NotTooDeep

In the early 70s, I had the opportunity to study music for the summer in Verona, Italy. Near the end of school, the mayor of the city took all of the students to dinner at his favorite restaurant.

Growing up in L.A., my sense of wine was Boone's Farm or Strawberry Hill. When I got to Verona and found myself in charge of getting my own lunches, I discovered red table wine and real noodles for lunch, along with fresh rolls from the bakery across the street.

At that big dinner, I had already decided that I could drink no more red wine ever again. It tasted like dish water. I ordered a German beer. Of course, they brought me a liter of really good German beer. Two bottles later, and I was mumbling like the glorious young person that I was. Laughing too loud. Leaning in too close.

Then, something incredible happened. The mayor stood and told us the story of how Verona made good wines before the vineyards were bombed during WW2. He had bought, for our benefit, a magnum of pre-war wine. We watched this muddy looking jug get wiped down and poured into little pitchers. Then the waiters walked around, serving each student an ounce of this wine.

We were told to wait for the toast. Being silly drunk, I laughed at the red wine in my hands.

The toast was made. We lifted our glasses. I took the smallest sip I could take. And sobered up on the spot.

The texture was a surprise. The taste kept changing. There was a very slight warmth in the belly, but not anything like liquor. Everyone became quiet. The second tiny sip confirmed the first, but then added something new. I can't remember what. And we started to applaud.

Thought you'd enjoy this tale.

It's front page material because the emotional appeal is strong within the geeky Reddit community. We relate to wanting to 'get out' (not this entrepreneur's reasons BTW) and will click on things that offer hope of achieving it. Feeling trapped or rudderless is a prime motivator for starting your own company.

Putting on my dry, cynical hat, he's still in business because there's a demand for his services. He's still working for the Man; he just has a much less experienced boss than he did in the corporate world (himself).

The real question is what will his business be doing two years from now. Two years seems to be the magic number (SBA says half of all startups are not in business after two years); you've completed a bunch of work through your network of industry contacts, and now you have to do some hard cold calling. The market for your services has continued to change. Your skills are not weaker but perhaps in less demand, not because your skills aren't appropriate anymore but because of market cycles. A lull in the market of three months can end you.

But it's all good for OP. His shot is only five months old. Lots of growth, personal and business, are ahead of him. At least for the next 18 months or so.

I showed up in Verona thinking I knew something about music. The guy with the pick and shovel repairing the cobblestones in the street, that helped me find my way my first day in town, knew more about opera than I did. The practice room I was assigned to at the conservatory of music had a plaque listing the dates that Mozart studied there. I was given free tickets to the opera and saw Pavarotti perform La Boheme. If I mentioned I was a music student, it was hugs and kisses from strangers all around. The carpet was deeper and redder than I could have ever imagined.

I didn't expect that in a business setting and have been pleasantly surprised!

Food. The universal peace maker.

Can confirm. Music major. Work in IT.