Ruth Kalinka Designs

Saturday evening, I attended the Philadelphia Wine Festival 2012, my first big wine event. Prepared with several years of wine study and tips from the wine specialist who runs my weekly tastings, I was ready. Still, as I entered the room of nearly 200 wineries, half a dozen restaurants, and bright lights reflecting from sparkly glassware and bottles, I was dazed.

Taking a moment to compose myself, I made my way to a beguiling Italian Rosé twinkling under the lights (Lunae Mea Rosa Golfo dei Poeti IGT 2011 by Lunae Bosoni Winery). Ignoring, for a moment, professional wine taster rule #1 (always spit and dump), I walked with my rosé while getting my bearings.

Having quickly given up on juggling the floor plan, wine glass, and tasting notebook, I had no idea how the wineries were organized and just made my way toward a few familiar French names. Serendipitously, I’d placed myself in the heart of Old World wines and a very enjoyable evening studying the classics.

In under three minutes, I was meeting new people and enjoying friendly conversation. It was easy once I got started. Afterall, most of the wine people I know are passionate about learning and sharing. I especially enjoyed my conversations with vendors who were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and unpretentious.

Bob Trimble, The Wine Guy, represented Louis Latour and introduced me to my first Grand Cru in a vertical tasting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Barbara Eden of Luxe Vintages sampled a variety of artisanal wines that can be found at Garces Trading Company, including an aromatic Sancerre that would be perfect with soft shell crab.

Gail Nyvelt of the Wine Merchant provided my first taste of a wine recommended years ago, E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2006.

Not only did the representatives share wonderful wines, but they also offered insight into opportunities for me as a designer, social media consultant, and brand representative in the wine world.

Bob Trimble, The Wine Guy representing Louis Latour at Philadelphia Wine Festival 2012. Photo by PAWineSpirits

Overall, it was an excellent first wine festival. I enjoyed some of the best wine I’ve ever tasted, expanded my palate, met passionate wine people, and made professional connections. I didn’t taste the food (there was a whole dessert lounge!) or as many wines as I will next time, but I met new people and took my wine education to a new level, which is exactly why I was there.

Did you attend the festival? What wines do you recommend?

Luxe Vintages imports sampled at Philadelphia Wine Festival 2012. I liked them all, but I was particularly smitten with the Sancerre. What a gorgeous nose!

Today, I finished the day job on a very happy note. My replacements (yes, it took 2!) are lovely and ready to run the show. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to tell most of our regular patients at the chiropractic office that I would be leaving and to share my exciting new plans during the past month.

Most wanted to stay in touch, made sure we exchanged contact details, asked me to keep them posted, invited me to meet for lunch, and insisted that this is not goodbye, just “see you later”. I left with lots of hugs, congratulations, well wishes, love, and everyone very confident in my future. Several wished me luck and then immediately added that I don’t actually need luck; that I’ll be amazing in anything I do.

From the beginning, it was inevitable that I would eventually outgrow the day job and need to focus afresh on my professional goals. However, it was a wonderful fit for a long time. I loved the people and the impact I had on both the business and people’s lives. I practically bounced into the office each morning, excited for the day ahead. But, in the end, I’d also experienced the growing pains of leaving the nest for a few months, and it was time to move on.

As I left today, walking in the brilliant summery sunshine on an unseasonably warm spring day, I was moved by the realization that by taking my next steps, I was also allowing two wonderful women to take theirs. How lucky I was to find that space when I did, and now it’s their turn.

What’s Next?

Chasing what’s next is another project, but now there is more time and space for that focus. Assuming everything comes together in a timely fashion, all will truly be well.

I’ve been talking to people in my network and searching for new opportunities in design and social media. Working directly with people at the day job has been delightful, and I want more of that in my tech career. I have enjoyed touching so many lives and want to continue engaging with people online and off.

Being able to be transparent with our patient community during this process has been wonderful. I’ve been free to have open, passionate conversations about my future and received such an outpouring of love and enthusiasm from everyone.

As I move on, I will also return to this community in new ways. Next week, I’ll cover a shift for one of my replacements. I’ll also keep getting adjusted while I make changes in my life. And I’ll keep seeing the wonderful people I’ve grown to love in my time there.

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. While my future details are in flux (and the task list is quite astounding), I am on to exciting new adventures!

I hope all is well in your world! Thanks for being part of mine.

Why do I go to SXSW? To learn, grow, and build in-person connections with brilliant people from all over the world. For all of those reasons, this year’s SXSW (my 4th) was another huge success and probably my best to date.

My advance preparations, as well as the mentoring I did before the conference, served me well in the inevitable chaos and serendipity that is SXSW. I met wonderful people, made important connections, articulated my professional direction, and accomplished many of my goals while helping others reach theirs.

I felt profoundly inspired, energized, and grateful. I did so much, and yet there was still so much more to do. I met and reunited with so many people, and yet there were still so many more I would have liked to have seen. It’s truly astounding to realize just how much happened at SXSW as I write my recaps, plan followup, and make notes for next year.

The panels I selected provided inspiration and new ideas to explore, while gathering people with similar interests and facilitating networking. To delve deeper into specific topics, I attend meetups and other conferences throughout the year. At SXSW, the content creates starting points for human connections with others in our vast and diverse industry.

This weekend, I have been in withdrawal, missing the people, social activities, geek conversations, hotel housekeeping(!), and even the ease of sponsored food and drink. (I’d thought I’d miss my kitchen, but I found some really great meals in Austin!)

Being present and surviving a week of SXSW was the easy part. Figuring out how to harness all of that amazingness and integrate it into everyday life is another challenge, but one I eagerly embrace as I map out the year ahead.

How was your SXSW? How do you plan to continue bringing SXSW into your daily life?