Musings from the CU Suite

Written by Anthony Demangone

I'm in Sonoma, California for NAFCU's CEOs and Senior Executive's Conference.  I know, tough life.

The view from Gundlach Bundschu Winery. 

Yesterday, I toured two wineries.  Both were fantastic, as each guide shared a good deal about the business side of making wine.  I'm no wine expert, so some of what I learned surprised me.

If you plant grape vines, you'll wait three years before the vine bears fruit.  But the winery I visited won't use grapes from their vines for two or three years after that. (I guess younger vines don't produce the same quality of grapes.)  

Think about that. This winery plants a vine and has to wait six years until that vine produces grapes worthy for its wine.  Six years.  Talk about the need for patience.  And vision.  Imagine working in that environment - what you do today will determine where you are in six years. 

I shook my head.  I was glad not to be in the wine business.  

But then I thought again.   Whether we like it or not, we're in the same boat.

We plant vines every day.  We make decisions.  Create policies.  Set examples.  Give guidance. 

Where will be in six years?  Will our wine be worth drinking?