Nate Slingsby, Assoc. Vice President, IBG Wines - Duck Pond Cellars, Great Oregon Wine Company, Rascal, Clean Label Project (USA)

Years In Industry:

After years of earning my stripes in restaurant hospitality, I ventured into sales with distributors in the Denver and Boulder markets. I’ve been wholesaling wine for 15 years. I moved on to importing and the wonderful city of San Francisco when I got into the supplier side, representing small family-owned Old World producers. I assumed my current role as VP of the Western US for IBG after spearheading a project with a Napa producer to establish distributor relationships and rebrand and re-launch their Super Premium line.

My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:

Excuses. It’s real easy to tell myself "I’m too tired," "too busy," "too stressed." When it comes down to it, my wellness has a very direct effect on my productivity. I only realized that a few years ago. I have to make the time.

How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:

Making time for self-care is a priority. I set aside solid time to unplug from work…no emails, no calls, no texts, no calendaring for at least one day. Maybe just an evening if that’s all I can afford. I try to be mindful of my alcohol intake. A day off, or even a day with a limited amount goes a long way.  I have a personal goal to get exercise 5 to 6 days a week. It’s not always easy, but when I make time to sweat it out, spend time on my mat or even just clear my head, I find myself to be less stressed. Knowing this makes getting it done more feasible.

I see a psychologist regularly. And I work with a life-coach to be held accountable to my personal and professional goals. I’ve found that making efforts to foster relationships outside the industry is important. This all helps me keep perspective. I'm work in progress…make no mistake. But, I have certainly found these measures help me get more done. Happiness and productivity run hand-in-hand in my world.

You can connect with Nate on LinkedIn and Instagram @therealslingsby