Prompt: The homebrewers mentality

My first proper job out of University.

I worked in marketing for a homebrew alcohol company. 

Normally, when I tell people that (and when I elaborate that the job involved traveling to beer festivals around the world) they say something along the lines of, “Dave? Why would you ever leave that job? Are you crazy?”

And to that, all I can say is, “people leave managers. Not companies”

I was lucky, my manager when I first took that job was amazing.

I had the option to stay with him or move to a separate team.

And I regret my decision to this day.

More on that in future editions…

Anyway, back in the good old days….

I wasn’t a homebrewer, and neither was my manager. But in the process of researching and creating homebrew content, testing recipes and drinking (copious amounts of) beer, I became obsessed with the hobby.

It was fantastic!

Especially the all grain stuff.

The fact I could make amazing beer from basic ingredients? That I could tailor it to my tastes? That other people would drink it and rave about it?

I was in heaven!

And I still love beer brewing to this day.

My boss, on the other hand, for all his positive attributes, never got hooked by the hobby. 

And we used to discuss it regularly.

The mentality of the homebrewer.

Because to us, it seemed unique! 

Most people, at least when they start out, aren’t guaranteed to get results. 

They have to go through a full day of preparation, cleaning, brewing and cleaning.

They wait for weeks for fermentation. Cheekily lifting the lid of their fermentor to see how things are progressing. 

Anxiety builds. Nothing looks like it does in the books. It’s like having a child!

Then, bottling day arrives, and that’s a full day of cleaning and sterilising bottles, siphoning beer, and adding just the right amount of sugar… 

And then more waiting as you wait for the beer to carbonate (become fizzy).

Overall, it can be a month or more of waiting and then you open the bottle and…

… no fizz

Oh well, you taste the beer, and…

… it’s disgusting.

That’s an entire month of your life waiting for something that is totally undrinkable. For most people, you’d be forgiven for giving up at that point.

Not the homebrewer. For this select group of people, failure is only part of the joy and drives them to improve next time.

Not everyone has this mentality. And in truth, some things just aren’t worth sticking with. 

So, today’s prompt:

What, in your life, is worth the effort? What do you do now that will reap rewards in the future? 

And what isn’t worth the effort? Where do you keep failing and getting no joy? What would happen if you just gave up?

Happy journaling.