Christmas. Just like life, Christmas becomes what we decide to make it. When we truly embrace the spirit of Christmas, with all its warmth, joy and love, we most closely resemble the spirit of Bethlehem and the character of Jesus and all it represents. From Mindy and I and all of us at Colloca Estate Winery, we hope this holiday message reaches you with all of the joy and love of the season all year through. Merry Christmas.
