How This Family Built A 9 Figure Wine Business
How This Family Built A 9 Figure Wine Business
What mindset shifts are necessary for leaders to embrace delegation?
I started at the coordinator level in this business—I didn’t begin as president. I’ve been with the company for 16 years, so I’ve learned everything from the ground up. Over time, I had to adjust at every level because the responsibilities changed. For example, I no longer write email subject lines myself or enter the requirements for a project—that's something my direct reports handle. I also don’t test everything myself anymore.
Where I’ve found it harder to let go is in marketing tasks, like generating new email campaigns. I have a degree in marketing and management, so it's been a struggle to delegate those responsibilities, even though I probably shouldn’t be handling them. Every year, my role shifts, and I’m working to get better at delegating, but there are still things I do that I likely shouldn’t.
How can leaders embrace the discomfort of not knowing how to do every task within their team?
That discomfort comes from realizing people are working on things you may not know how to do—and that's okay. It's just your ego talking. It's great to have team members with skills you don't have and probably never will, nor should you. Those skills are now part of your team. As the president, my value lies in putting the right pieces in place, not being the piece or managing every detail. My role is to assemble the pieces that make the machine run.
What practices can business owners use for personal growth and reflection?
It's important to check in on areas that may not be performing well after a day or week. One of my resolutions this year was to journal more. While it may sound trivial, it really makes a difference. Some nights, I don’t want to do it, but I find that keeping a gratitude journal is beneficial. As a leader, I tend to criticize myself quickly, focusing on what I didn’t accomplish. However, taking a moment to write down what went well that day and what I appreciate helps me reflect. I also note areas where I want to improve for tomorrow.
What are some challenges of working in a family business?
Working in a family business presents unique challenges. You receive a lot of positive feedback from loving parents, but sometimes you need objective input from others. Even if you don’t report to your parents, you might have a boss who is not entirely objective about your performance. For me, confidence grew as I stepped out of my comfort zone and worked with people who had no allegiance to the business. They provided validation by recognizing my strengths as a strategic thinker and hard worker. Having third-party guidance is crucial, especially if you've been in the company for a long time. You may forget that you are not just the boss’s daughter; you are also an independent professional.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
