Jamie Hudson

People often ask me why Schell Brothers is different, why I left one of the best-known national builders to work for a local company.

The difference is our culture. It's in the way we work hard and play hard together. It's in the way Chris Schell inspires us with endless optimism, motivational thoughts and tools, and it's in the financial knowledge that he bestows upon us.

Our company hosted a Realtor Expo this week: Energize in 2009. Not only did Chris present an economic update before a slew of attendees, but he also shared tactics he personally uses for staying motivated, for staying positive, and ultimately, for building and maintaining happiness. In addition, one of my colleagues at Pepper's Creektold a powerful story, in which his army experience in Iraq taught him that if he could laugh with friends - even in the worst situations - he knew he'd be ok. And, finally, we brought in a local Realtor, who, after struggling with his weight for many years, is now an Ironman athlete. He shared his success secrets for how he lost - and continues to control - his weight, how he experienced an "aha" moment, where he knew his life had to change.

That was me. I needed an "aha" moment at my previous job, and it came when I was introduced to Schell Brothers. It was then that I fully realized that homebuilding (even for the big guys in charge) can be about more than profit shares. That it's about putting smiles on peoples' faces, both customers and employees.

Being part of the Schell team has renewed my love for this industry and has completed energized me for the good things to come in 2009 and beyond, especially at The Vineyards.

In parting, I'll leave you with another quote from Chris Schell...

"Your achievements, unlike the stock market, are highly correlated with your expectations of your achievements."

It started as a fun way to stay in touch with high school friends when I moved 7 hours away for college. It became an even more fun way to tease my friends by posting (more often than not) embarrassing photos of them from our college nights. Now it's a fun and engaging way to network, both socially and professionally.

What is it? You guessed it. Facebook.

Check out my profile for more information about me, about the Vineyards, and most importantly, about life at Schell Brothers.

Can't wait to be "friends!"

Chris Schell, our fearless leader at Schell Brothers, shared some inspirational thoughts with the company this week. I'm passing them along now in hope that they inspire others.

One's success or failure in anything is determined largely by confidence. Fortunately, confidence can be earned through hard work and the acquisition of skill and knowledge.

To Learn is Honorable, To Discover is Divine, For without Discovery, there would be nothing to Learn

Knowledge is highly under-rated.

Well, another Superbowl has come and gone. I'd like to congratulate all the Pittsburgh fans (including my own mother) on their victory and give a friendly warning: Next year it will be the other PA team!

It's interesting how diverse the fan base is in Sussex County, DE. We are a melting pot of fans, relocating from nearby metropolitan areas (Philly, DC, Baltimore, New York, New Jersey... you name it). With Delaware's unparalled property taxes, it's no wonder we see more and more people moving here from those areas to take advantage of our low cost of living. At the very least, the geographic diversity of our residents keeps football season exciting!

Wine Tasting - The Basics

The point of wine tasting is simply to find wines that you will thoroughly enjoy. There's no right and wrong when it comes to wine tasting. That said, here are some basic tips that will help you evaluate a new wine to see if it suits your taste.

•1. Start with a clear wine glass. The rim of the glass should bend inwards to help funnel aromas to the nose, and allow you to swirl without spilling.

•2. Now pour a little wine into your glass. An inch or less is best. If you are tasting several wines, begin with the lightest (sparkling wines, roses, then light whites followed by full-bodied whites) and progress to the heaviest (light reds to more full-bodied reds followed by dessert wines). This will help keep your taste buds more sensitive so you can better appreciate each wine in the series. A sip of water between wines can also help preserve your palate.

•1. Notice the color of the wine. It often helps to hold the glass up to light or hold it against a white background, like a white napkin. The color can give you a clue as to the age of the wine. White wines generally gain color as they age. Red wines lose color. That is, young red wines are more red or burgundy while older wines tend to show a hint of tawny brown around the rim. Regardless of age, the colors of wine are just fun to see, ranging from pale yellow-green to ruby red to brick red-brown.

•2. Swirl the wine a couple of times by moving the glass in a circular motion.Holding the glass by its stem, instead of the bowl, allows you to swirl more easily. Swirling is done to aerate the wine and release vapors, evaporating from the sides of the glass, for you to smell.

•3. Then put your nose right over the rim of the wine glass and breathe in. Take note of the wine's aromas and bouquet (more details below).

Take a sip, letting the wine spread across the tongue from front to back and side to side before swallowing. Notice the flavors and acidity of the wine