Ben Salisbury, Founder and President of Salisbury Creative Group, Texas (USA)

Years in the Industry

I guess if you count my time in the restaurant/hotel business it's been 44 years. When I was 16 years old, the head cook at the restaurant where I was washing dishes would give me a six pack of beer in return for cleaning up his workstation so he could go out to the bar earlier. Thus began two careers: selling alcohol and consuming alcohol. 

I went to college (Johnson & Wales) and earned dual degrees in Culinary Arts and Foodservice Management. During my last 2 years of college, I moved from the back of the house (kitchen) to the front of the house (captain/waiter). Shows you how old I am that we used to call head waiters "captains." It was in this role I was bitten by the wine bug. Working the floor of the fanciest restaurant in town- L'Agogee atop the Biltmore Hotel in Providence- I was exposed to some of the best wines in the world and I was hooked. Of course, in those days, it was all about France. I moved to Houston at age 23 to help open a run a new restaurant with some college friends and someone else's money. The restaurant went bust after 1 year but I landed on my feet and took a role selling wine to restaurants for a large distributor. I was promoted and moved to Dallas in 1987.

For the next 30 years or so, my career really blossomed. I spent the last 17 years of my corporate life as VP of National Accounts for Ste Michelle Wine Estates and Constellation Brands (where I met Beck Hopkins). I quit my corporate life and started my own consulting agency in 2014 and for the last 5.5 years I've helped more than 40 different companies with their sales strategy. I've been very blessed!

My Biggest Challenge to Wellness

I tell people I used to eat and drink like a kid whose mother is not at home. In AA, they call it self-will-run-riot. That's me in spades. Moderation and temperance have never been a part of my life (until recently). When it comes to eating and drinking I've always believed that if a little is good a lot must be great. Pair that with a fat expense account and you've got real trouble on your hands! To compound things, I've also suffered (like many others) from the deep-seated desire to be seen as "successful" in the eyes of others.

For DECADES I allowed myself to consume more than I should have while on the road for fear of being seen as weak or not "manly" enough. I justified it as being a "team player" and as long as I wasn't driving, it was OK. I'm a work-hard-play-hard kind of person but it has come at a cost to my health my well being, and my family.

When climbing the ladder of a large company, there is enormous pressure at play and I dare say you lose a bit part of yourself if you're not careful. I most certainly did. I'm embarrassed to admit it but I cared more about what other people thought of me (especially the people above me at work) than I did about myself and my family. 

How I Keep it Together To Stay Well

In a nutshell, I've grown up. One year ago, I did "dry January" and felt so good I decided to keep going.

There were other things going on in my life too, though, and this new move towards wellness included my diet and learning how to better metabolize stress (better sleep habits and exercise). In 2019, I lost 30 lbs (super low carb + intermittent fasting) and I also ditched the sleep aids and anti-anxiety meds. I spend time each morning reading my Bible, journal and praying. I also enjoy the effect of water soluble CBD to take the edge off my nerves which seem to always be there (and always have been). What's changed is how I respond to the anxiety. I've found better ways to cope. 

God love my wife for sticking with me 32 years! She's been a lifelong teetotaller and never shared (or understood) my thirsts and appetites for grapes and grains. But, she loves me and has stood by me. When I think about returning to my old hedonistic ways, I ponder how much I love her and how I want to be the best man I can possibly be for her and my family. I think that is really the key to wellness. We owe it to ourselves and to the ones we love to be at our very best. That is my quest for the remainder of my life. To be at my very best, to make the most of my time, and to leave a legacy. 

You can connect with Ben on his social channels at Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn