James Tidwell, TEXSOM

Title: Executive Director, TEXSOM
Location: Dallas, TX

My Background in Wine:
I am from a small town in Louisiana, the son of a preacher and a teacher. Not an auspicious start for a wine career. I graduated university with a degree in International Trade and Finance, then attended the Culinary Institute of America. While awaiting admittance to the CIA, I decided to study wine. I started the path of various wine certification after graduating the Culinary Institute. My interests since then have been varied and many. I have been in the wine business about 30 years.

What are the top 3 challenges to maintaining your well-being in your work? 
Executive functioning is probably the most challenging because ADHD makes this difficult, yet this is a major part of my work.

The stress of air travel, a necessary and beloved part of my work, can be a challenge for many reasons. One is that I have Crohn's Disease, so I might not feel up to air travel on any given day. I have developed coping mechanisms that allow me to navigate these situations.

Reaching out to people is difficult for me. I enjoy visiting with my many friends and colleagues in the industry but due to the effects of ADHD and a bit of imposter syndrome, often do not feel comfortable reaching out to people. That is a huge challenge considering that I am in a position of wanting and needing to interact with people on a daily basis. I try to remember that people like to connect, especially in the beverage industry!

What are 3 things you do (or try to do) to maintain your well-being?
I try to set routines and keep lists so that I am not stressed trying to remember the things that I need to accomplish.

Likewise, I have difficulty with transitions, so schedule my time using a version of the Pomodoro technique. I ensure that I build in enough time for transition from one task to another.

Also, I schedule time for exercise, especially walking or riding my bike, both of which I find meditative and allow me to clear the clutter in my head.

What other beverages do you drink when you're not drinking alcohol?
Tea is the beverage that I drink most. I did not realize prior to an ADHD diagnosis that I was self-medicating using tea. My consumption has declined since then. However, I still enjoy tea as much as I do wine for the nuance of flavors, the stories, and the people.

What's your weirdest wellness hack?
I am not sure what constitutes "weirdest". I probably have a few! One is using ADHD hyperfocus to accomplish things that I am dreading. I hyperfocus by engaging in a special interest like reading, then immediately move to whatever I am dreading while I am hyper focused. So, it looks like I am procrastinating but really, I am hacking my brain into doing something productive.

What inspires you on your journey in the beverage industry?
People inspire me. I have met the most interesting, accomplished, and helpful people in the beverage industry. This adds to the story of the places and the wines produced.

What is a quote that you love?
To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can connect with James on Instagram @winejames and Facebook James Tidwell