Wall Street

[chicagoeats]

Andrea,

You mentioned earlier that you used to work in Wall Street. How did you move from finance to wine? I and many of my friends are in business with thoughts of leaving it to do something related to food or wine.

Thanks

P.S. I enjoyed the fine living show from Kohler, but why did Gordon Elliot cohost if he obviously doesn't drink?

[Andreawine]

I left Wall Street prepared to accept a substantial pay cut for a liveable period of time, with the plan to return if wine didn't work out. I volunteered at wine and cooking schools emptying spit buckets and did equally glamourous things to meet people, network, and learn. I took classes. If you have access to a sabbatical program, I'd suggest that. I worked weekends at a wine shop. Not pretty, but the pain was fairly short-lived, and very do-able compared to the daily pain of hating your job (I didn't, but recognized I didn't love it, and knew I needed to be one of those people who loves their job). C'mon in, the water's fine (if you are willing to work)!

A