Lately I have been thinking a great deal about what the next step in my career should be. After working for large corporations for half of my life, I have reached a point where I want to control my own destiny and show people what I am capable of doing. At the same time I have thought a great deal about what the next step in my brewing, and my and Jennie’s home brewery.
In my head I can think of a ton of reasons why becoming a professional brewer is a bad idea: the marketplace is overly crowded, our beer isn’t good enough, there is a mountain of red tape to cut through, we don’t have the capital to become professional brewers.
When I was in college I majored in Sport Management. I recall I had to write a paper about a possible career path in the sports industry. Unsure of what direction to go, I threw a paper together outlining a career as a Major League Baseball general manager. There are only 30 MLB GM jobs. Getting one’s foot in the door to work in baseball operations is difficult enough. I cited articles and online chats that I had read for pleasure. I turned in my paper fully expecting my professor to take a stinging dump on the pie-in-the sky career path I described. I was shocked when I actually received a high grade on the paper.
I think about that paper now for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I think I am smart enough to know what I need to do to get where I want to go. Secondly, just because something is difficult that doesn’t mean it is something I am incapable of doing. In life it is easy to tell others how hard things are and garner instant sympothy.
Yes, I have a passion for beer and brewing. If I were to become a professional brewer, that passion would not be the only reason why I would do it. If I were to control the destiny of my career at this point in my life, beer is what I know best. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
I never ended up working a full-time job in the sports industry. I tried for awhile and then I stopped trying. Over ten years after graduation I still don’t have a great answer as to why. When asked I usually make up some BS answer on the spot and change the subject. Whether I make the leap and become a commercial brewer or not, I want to make sure I have no regrets.