The Risk of Living Your Childhood Dream at 44 | Ep 44

Marc (00:05) Welcome to Guys Like Us, the podcast about existential questions and champagne problems. If you're new to this podcast, this is the podcast about being in your prime, AKA midlife in a way. And we feel like it's about friendship, it's about leadership, it's about growth, it's about all the fun stuff. I am your host, or is co-host, Mark Winter. I am an entrepreneur, a artist sometimes, a father of two, based in New York, though not today. And I'm joined by my dear friend and co-host Paul. Paul, how are you? Paul (00:38) I'm fantastic. Thank you, Mark. Hi, everybody. Yeah. So my name is Paul Fattinger I am a I'm becoming a I feel like I'm becoming a podcast producer with all the equipment I insane. I dragged into the countryside today. I'm also, I guess, an executive, a wine lover, which is gonna be interesting today. A father of three. And I'm lucky to say also a good friend of Marcus, who doesn't know but him and his beautiful partner were the first sponsors of this amazing podcast, your buddy. But that's okay. It's not no not not no blame here. You would have known that in the first episodes I always said we are sponsored by Landgut Schöne Erde and I'm having this beautiful whatever I had, green with Lina most likely. The one I like the most Markus (01:26) Okay, so we sponsored why? Because I was thinking about where what did we pay I paid for it. You paid for for my sponsorship. ⁓ Paul (01:30) You didn't paint. I paid for it. So guys, today we have an interview guest, and that's Marcus. Actually, we are his guests because we are at his beautiful place which you're not gonna see on camera in Wachau in Rossats opposite beautiful Dunstein and the very famous ruins of Dunstein and the blue clock tower for everybody listening to us who's never been here, come here in his beautiful restaurant. Marcus, we're really looking forward to talking to you and to you know about making a dream a reality. Marc (01:58) and the blue down you right here. Paul (02:08) And how that reality actually looks like. So we're excited for today. Markus (02:12) Yeah, thank you very much for the invitation. it's a really nice occasion. So I'm sitting here on our terrace, actually talking to two very nice guys with a very good podcast, two wine lovers. And we try to combine, I hope, a very ⁓ deep talk about many, many issues that men in their prime are concerned with. But we will also drink one, two, three, perhaps more glasses. So I think the podcast will get better and better the longer. Paul (02:41) It's actually like a good wine. Marc (02:43) Or at least we'll think it's getting better and better over time. ⁓ Paul (02:47) And guys, I mean you this time you have to look at the video because Mark and I have new caps. yeah. Right. So ⁓ let's see how we how we distribute the two others we have. Because that's how many we ordered. All right. Let's get into it. Marc (03:01) So Marcus, typically do this tradition. No, no, no, go, go, go, go. Drink, drink. You should, because actually that's a bit of our kind of opening tradition. We were usually sponsored by, you know, we love to do this podcast over a glass of wine or at least some type of alcohol. You've generously poured us a nice Gruna Valtina. Do you like to share a little bit about it? Because it's delicious. Markus (03:04) Sorry, I'm just So the Grinovellina, as you may know, is the the main wide grape variety that we have in Austria. It can have many, many different shapes depending on the terroir, the soil, depending on the making. And here we are in Wachau and we have a river sand soil, and it produces a Grüner Veltliner that is, you know, a little bit fragile, elegant, has a nice acidity because the year 25 was a year with a very nice level of acidity. A little bit of pepper, which is typical mm for the Grunovitlina, and it's I think it's a very nice wine to start the journey. So the wine is actually grew in the back, so behind our wine cellar on the other side of the street. And it's from two villages, so it's from this village and it's from Moutlen, which is the neighboring village. And it's so so to speak the the wine that well that we present to to start with our Wachau edition. Paul (03:57) Grew right here. And this are also the new ⁓ this is a new logo. Markus (04:22) Paul that you're mentioning that Christina ⁓ I'm pretty sure Christ Christina, my my girlfriend, told you before because actually she stands behind this revolution or evolution of our marketing appearance. Yes, we have a new logo. We have also not we have two lines of wine. So one is called Variety Rebels. It's more the funky line where we have also very interesting labels. We will come to that later perhaps. And this one we are drinking now. It's from our line that is called variety nobless, so to speak. Nobleness in in English. So it means classic varieties and typical varieties where we really like to to show the terroir. It's beautiful. And yeah, this is the the the whole marketing, a whole label, our whole social media appearance is really ⁓ all credits to Christina. She's a not only a great girlfriend, but also really really great partner in this business. Paul (05:15) We're gonna talk about ⁓ so today we are truly sponsored by Land Kultur, guys, and we are very lucky to be here. Marc (05:23) So, you have, I understand, like, just quite like an extraordinary journey to here. And when I say here, we're looking at Paul, you already said in your intro, and I just need to emphasize, this is a ridiculous looking property, like right on the donau. And clearly, this is, I mean, for you to spend your time here and move here, a bold move to get there. And so why don't you talk to us a little bit? I one thing we're really curious about is, that type of decision and how you came to it. Paul (05:51) Where it came from and where you came from, I think. That would be interesting. Markus (05:54) Short words because I just wanted to say that's a long story, but you are really allowed to to stop me where whenever you want. So actually, this is now my third life. I'm I'm really honored and and glad that I can now really live my childhood dream, actually. Because when I was fourteen, actually, I wanted to make ⁓ a craftsman education, so to speak. I hope that's the right English term for a gardener. My father came from the countryside actually, and there was not a lot of support. And and I but it's I don't blame anyone. I was Not really sh sure ⁓ about this venture, but I really loved working in the garden. I loved working outside. ⁓ but then you know I made a classic Austrian matura, so ⁓ college degree and but I had a ⁓ a teacher from the Green Party, obviously from the Green Party, which allowed me to w when I did the the exam at my college degree, I I ⁓ my focus topic was champagne production, actually. Really, which is very interesting because he was my teacher of geography. Paul (06:51) The studies. Markus (06:52) So no so he was actually our geography teacher and he allowed me to make the the exam on on champagne production which was very interesting. So actually I got more and more into this this wine thing, you know, but more from a consumer perspective and and was really interested. Marc (07:07) From the economics or just from the... Markus (07:09) I think I got my nose from my father because I can smell really I have a wide range of smells, which sometimes is good and sometimes not so good. I was just in India one week ago and it's can also be an overflow. And I I got my tongue from my mother because she's really a a very good cook and and and very good in tasting things. So actually that's what what I actually always had with me. Paul (07:22) I also don't Markus (07:33) And I I really liked, you know, also good food, liked to exploring different things, aromas, etc. And and I also really I I still l loved to to work outside. But I actually I did then a degree in business administration because I was not really sure what to do. I still wanted to go to the university for agricultural science, but actually still was not sure enough about it. Yes. And then I my first life as a consultant. ⁓ my God. Like ⁓ Marc (07:59) Yeah Markus (08:02) Yeah yeah yeah yeah. But I go on go on. So this was my first life, but it was a very interesting journey and I don't Marc (08:07) What kind of consultant were you dressed as the the way what's the Austrian review is it blue jeans white navy blazer Markus (08:13) ⁓ no I think we don't have the categories. I think it was a full suitor, but I was I was I was focusing on especially on communications aspects. Okay. And it was more of organizational development aspect. So I was really focused on on on people. I yeah. I I was not so fixed on X number. Paul (08:29) The numbers. ⁓ Marc (08:32) Douchebag scale, where were you, okay? Paul (08:34) So you guys were very similar. Markus (08:36) I've never developed a fetish for Excel like many others until today. And then actually, you know, because I'm I always wanted to change something in in in life, as naive or as I hope many people do, or many people at least think about, to change something in in the world or in in their lives to make something better. And you know, I was thought in consulting I was working on small levers on a small leverage. And so I I decided to go into politics. I had some friends that were, you know taking over the our party at at the time and they were asking me to to join the mission and I and I did. And it was really also a very, very interesting journey. So it's working in the people's business, you know, you can collect many, many experiences in a short period of time. Yeah. And and working in politics means, you know, no day is like ⁓ like the other and you don't know what's will happen tomorrow. So it's a very fast ⁓ business. Paul (09:29) Can interject here just for context, right? I mean you worked for the the movement that Sebastian Kurz had created on you know, on on the basis of the the Austrian People's Party, Conservative Party. Markus (09:40) Yes. Wasn't it of just like in all times at that time. ⁓ Marc (09:42) history. Markus (09:46) We're writing a movie. So I really experienced some kind of window of opportunity where we thought many things that really desperately needed to be ⁓ changed in the Austrian system could be changed at that time. And yeah, this was a actually a ten year long journey. Wow. very, very exciting. I was general manager of our party slash movement in Vienna. Got it. Then I was a member of the city government. Marc (10:05) And so you ran for elections, right? Markus (10:15) And then I was head of our MEPs in the Vienna city government. So three different positions. So now I I'm not done with all the the positions that are available in politics, but I think I have a a good overview now about different roles and issues. I'm a full time winemaker now, or I I have been a full time winemaker since the first of January. Paul (10:39) Well, okay. So you said you had this dream as a child. When did the dream come? It's not like you decided on, you know, in December I'm gonna be a winemaker and then you started. I mean that there is a a a fade in, fade out transition happening there. How did that go? Markus (10:54) Yeah, I mean a tribute to my ex wife, Lene, because actually she studied at the University of of Agriculture in in Vienna. And I would say ten years ago we decided, you know, mm w we want to buy small property wine, which was especially my interest, and fruit, which was especially her interest. Apples, so she was was I think still an apple lover. And ⁓ and actually sh she was also specialised in organic farming. Paul (11:16) I gotta have to say I hate Markus (11:23) And she's still working at the the research I would say the the biggest European research institute for organic farming, Fibre in Germany. And so from the beginning it was clear that we really want to do ⁓ organic farming. And we started with a small property and we, you know, we planted some apples and we planted some some wine and yeah, started small scale. Two, right? It was actually f a little bit more up the the denim, actually. That was the first property a long time ago. And and you know Paul (11:43) Around here. Markus (11:53) When it's a childhood dream and you you you get a glimpse on how how or you get a feeling how it is to live your childhood dream, everything can be done very, very quick and and move very, very fast. Paul (12:05) And is it then that you started also your education to be a winemaker? Because I remember when I met you, which must have been also not ten, but nine, eight, nine years ago, you were I think it was you were about to sign up or or you were about to do your first or you did your second seminar of the wine school or something. Is that tr is that correct in terms of timeline? Markus (12:24) There is the possibility to do an evening course or an evening class, so to speak, ⁓ for working people. So it goes over one year and yeah, afterwards you have an education as we call it Fachabeth für Wanbao, so craftsman for for wine growing. Actually that's what I did. ⁓ but it ⁓ first was the property, then there was this education. And this together, you know, was really the boost where yeah. Well I knew that you know. I really want to do this. ⁓ but lack of funds in the beginning, actually, and and also still the interest working in politics, you know, what kept me away from really scaling up the business. So Marc (13:02) That's actually kind where I wanted to go to. I cause I think a lot of people have childhood dreams, you know, to be writers, to be mechanics, like artists or painter, you know, pick your version of that, you know, and usually they're dreams that can often pay you right away, which is why you take jobs as consultants sometimes. But, but take me through like the moment where you're like, okay, I have to do this. Like, what was that like? Was, was there a singular time? it, was it a night, month or like, like a bad day in politics where you're like, is the worst thing that happened to me, I need a switch. Small thing to do this, my own understanding, winemaking. Markus (13:32) Yeah. was a little bit bored, you know, all spending my whole day in meeting rooms and under a very artificial climate. I really always wanted to be outside when when there was sun, you know, I thought okay, I really want to go out and want to work with and and in nature. ⁓ on the other hand side there were some disappointments w when it comes to the development of the the movement in politics and and things were were changing a little bit. And on the other hand side, you know, it's as as Blunt as it is, but it's also a question of age. Because you know, I thought, okay, now I'm I'm turning I'm turning 14. I thought, okay, if I want to do it, I really have to do it now. Yeah. ⁓ because I was fit, you know, and and working in agriculture also means you need to be physically fit. And I was I had a lot of energy, I had a a good network, and I thought, okay, now now it's now now it's the time. I have experienced enough when it comes to I was Paul (14:31) Freedom. Markus (14:33) Privileged, I had the possibility to travel a lot. So to go to New Zealand, Indonesia, many different countries. I financed myself studying in the US and I earned enough money for a good living, actually. And I had also the possibility to go to many, many VIP or let's say whatever VIP means, but to events with very important or very interesting persons. So to places you usually of course in a in a positive way. So I I I I really had the feeling, you know, because I I'm come from not a very rich family. So we was everything was about, you know, growing, studying, earning more money, building up some ⁓ certain basis for living and and and with nearly forty I was at the point where said, Okay, I I have it now and I now I really want to take the risk. So you Marc (15:21) You met the people, you went to the places, you made the money that, know, in one chapter, I guess this is your second life you're talking about already, It's politics. Markus (15:31) Yeah. Polyx was my second frame. Paul (15:32) C can I also interject here for a second? I think it's a very positive way to live a midlife crisis. Markus (15:39) That's opposed to ⁓ but still it's a very expensive one. Buying a chopper is cheaper, I guess. Paul (15:49) There is a I don't I wanna wanna qualify, but you know, no, because I I do know from own experience that that that feeling that that you have achieved what you've always kind of had on your bucket list I think that that's c classically the trigger of of where you start questioning yourself what to do with it. And I think you did something very, you know, very powerful with it and and created something beautiful. And no also didn't come without cost, so that but that's a Marc (16:10) And also... But also, mean, think it's a trait not for everyone, but of high performers. I think you're also one in your career. You knew what it would take to go further? Markus (16:23) And I was always questioning myself, you know, okay, if I earn more money now and if I, you know, proceed, whatever this means also in politics. So so w what what can I buy for that? Or or what do I want to buy for that? That's right. And and when I was thinking about okay, what can I buy? I was always thinking about land, land, land, property, you know, wine yards. So so and and then it was really clear for me, yeah. Paul (16:44) Marcus, let me ask you because we had a similar episode with Mark who, you know, two, three months ago went solo, you know, on a business that ⁓ you know, also on a second or third life, whatever you want to call it, right? As an entrepreneur. And we talked about ⁓ the feeling of actually, you know, crossing over ⁓ and I remember our conversations during that time. How was that? I mean, was it obvious? Was it without fear? Was it The opposite of that, you know, kind of describe us, you know, was it one moment or was it more like a a painful period of time? How did it feel for you? Markus (17:20) Not coming from a very entrepreneurial family. So my father was working at an electronic company, my mother was working at an electronic company and was then a very, very great housewife. When I'm really convinced to do something, I can do it. When I really feel that energy draws me in a certain direction, I really need to do it, and then I can do it. So my father was able to fix every problem. So he was repairing the house, he was doing everything by himself, and he really gave me the feeling. That you know, you don't have to wait for anyone or you don't have to, you know so so you have two hands, you're healthy, so do it. But not coming from an entrepreneurial family, it was a quite a tough decision because I knew that there could be existential threats ⁓ when it comes to financials. So it wasn't an easy decision, but it the energy was so strong and was ⁓ dragging me so strongly, so that actually at that time I really had no doubt. Marc (18:13) I look, I think that's kind of inspiring, you know, for all kinds of reasons, but I think when you're sure and when you know, then I love what you said. When you live your dream, things come easier. You know, you kind of knew exactly what to do. were, it was like trying on a, maybe it's like trying on an old suit and still fits, you know, when you're a teenager, when you had it for awhile and you just kind of wear it. Cool. Paul (18:34) And looking back, would you do it again? Markus (18:36) ⁓ I would do it again but differently. Because that I've faced and I've I've solved in a certain way w where I thought it's it's good, but now of course there are many many learnings involved. But I think I would still do it again, yes. Perhaps I would try to build up a more solid financial basis beforehand. Half of my soul is a very playful one. So it's ⁓ the the the other one is quite you know, the serious businessman. ⁓ Paul (19:00) What's the other half? Beautiful combination. Markus (19:06) It's a beautiful combination when they they not always fight against each other. ⁓ Paul (19:11) Amazing segue, Marcus, right? About beautiful combinations and and and fighting. You're also doing this business together. It's a family business really, because you're really doing this together with your partner Christina, with your parents, with your sister. ⁓ I don't know who else is involved that I haven't mentioned yet. Marc (19:27) really? Markus (19:30) Nearly everyone who really knows I'm afraid. So so how ⁓ actually that is r really going well. Actually what you hear now is our dog. ⁓ she's called She Wants to Run in the Wild which I can really understand. Sorry. Sorry. Because it's you know, you're working with nature, ⁓ there could be rain, there could be a thunderstorm, there could be hail, you need to react quickly. Paul (19:44) Sorry, P V. Markus (19:55) You you have to work on Sundays, Saturdays. So of of course you also need to and and also, you know, it's not a high margin business. So you cannot employ so many people for taking over all roles and jobs that are necessary. So you really need your family, so to speak, also as cheap workers or cheap labor, so to speak. They but they tell me at least that they really like to do it. I'm not sure if they are really honest, but but my family really says they are happy that they you know, they they come out. They live in Vienna still, so they come out when they help us. They you know d they're in the nature for one day. They have fun together with the parents of Christina. They really come along really well with each other. I also my sister Marc (20:35) You are a brave fucking man. Sorry. I'm hearing this is like every ingredient for a disaster. And then the mayor and the policeman, they're also invested. Paul (20:46) No no I I mean cat I'm just looking at his viewers Marc (20:49) Yeah, but you Markus (20:50) But but but of course, you know, I'm I'm I'm not now I'm talking more about the romantic side, but of course there were they're also tough times as well. Where where you really think, you know, also especially with Christina Christina because she's more all in than anyone else and she's now doing th three different jobs and her her fourth job is working in the agriculture. So sh sh for for her I think sometimes it's it's really tough. Because it's my dream. Actually, she's working on my dream. That that Paul (21:13) I mean that's just let me quickly and I don't want to get you into trouble. but what I learned one of the many things I learned and realized later in couple therapy was that a couple to be successfully coupled over a long period of time needs a or what's very helpful is a project together. Yeah. So that's true, but you do have a fucking project, my friend. Markus (21:34) good to know. But but it's a funny thing, you know, when I when you leave your childhood dream and when when you're really already in your childhood dream, it's not that you think, okay, now I'm done, I'm just following that path and I'm just going on. I I was thinking, what's next? For your work, and you are in your your childhood dream. So actually everything concerning work is done. ⁓ but then you think okay What's next? And then ⁓ w what I was thinking I would say end of last year was really that I was thinking, okay, I don't have a family. I don't ⁓ that was the warm up. But ⁓ now the only thing I'm I think I miss or the the the thing where I think I solve it. sorry. It's not a not proper word. But one b one one thing that I I I still want to reach is is is a family. This is really something now that really became very important for me actually. Paul (22:15) Let's get a dog. Marc (22:37) I wish you luck in all the ways. Can you, can you, know, one thing I always love about these conversations is asking your, a moment when you figured either, you know, or the, actually let's break it too. The moment you knew it was working, cause clearly it's working, we're here. And that might be the same and you're proudest. just, just. Markus (22:56) Wow, it's really a tricky question. ⁓ I'm still very critical about my products, and I'm I'm really not very good in appraising myself. Marc (23:05) You are, are, realized Austrian. this is not... This was the American version. He telling us about this genius winery he made. ⁓ Markus (23:07) Yeah, I think But but actually the first thing we produced was ⁓ apricot juice and ⁓ apricot jam. Okay. And and this was really selling well from the beginning. By the way, the apricot jam yes you you can taste this is there a special music in your podcast when you're promoting products? I'm gonna but please the the sound you you need to listen to the sound of apricot jam Paul (23:27) Look at the colour. Marc (23:31) Okay. I'm going to go to glass here, right? Paul (23:41) Is there actually is there a ⁓ a artificial colour in there? what? Is there an artificial colour in there? Markus (23:48) Now you want to provoke me. No, it's actually we call it the Bachau Gold because the apricots have such a nice colour. If you treat them right is and Enrique we make everything out of my So the only thing continue behave. The only thing Paul (23:57) Ridiculous, man. Marc (23:58) So good. Also my favorite schnapps. Do you make schnapps as well? Paul (24:14) Exactly. Marc (24:16) Thanks. Markus (24:19) We are in a restaurant, that could be really a deadly jet. We had a label on the bottle and I saw the and actually I saw the face of the people tasting it. I was really very happy and and and very lucky. And thank you. ⁓ import duties Marc (24:34) It's amazing. ⁓ can sell this in the States. ⁓ But incredible, really, really good. Thank you. Markus (24:44) Yeah, but actually this is a product where I o all credits to the apricots, because you know the Bachaua Apricuts it's a melange of different varieties, but actually they all stem from Hungary. Marc (24:55) spoken like a politician, honestly. It wasn't me, was the apricots. ⁓ Paul (25:02) Just drifting away again from the apricots. I wanna know. I mean, now we have this r very romantic picture of you working with your partner, the family, the extended family, in this the afternoon sun is coming on those rocks on the ⁓ north side of the of a cow. It's it's really it's ridiculous. Is it all that romantic at all times? Really? So because I'm just afraid our listeners are all gonna be driven into you know, poverty and doom because they all quit by the end of the month and open a winery. I just don't want to be responsible for that. ⁓ I do. Markus (25:39) Yeah. Or maybe I think if you look from a helicopter perspective, it's I think it's it's still a very romantic story because actually I started the business with really no funds. And also we bought this property actually. I I I hope my bank is not listening to Paul (25:53) You bought it because you're on the title and they just finance it. But you don't pay them back, they will own it. But ⁓ they know that. They've done this for hundreds of years. Markus (25:58) Yes. But yeah, I know. thank you very much. So they you mean I'm not I should not be too devote when it comes to No no but also, you know, I was not so when a bank is screening you, I was I'm sure I wasn't there were not I mean because I already had a little debt from our first expansion. So but Christina and I, you know, we actually w I saw I saw the property two years ago. And then I visited it again with Christina and and actually we said, you know, wow it's it's such a an energetic place, you know, it's such a such a s a special place. Not only the building and all also there is there are certain I'm a little bit, you know, I'm I believe in these things and I I think, you know, here's a a cross point of different lines of energy. And y you you totally and and we said, Okay, that's that's the place where we really want to invite our customers, that's the place where we want to invite our friends and families, that's the place where we really want to to to let the people taste what we produce, you know, to To make a a full experience, not only the taste, not only the wine, but also, you know, the nature, environment. And then we discussed with the previous owners. And at first they said, Yeah, you can rent it or you can, you know you can buy pieces. Yes, yes, you can buy pieces, and then from one day to another they said, No, no, really everything has to be sold at once, learned, fortunately plan. Paul (27:08) Some time. Markus (27:17) And then Christina and I went to the bank and we said, You know, we want your money then. They said, Yeah, you get the money. Paul (27:23) very very skillfully and now you can see the nine to ten years of being a politician, dodged my question. Marc (27:31) I think. You're smiling. Markus (27:36) But Paul (27:36) My question was is it all that rosy and romantic? yeah. ⁓ Markus (27:41) Everything I wanted to mention is because I think it's really a wonder that this everything is possible. That's what I really want to say. And I'm really glad that is romantic and I'm really happy that it worked out. I think this Paul (27:50) Go into the advertising of your bank that you actually have a romantic feeling when you think about them. Markus (27:55) No, and it really shaped my view on banks in general. And no, but of course, especially when it comes to existential threats, when you think really you you got the money in the beginning of the the month, and you really don't know if you will have enough money for the end of the month, drastic as it is. So when you experience that ⁓ a couple of times, it's really rough. But fortunately I have two Marcuses within me. So actually the businessman Marcus said, come on, pfft. But the other one is a very playful one and says, Okay. On, let's try it. And if it's not working out, you can sell it. But actually then you did it. You actually you know you were following your title. So be brave and play. Marc (28:31) You can tell yourself that. Be brave and... That's a great lesson. Paul (28:34) Awesome. That's an awesome. Markus (28:37) yeah. But it took me ⁓ I would say at least one thousand euros of coaching. That's nothing. No not not ⁓ sorry. Marc (28:42) Yeah, Paul does that in Ha ha ha Paul (28:50) ⁓ thank you, Mark. Marc (28:53) But brave and playful is a great lesson. Maybe even to close for a little bit. Hey, but question for you just maybe is to kind of wrap this journey. How is it going? obviously we're complimenting on the place where drinking your delicious wine, like is it business, like everything you've hoped? Markus (29:12) hypotheses when it comes to this place, ⁓ also when it comes to you know traffic, tourists coming to this region. And I really have to say fortunately all these hypotheses really ⁓ I I think they they they really come true. Amazing. ⁓ so we had a very strong Easter weekend ⁓ and ⁓ we have the guys running our restaurant and actually renting this place Oliver he's also a great guy he's really doing a a great job he started one month ago so I thought Marc (29:41) And you by the way, it looks ridiculous. Really, really good. Markus (29:44) Thank you very much. So actually I th I think this it seems really that this will pay off. We are now renovating the shop in the opposite of the restaurant and I la last fall I recognized that even in October, November people were passing by stopping people from countries like Israel, for example, or ⁓ I remember Paul (30:02) We were there. Markus (30:04) In my my weirdest or most interesting experience were where tourists you know they they were coming in in November and they had sandals and short trousers and I was asking myself, Wow. Why I ask him where where do you come from? And they say from Mauritius. And I say, What brings you from Mauritius in November to the marketplace? So actually I think also the shop will pay off and and the the the hard thing is really the wine business, I have to say. So selling the fruit stuff is it's really easy and there's always more demand than I can ⁓ we can produce. Paul (30:22) Why didn't you bring different Markus (30:34) But now you know the the wine market is highly competitive at the moment. ⁓ actually it's generally not growing but slowly declining in Austria, but also in Europe generally. Paul (30:44) It is a great segue also into our next episode And we usually close this mark because we with a very fun segment that we call ⁓ the Terminator and the Most Idiotic Thing I Did All Week. today I absolutely nailed the idiot of Almost a year, I think. So I left this morning in my car because I wanted to drive to St. Pelton where I just met Mark. 'Cause I had a meeting in s long story short. So I leave in the morning, I get stopped by the police, I pay 70 euros. I'm not gonna tell you why. It was I think it was a fraud. So then I was late. So then I raced like an idiot to the train station. I get on the train, I'm looking for my colleague, I can't find her. And I hear the guy saying where the next stop was, and I realized I was on the wrong train. Anyway, so that was my most idiotic thing of the day. Markus (31:34) That's a nice one. Can you also give me an inspiration for your Paul (31:41) Let's let's continue to Mike and see what he's got to offer then. Marc (31:45) Wow. It's either genius or idiotic. But yesterday, a dear friend of mine came in from Amsterdam and we thought we'd go for lunch before a business meeting. And as you can imagine, we induced it off and he hadn't tried some of the Alpia there. So he, he got a little bit toasted, you know, before the meeting. Markus (32:03) I have a picture. Marc (32:06) And we went in there, as we started just talking, this was a long 90 minute meeting, we were dropping F-bombs left and right, and was like, yeah, and then this fucking thing happened here, and then this fucking thing, yeah. So either, it's gonna go really well. We walked out and we were like, those guys were fucking cool. Markus (32:17) It's probably ⁓ Or not. Paul (32:22) Or not? Okay, fair enough. Marc (32:25) was very, it was very... A Terminator is tough man, because I think... I mean I was about to... Honestly, you were gonna be my Terminator. Thank you. This is really beautiful. And it was Paul's idea to bring me out here. He knew that I was at my in-laws in Dusseldorf. He said, hey why don't you come down for a few days. It was an easy sale for my wife, but it's nice to see his genius alive in his home country. Congrats, thank you. Paul (32:28) And apart from me bringing you up That's very cute. Markus (32:51) Yeah, thanks for the inspiration. ⁓ when it comes to fail, actually most of the fact No, no, but but I think mo mo most of the things I really hate happen when I'm on the tractor. I think I'm a good driver, but for example, I once shredded my my mobile because I was phoning ⁓ I was on the phone actually when I was cutting the grass in the apricot garden. But the problem is, you know, some of the branches of the apricots they are very deep. Marc (32:56) hosting these guys here. ⁓ my god Markus (33:19) So actually I was, you know, blah blah blah blah blah talking on the phone and then one of the branches really hit me in the face and threw the the the mobile exactly into the grass cutting machine. I don't know the translation. Wow it's a great friend. Yes, thousands came out in the back. And the second one was that I really lost ⁓ my key and my spare key of the car in the same field which was also a very nice experience actually. Terminator. I I always want to say transformer. No, my Terminator story. ⁓ is actually so on a macro level I really think it's it's what I'm doing. So that I really started, you know, wine business shop, restaurants doing all this a thing and really bringing it down on the ground was really my my trminator thing. And and on a on a micro level I I fixed ⁓ how do you say not the roof but the thing that you know is collecting the rainwater. ⁓ thank you very much. So on the wine cellar, because actually I had to save money. So and I've never done this before and this was, you know, five five meters up. And I really, you know, I was looking up on Google, I saw many YouTube videos, and then I did it. Paul (34:30) That's how I'm doing a podcast, my friend. Marcus, I wanted to ⁓ you know, I wanted you to be my terminator. Uh-huh. Because I wanted to be, you know, really nice to you. So you serve us really next good wine for the next session. But then you ⁓ you called out yourself. So I'm gonna call out Christina as the terminatrix because she's keeping up with you and is also right an an absolute heart and soul of this together with you. You know you guys are awesome and you guys Markus (34:32) Mail. Paul (34:59) Together I'm a terminators and I'm really looking forward to the continuation of this. Thank you. Markus (35:05) Thank you very much guys.