Every day, we feel fortunate to wake up in the morning, having the freedom to pursue our passion in wine, and better yet, making a living at it. It is sometimes easy to take this for granted, but after yesterday, we are not.
Yesterday was a dark day in our history. We no longer live in a world where businesses can be silent, as that implies acceptance. Our mission and values are our North Star, and we stand by them every day—and after yesterday, we stand by them more strongly than ever. In a diverse country, and a diverse world, differences in opinion are inevitable, but that does not make us enemies.
Yesterday was an attack on self governance. The president of the United States lied to his followers and incited a riot, temporarily shutting down the Legislative branch of government. Somehow, he and some other congressional leaders seem to be above accountability, with their continued misleading of their base even this morning. In a long career in corporate America, and now as an entrepreneur, I have held myself, and been held, to a high standard of behavior and performance—and a seemingly higher standard than some of our elected officials. By managers, coworkers, employees, customers, and business partners. I admit failure when it happens, and I work to improve, every day.
I am angry about what happened yesterday. Too much work has happened over hundreds of years for us to throw away our experiment in self governance. But that said, I’m also hopeful. I’m hopeful that we take the opportunity to recognize that no person is bigger than our way of life. That leaders are responsible for the public opinions they shape. That we can disagree and not be enemies trying to vanquish one another. And that all of us should hold our leaders, our elected public *servants*, ourselves, and each other accountable for our behaviors and actions. Because they have very real consequences.