A Licensed Auctioneer...

Ladies & Gentleman, I am a licensed auctioneer!

Those who have known me through the years, know how far out of my comfort zone this truly is for me!  Horribly shy for most of my life, Choir mates throughout school would constantly tell me to SING OUT.   Yet, here I am licensed to call bids!

God has an amazing sense of humor & I trust Him completely as He takes me out of my comfort zone.  This weekend, I may actually call at my first auctions!

Estates and A New Prospective

I can not count the number of the estate auctions that Brent and I have done over the past 11 years. I have seen individuals cry as the auction began, and then cry again at the end with joy due to the high price. I have seen family members hate each other. I have seen other families walk with complete love for the belated and each other through the entire process.

This week, I saw the entire process through a different lens. My mother sold her home of 40 years to move into a one bedroom apartment. Suddenly, I was on the other side that so many of our clients are in. I was helping her down size and pack.

However, in the process, my brother and I were given a priceless gift. As we sorted through boxes and memories, I discovered china owned by my great, great grandmother, crystal owned by my great grandmother and a relish dish my Nanny used often. If we had waited until my mother was not fit physically or worst yet dead, I would never have known the stories. I would never know who had owned any of these pieces or the history there.

So many times families sort through the memories without a person to tell the story. We were given the stories and family heritage. What a priceless gift!

I came home with several items, including her china and crystal. Most importantly, I came home with more of my family's story. Please consider this experience with your own loved ones.

Home Sweet Home...

What an amazing adventure these past 9 days have been! I still cannot believe I actually completed Auction School, called bids, performed as a bid spotter, and basically conquered several huge fears.

This final day began with our normal drills. Then, each of us did a final job of selling an imaginary item. After a quick review, we took our final exam. (which was not easy!) The final test was graded on a pass/fail basis, and of course, our entire class passed! The results were followed by Mike and Lori distributing our diplomas, class pictures and class rosters. Whew!

Brent took me to lunch to celebrate, and then we began our 5 1/2 hour drive home. All day long I have been close to tears. I still cannot believe I did it!

I have always admired Brent and his colleagues for their talent, but my appreciation goes much deeper now. Not only are auctioneers masterful salespeople, they master their art of breathing, tone and speed. In addition, they manage a team (bid spotters and clerks) with hundreds of people watching. Many of these professionals carry their talents passed bid calling to complete marketing, managing and accounting of their costumer's assets.

I have watched Brent comfort a group of sisters before their mother's estate was sold, and then watched them crying for joy because Brent got such a high price for her items. We watch some liquidate businesses and farms, others are settling estates and some are dissolving partnerships. In every instance, we get the honor of helping these individual's through difficult times and honor them with doing the best job possible for them.

A final note struck me, some auctioneers are in the business to feed their own egos and pocketbooks. Others are in this industry out of respect and passion for the Auction Method of Marketing. They desire to honor the industry with strong work ethics and strong morales. I pray Brent and I will always be the latter. Congratulations November Class of 2011!

Day 8: Auction Day!!!!

Today I called the three first items of my life! Mike and Lori Jones host a Fun Auction on the final day to benefit St. Jude's and Scottish Rite Children's Hospitals. Students bring items, and all of the proceeds benefit these two hospitals. I do not know how much money they have raised over the years, but our class raised over $12,000! They have 4 classes a year! Amazing!!!!

So, how was it? Terrifying. A fellow student seemed to sum it up for me. In other instances in front of people,I can practice and know what I am going to say. But, in auctions, nothing is planned and can never be scripted! As long as we have been doing this, no two auctions have ever been the same and they never will be. So, you have to be able to adjust on the fly.

The fact is I did it! I am not sure how great I did, but I did it! This huge monster named Auction Chant was conquered today! I never would have dreamed I could ever do this! I do not have the drive or the desire to ever be a Champion Auctioneer, but I found strength and courage that I did not know I had this week.

I am so ready to see my girls. I am ready for them to see the fruits of my hard work. I am thankful I can appreciate Brent's talents and others like him. I am thankful that I know the courage I needed and that God gave it to me. What a night!

Day 7: He Is Here!

My guy got here today! I was so excited to see Brent today! I still miss my girls, but it is great to have my guy here.

Today, I almost had a meltdown. I woke up exhausted and done. Then, as we began work on our chants, Jim Sample arrived. He is a close friend of Brent's, and the reason I am at Auction School. Jim is the current President of the Texas Auctioneers Association, and the leading expert on Texas Auction Law.

As I approached my time, I thought my heart would jump out of my throat knowing Jim was there. Then, I went to the front and nerves won as this "Minnie Mouse" voice took over my body. UGH!!! I can't help but wander if I will ever get this chant thing down!

As I thought about Brent being there, I began to freak out again, so I hit the nerves head on! Tonight, Brent let me practice in front of him, so I could just get it over with. Of course, he was supportive and offered great advice. His best advice, just be yourself!

Will I still be nervous tomorrow? Pretty sure I will be, but it was huge to get it out of the way in front of Brent. Tomorrow will be Brent's classes and the Fun Auction! Maybe tomorrow night I will actually feel some relief.

Good night & I will let you know how the Fun Auction goes!

Day 6: "You Are Right...'

That is what Brent told me last night. (yes, I try to account for each time this is said by Brent to me.) It was after I said that I think it is harder to do the chant in front of all of the instructors we know, as opposed to if I did not know anyone.

I have mentioned before that we have been blessed with numerous friends in the auction industry. Well, I either know, or Brent knows, every one of my instructors. Even when I did not know them, they knew I was Brent's wife. So instead of blending in, the instructors know me. No pressure, right?

Today we did a Progress Report with Mike Jones, one on one. This was very intimidating, close to terrifying. Mike is always supportive and positive, so really I made myself terrified. But, let's be honest. Mike is a major influence in our industry. Thankfully he is a great friend too!

In addition to the Progress Report, we had the crucial classes today. Brandon came from Auction Flex, and showed how any auction software makes the auctioneer's life easier. Then, we went through basic accounting, settlement and sales tax for all auctions. The best part is that I keep coming back with ideas to use. Every class has been very beneficial! We can always learn something, and I have learned a lot of ways to do things better when I get home.

Brent will show up tomorrow, and part of me is excited and the other part is uneasy. I cannot wait to see him! At the same, it will be my first time to call bids in front of him, and he will critique us on Saturday. He has been completely supportive, but this whole idea of calling bids in front him is a little unnerving!

I guess we all have unnerving things on a daily basis. We can choose to stop and give up, or choose to keep moving on to see what God has in store for us. In the past, I have given up a lot. I almost gave up on going to Auction School this week, but I never would seen what I can do! I have faced countless fears this week, and walked away stronger. So if nothing else comes from this week, I know I have much more courage than I ever knew! Just a few more days left!

Day 5: Switching Roles...

Normally I am the Auctioneer who is traveling and spending time away from home and Ashley is home with the girls, but not this week! Ashley is attending the Texas Ducks Unlimited Banquet and Auction with her class tonight and has asked that I post on the blog this evening.

Really!?? As if I have time to post on this blog - I had to get the girls ready for school, go to work, pick the girls up at school, take Presley to dance lessons, pick her up, go to the grocery store, help Savanna feed horses, cook supper, throw a few loads of laundry in, referee the girl fighting that never ends and answer Presley's 1,500th question of the night!! Who has time to post on a blog? Ashley must think I am just sitting watching Pay Per View and eating Milk Duds - she has NO idea! Meanwhile she is just sitting in class and listening to some of the world's best Auctioneer's teach her how to count - I swear!!

Obviously this week has been a bit of a role reversal for our family as I have been an auction widow while she is away. After 6 days alone with the girls I have learned that I am wrong about most things, laundry does not magically appear in my closet, children will always give you last minute notice and they insist on eating three times a day. I filled my pick-up with Diesel on Monday afternoon, it is Wednesday evening and I am on empty (26 gallons @ $3.99 per gallon!) and have done nothing but run the girls to school and to their activities - who knew two little girls required so many miles every week?

While it has been busy and tiring, the girls have been good and have taken it pretty easy on me. I am pretty sure they know they could double team me and put me down for the count. I think they refrain because they need me to drive them to and fro.

As for Ashley's Auction School experience, the class traveled out of the classroom today to Dallas Auto Auction, which sells thousands of cars through 18 lanes in less than three hours every Wednesday. It is always a highlight for the students to witness Auctioneers who sell three cars every minute. The students spend part of the day in the lanes, in a classroom with some of the Auctioneers and then get to jump in the block and practice. I can only assume they stayed busy as I received very few texts from her today and didn't get the normal lunch time phone call. Until today she has texted me recordings of her chant-and she sounds really, really good. It is a testament to Texas Auction Academy's curriculum as I intentionally would not help her until she completed the course so she could come into her own chant instead of subconsciously trying to repeat mine. She is doing very good and I couldn't be prouder of her. However, I sure wish she would come home:)

On Friday the girls and I will load up and head South. I will drop the girls at their grandpas house in Quanah and then go on to Dallas to teach on Saturday. I really enjoy the time I spend teaching up and coming Auctioneers, but this time will be very special.

Then we can switch back to our normal roles - praise the Lord!!

Biddingly yours,
Brent