Speak friend and enter door sign

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Twice a year, crowds anxiously line up outside the gates of the Silver Oak Cellars in the heart of Napa Valley. Encompassing an entire spectrum of ages from newly minted twenty-one year old's, to middle-aged families with children in tow, to grey-haired boomers, they are a snapshot of the modern wine lover. Each one anxiously clutches their entry ticket, awaiting the moment the doors swing open, and they can enter. It’s like a bacchanal Willy Wonka Adventure, except instead of five golden tickets found inside candy bars, these drinkers have paid $200 for the opportunity to sample the latest Cabernet being released to the public from a Napa legend. The events have been going on for decades and fly in the face of the notion that wine tasting is a staid affair. Instead, it has helped create a cult-like status around Silver Oak and its award-winning Cabernets. Plus, it created a blueprint for releasing new products that has been … [Read more...] about The Festive Silver Oak Release Day Events Are One Of The Keys To Its Success

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Despite dire warnings earlier in the year that U.S. wine sales had decreased in 2021, the recently released Gomberg & Fredrikson report, based on government tax paid data, shows wine dollar sales up a surprising 16.8% in 2021 over 2020. Total wine sales, including domestic and imported wine were $78.4 billion, compared to the previous year’s figure of $67.3 billion. Yet the reasons behind these increases suggest the wine industry still needs to focus on being more innovative and reaching out to new wine consumers. Fortunately, some of the most popular wine categories of 2021 point the ways to hot trends to consider capitalizing on for the remainder of 2022. According to Jon Moramarco, Editor & Partner with Gomberg & Fredrikson, as well as Managing Partner for bw166 – both well-known wine research firms – “The wine category performed well in 2021, but not great. A headline increase of 16.8% in consumer spending … [Read more...] about U.S. Wine Market Sales Up 16.8% In 2021, Pointing Towards Hot Wine Trends In 2022

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Cindy Metzler is a senior marketing, branding and PR strategist. She's founder and CEO at Omm Media and co-organizer of TEDxBocaRaton. Is giving a TED or TEDx Talk on your bucket list? Landing in the TEDx limelight is no small feat. TEDx stands for independently organized TED events that are community oriented. I volunteer as a co-organizer of TEDxBocaRaton and I’ve seen hundreds of submissions and heard from scores of people interested in sharing their ideas. It can be daunting trying to get through the submission process, but following these 10 dos and don’ts can give you a leg up on the competition and help guide you in the process. 1. Don't make the mistake of thinking it's all about you. TED Talks are not memoirs. This may sound harsh, but it’s not about you. Don’t get caught up in your own story. Rather, focus on your impact and sharing meaningful knowledge with the world. Ask yourself, how will your talk … [Read more...] about 10 Dos And Don’ts To Jumpstart Your Journey To The TED Stage

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin On January 20, the day President Joe Biden was inaugurated, Luke Scarmazzo, who is serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison for operating a medical cannabis dispensary in California, realized that he was going to remain in prison. During the final days of the Trump Administration, he was told that he would be pardoned and released. “When I saw Biden getting sworn in, I knew that it wasn’t gonna happen,” Scarmazzo says during a phone call from Yazoo City, MS-based FCI Yazoo City, where he is currently incarcerated. For some reason, Scarmazzo’s case wasn’t approved at the last minute. After eight years of lobbying the Obama and Trump Administrations, Scarmazzo now has to start all over with the Biden Administration. Scarmazzo and his business partner, Ricardo Montes, opened California Healthcare Collective medical cannabis dispensary in 2004 in Modesto, CA. Though their  business was legal under California’s … [Read more...] about The Inside Story Of A Trump Pardon Gone Wrong

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Cleveland Guardians have upgraded their catching depth this offseason. The Guardians have added veteran catcher Mike Zunino as a free agent, signing him to a 1-year, $6M contract. In addition, the Guardians have signed veteran catchers Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria as non-roster, spring training invitees. Prospects Bryan Lavastida, Bo Naylor, and versatile corner infielder and catcher David Fry round out the current primary organizational catching depth. In all probability, Zunino, who will turn 32 in March, will be the team’s primary catcher. Unless there is another addition, it is likely Zunino’s back-up on the 26-man roster will be determined following spring training. Ultimately, the Guardians are hoping Naylor will assume the catching role in the future. For now, however, Naylor is probably headed for more seasoning in his development at Triple-A Columbus. Zunino will enter the 2022 MLB season … [Read more...] about Cleveland Guardians’ Catcher Mike Zunino Is An Excellent Bridge To Prospect Bo Naylor

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla, speaks during an event at the Hornsdale wind farm, operated ... [+] by Neoen SAS, near Jamestown, South Australia, on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. (Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg In late January , I noted that Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk’s executive compensation plan raised significant red flags. Since then, proxy advisor Glass Lewis recommended investors vote against the proposal , which could grant Musk performance-based options worth over $2.6 billion. The red flags haven’t stopped there. More executive departures, more missed production projections, and competitors taking market share have left Tesla’s sky-high valuation with even more downside risk. Recent Departures Fail to Stoke Confidence The launch of the Model 3 marks a critical period for Tesla. As the company struggles to hit production targets on its first mass-market vehicle, one would hope the executive team … [Read more...] about Time To Follow Tesla Executives And Run For The Hills?

Canada is already home to an eclectic diverse global diaspora. (Representational Photo/Source: Michael Descharles via Unsplash) The United States of America, the poster child for capitalism, an economic behemoth, a geopolitical goliath, and a bastion of tech supremacy. Yet, the US has spent the last decade being worried about its place in the pantheon of economic powerhouses. Innovation and the evolution of the times mean there is a sense of inevitability of a newer, more ambitious, and resourceful nation dislodging the US from the top of the totem pole. A more pronounced worry for Washington has been that of a country stealing its best resources, hijacking its ideas, and piracy of its unique products. To be fair there is no such country starting with C that’s taking away or rather welcoming America’s top talent. Before we go down this rabbit hole, I’ll say no, not China, but it's Canada. The Great White North is warming up to immigrants as it always has, but particularly to many … [Read more...] about Oh Canada! Warmer times for immigration in the Great White North

Phuket 7-Eleven was robbed, photo by Eakkapop Thongtub. Two thieves robbed a 7-Eleven in Phuket on Tuesday, just a day before it was set to close down . The two men snatched 1,826 baht from the store’s two female staff at gunpoint, The Phuket News reported. Thalang Police arrived at the scene and reviewed the CCTV footage. The footage showed two men on a motorbike circling the store twice before one man entered the store wearing a full-face helmet. The man then threatened the two female staff with a homemade firearm, police said. The terrified staff then handed the robber the 1,826 baht in cash. Forensic officers inspected the scene, and police are now on the prowl for the men. Deputy Chief Lt Col Anukul Nooket said that CCTV footage captured the robber’s features. Related news Thai celebrities duped out of 20 million baht in online toy scam, 300 victims speak out 2 hours ago Police bust Belarusian man in Phuket for … [Read more...] about Thieves rob Phuket 7-Eleven a day before it closes down

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Claire Chandler , Executive Leadership Advisor at Talent Boost. Growth on Purpose: I examine how leadership shapes the world. When I work with leaders, I’m always amused by how they enter a room. In high-functioning, highly successful organizations, they tend to walk in with a collegial spirit, connecting with their colleagues on a personal level before turning to the business discussion. In organizations that are still forming their core, their culture, and/or their strategy, the entrance is far different. Too often, those latter leaders walk into the room with their guard up. If they speak to their colleagues at all, they cut straight to business. It’s as though each of them is playing a role, rather than leaning in, rolling up their sleeves, and willing themselves to work together as co-creators. Who are they guarded against? Typically, it’s the ranking executive in the room. And that guardedness … [Read more...] about Building A World-Changing Company Starts With One Key Ingredient: Trust