A really good friend sent me this posting on Facebook for Faith Winery, by Richard Walker. I make no representation that the post is still up at this time as I do not FB stalk the Walker clan. Also, I will not make any comments on the body of the post or it contents, and I will not engage in any banter with the Walker fanbois.
I am curious, however, if anyone here will be an adamant supporter/buyer as with his brother.
I note that if one goes to Faith Winery on FB, then scrolls down to find the winery website http://www.faithtofruition.com, the website is available on Go Daddy!
**How do I sum up the last 3 years of my life in one sentence? Expected the unexpected and your preparation will be rewarded. In one word? Sensational. Another? Scary. I have done more in the way of risk taking in the pursuit of finding my purpose than ever before. I have always been very structured and controlled, at least in my very subjective approximation. I think most people who know me think I have it all put together. Now imagine unwinding that ball of yarn for the sake of putting it all back together again. Just so you can have a mental recording of it the second time. This has been my life for the past 3 years and, as if you care, I will attempt to share it with you.
Let me begin in 2007. I am nearly 30 years old. I have had success in real estate, my chosen profession. I have had success in family, I have just celebrated 7 years married to the woman I love. My daughter was born 13 and 27 months respectively after her two older brothers. Theyāre all gorgeous and healthy. I am the proud owner of 16 self managed rental income units spread throughout San Joaquin and Stanislaus county. Iām enjoying 100% occupancy and a stellar credit rating. I have 2 houses, 2 lavish cars, and UNFORTUNATELY 24k per month in monthly billsā¦and one morning in May I woke up and every single lender I worked with had closed their doors. I had 8 loans in my pipeline. 6 purchases and 2 cash out refinances. 70k+ in commissions gone, GONE! In one day. I had less than 25k in the bank and my daughter was still aking a bottle. 2 kids were still in diapers and I did not want to lose everything. I borrowed, āPeterā was willing to float me, āPaulā was less willing so I just did what any red blooded American would do. I was worth a cool 1/2 Million on paper but I was to get a huge lesson on paper vs reality. Within 6 months I had sold 7 of my units, one on its way. I had dodged threats to my life from the āBlack Mafiaā one of the buyers of my 8 unit. I had about 15k in the bank and I wasnāt paying anything but my house note which was just under 5k per month. Then things got real. Itās 2008 and I now have about 25 clients. I work harder than any other time up to that point in my life. I achieve my bachelor degree in business, pass the broker test for real estate, and suffer my first foreclosure and bankruptcy. Did I mention that I made exactly $3247 that year? Little did I know that was going to be 3247 more dollars than I would make the following year. 2009 would be the 30th year of my existence on this earth and I made a profound choice to join the foreclosure revolution happening in Stockton and across America. I had no idea that this city would be labeled ground zero for the housing bubble which burst all over the nation. What Iām going to tell you now Iām not proud of. I had to survive and I did things I regret. I had to evict families from their homes. I had to be a harbinger of doom in the name of progress. In the name of rehabilitating our once thriving market. āTrimming the fatā they said, I am not proud of the role I played. It wasnāt all bad. I helped some people move on. Cash for keysā¦note modifications. All the while my little brother had moved on to making wine. Now heās in France. And although I was there in spirit I could not experience everything first hand. I had real work to do. He was the dreamer, he had just had his first child mine were starting school! Heās learning a new language Iām trying to communicate with people who hate me for the fact Iām the bearer of the bad news they knew was coming because they largely created it. And so we laid 2009 to rest and I started what would become the bastion of hope for myself and my Father/business partner. Provenance Group. Now let me stop here and say I sat down to discuss 2012 to present. 2010-2012 were without a doubt the most successful years of my life. I took so many trips, bought several houses and cars cashā¦sighā¦Iām almost ashamed to write of the success because now the remnants are like scattered broken brittle leaves from a once great and flourishing tree. I cannot begin to tell you where it all went. I promise Iām not on drugs, I donāt have a gambling addiction. I was not the victim of extortion or fraud. But as Iāve come to know, everything happens for a reason, conservation of mass is a reality and there are no coincidences. Through Provenance Group we have founded several viable entities mostly having to do with Real Estate. We also have a burgeoning surveillance and home automation company. But what Iāve acquired and developed more than anything is an unfathomable, indisputable, impregnable foundation of Faith.
And that is what 2012 was all about.
NOWā¦let me begin.
My wife is named Faith. My daughter is named Faith and although I had these Faithās in my life, Faith was not a part of my day to day routine. Iāve seen a lot, Iāve done a lot. Itās hard to have Faith without Hope. And hope was a luxury I couldnāt afford. But one day I looked at my life and started to hear the squeaking of that hamster wheel. Grew tired of the uncomfortable crane of my neck just to satisfy my thirst and waiting with impatience for the portion of victuals to drop from some unseen source above. I was a prisoner of my own decisions. My environment was slowly changing me into an animal, a lowly rodent on the hamster wheel of life. I needed a changeā¦and it was to come through Faith. As I mentioned my brother makes wine. Some of the best wine in the world in fact and absolutely the best wine Iāve ever tasted. Sure, he benefits from location, Burgundy France, the Mecca for Pinot Noir (if you donāt know now you know). His style lends to the area, and out of necessity he has perfected some techniques that make the average winemakers jaw drop. And thankfully my brother and I have a tight bond. Like tighter than you and your brother. Like add up how tight you and your brother are and add 15 wrench turns and 7 lbs of gorilla glue. And he convinced me to take a serious look at wine. Wine has never been my passion. Why would it? Iām not a big drinker, my family is not connected to Napa or any significant wine region. Iām not
independently wealthy. But there has always been a curiosity. I named my first dog Chardonnay and she didnāt even resemble the color. I took my first visit to France in 2012. By 2013 I had been bitten, and in 2014 I had my first vintage under my belt. 1er Cru Pinot Noir from a little town called Santenay. Located in the CĆ“te du Beaune near such famous villages as Pommard, Chassange Montrachet and Volnay. And 2015 will mark the first vintage in CA. Where? Napa? Wait this is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Sonoma?
Monterey? Nope! Santa Cruz. Why you may ask? Iāll continue next time my thumbs are sore.**