It’s time for innovation and maybe even a reset.  I’m not talking just businesses, I mean you and me too.  You might be thinking: “In this economy I better stay put where I have some security.”  Buddy, with 10%+ unemployment and Obama saying things are even worse than they earlier projected, better think again.  Nobody’s job is safe.  There’s no time like to present to re-invent yourself and do something you’ve really wanted to do… unless of course you are already doing it, then, um, good for you!  But, maybe even you could make some changes while everyone is kind of sitting back and waiting to see what happens.  Here’s 7 reasons to change careers I thought was very appropriate (still! since it was written way back in April 2008): http://www.escapefromcorporate.com/career-change-recession/

One trend as a result is more people going back to school to get that degree they never got or to learn something new in an effort to come out with some additional marketable skills on the other side and thrive in the new world.  Yes, it is a new world… don’t think for a minute that things will ever go back to the way they were.

In the wine world, I tweeted on August 28th about how Willamette Valley Vineyards has made some changesto their business in order to survive the economy and its effects on the wine industry.  I saw quite a few For Sale signs along the back roads of Sonoma while cycling last month.  It’s time to re-invent — for example, if you are a winery, are you using Social Media to help extend your brand reach or focusing on a Direct to Consumer (DTC) model to put more money in YOUR pocket, especially if you’re a smaller winery?  From the WVV article linked above: “With the recession, consumers are more apt to go with a trusted name at a reasonable price rather than risk money on exploring unknown brands.” For a smaller winery, it’s historically been very tough to get your brand out there if you can’t hook up with a big-time distributor.  Now’s the time to innovate and be an early adopter of social media to help you here.  The costs are nearly negligible to get started.

Elsewhere in the wine industry you can see people making the move to do things they love.  Our funkmeister, Hardy, was laid off only to rebound with a vengeance and snatch a 6-month social media gig with Murphy-Goode.  Take a look at items #5 and #6 in the career article up top and there should really be pictures of Hardy next to them.  Then, whilst at the 2nd annual Wine Bloggers Conference, Winemakers season IIwas holding casting calls in SF for their reality show.  Yes, you could’ve won a spot of 16 who will work with a winery and earn your own wine label. 

Going on right now is a promotion by TravelOregon called a Cuisinternship, where you could win some time with experts in various fields including winemaking (win a week working with famed winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash of Penner-Ash Winery — on of my favs, by the way!), Fisherman, Cheesemaker, etc… what are you waiting for?  For cripes sake!  Oh, yeah for the winemaker gig, Jeff Lefevre of Good Grape will be reviewing and judging the entries.

Oh, and one more, if you want to get into the winemaking business, here’s a list of 10 Tips for Going Pro, with a few great tidbits from Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe Vineyards.

I’m putting my money where my mouth is on this one and looking for opportunities to start a second career in something a little more fun and passionate than Banking… oh yeah, don’t get me started  ; )