Meet Jemina MacHarry: Independent Wine Consultant & Sports Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jemina MacHarry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jemina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was introduced to Scout & Cellar Clean Crafted Wine through one of my good friends and clients. I love wine, and when she told me about her new venture as an Independent Wine Consultant, I was surprised. She was a Regional Manager for a big software company, why would she pick this up as a “side gig”? She introduced me to the company and the business model and how I could become a consultant and run my own e-commerce business. It was perfect timing because one of my resolutions for 2020 was to be open to new streams of income, and the universe in turn presented me with an opportunity delivered by someone I trust, so I had to take advantage of it. I had no idea what I was doing or what to expect, but I just took a chance and did it. I figured if I failed, I would “fail forward” because I am sure I would learn something about growing a business and working for myself, which would only help me in the future. So for once in my life, I did not over think it (which I usually do with everything), and I had fun with it. And it was exciting. There were no real rules, just a blue ocean of opportunity of how I wanted to brand and grow “Mina’s Vines”, and I have learned so much and grown along the way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This is my eighth season as a sales professional with the Houston Rockets, and I have one of the most entertaining jobs in the world. You must have grit to work in sports because you have to be able to sell the live event experience, whether the team is winning or losing. But it has taught me that if you believe in your product and believe in yourself, you can close deals and make amazing things happen. A lot of what I have learned working in sports I was able to use as I started my e-commerce wine business. I had to be fearless, believe in my product, and remember why I started this journey. I love my job in sports, but the real key to financial freedom is to diversify your income. I love working in live events because I sell the luxury suite experience, which is all about having a night of fun at a game or concert. At the end of the day, I work with my clients to not only go to Rockets games and concerts but have a luxury experience and night of fun with their clients, friends, and families. Starting a wine business made perfect sense for me because wine is social and we love to share a bottle with our family and friends, so my professional skills were easily transferable.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a best friend visiting the area, they would already know that I love to workout. It’s the best way to start your day, and even better way to clear your head or get ready for the weekend! I would take them to a RYDE cycle class with one of my favorite instructors for a high energy and fun hip hop ride that leaves you feeling strong and full of energy. The studio is so cool and hip, so we would have to make sure we put on our cutest workout clothes so that we can take “pics for the ‘gram”. Hopefully they would be coming in town for a good concert or prime time Rockets game at Toyota Center (pre-covid), so that we could enjoy them the VIP suite experience with food, drinks, and leg room. Once you get used to the “suite life”, it’s hard to go back to anything else! On Saturday night, I would take them to Trez Art & Wine bar where we could see my good friend and amazing vocalist Jack Freeman perform live music over dinner. They have amazing “wine flights”, the best jerk lamb chops in town, and the changing art on the wall is always beautiful. And of course, I always have a collection of Clean Crafted Wine, so we would go to dinner on Wednesday night to my favorite restaurant – Lucio’s. Wednesday night free BYOB, and the food is perfection, and I love to sit on their beautiful patio with friends and family for the perfect night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I joined Scout & Cellar as an Independent Wine Consultant, I thought it was about the wine and making money… I was so wrong. It is so much bigger than wine. The most valuable thing I have gained when starting my e-commerce wine business is the community of likeminded individuals who are all on the same journey. Stay at home moms, lawyers, executives, dentists, and so many other people who had a desire to diversify their income and tell the world about Clean Crafted wine. This community has taught me so much about the importance of self-development as an entrepreneur. This includes self-care, carving out time to start your day with positivity (meditating, prayer, podcasts, etc.), and having the right mindset to know that success starts in your mind and you are capable of anything you put your mind to. You must mentally decide that you are successful, good enough, smart enough, and creative enough, and your actions will follow. I am also incredibly fortunate to have a network of people who love to support my business, whether it’s by buying wine, hosting a wine tasting, or referring me to their wine loving friends. It definitely made it easier getting my business off the ground and gave me a lot of confidence as I was starting off. I am extremely blessed to have a good tribe… that happens to love wine.

Website: www.scoutandcellar.com/minasvines
Instagram: @minas_vines
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jeminamacharry

Image Credits
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