I had a very good year professionally in 2018. Best year ever financially, graduated from CAI, was chosen from 2 of my colleagues to be their personal auctioneer.
Hard to top that, and it is because of that, I struggled. Where do I go from there. I questioned that once before, and lost everything, so God, I am not questioning you. I am a man that analyzes thing, and plans, even though I am not the detail guy, I plan the direction, and execute those plans with an end goal in sight. Now, I've made excused in my pea brain, just in case I fail to equal last year. I've said, well it was an anomaly since that was a special deal that happened in 2017 and didn't close until 2018, and, what's the likelihood of THAT happening again, referring to another 7 figure deal.... Then I stopped.
What the heck is wrong with you? If you are good enough to put yourself in the crosshairs of deals like that, keep it up, for those Clients Need you.
So, it is with gratitude to my Maker, that he has put such wonderful professionals such as Rich Kruse, Ben Schafer, Brigitte Kruse, Alan Losier, Tim Keller, Charles Nicholls, James F Nelson, Spanky and Amy Assiter, Lisa York, Tim Luke, Billy Hagan, Dean Blackburn, and so many others in my path to help create the fabric that is shaping my career. When I can call the Captains of my industry and they talk to me as old friends.... except the ladies... they're not old.... Better edit that later... anyway, they bless me with their knowledge that I have absorbed and applied, like a science, and... it has worked. I have been taught by the best, the best practices when conducting a live, online, and simulcast auction. As an aside, all 3 are completely different animals, and if an auctioneer tells you they're not, find another auctioneer... well... me... call me, as I have a Gavel and will travel.
These people have given me the tools to succeed. I have used these tools and have succeeded. All that is left, to really make it kick, is to create a pipeline, to steady the revenue, instead of feast or famine. So, the question I had to ask myself, was Why not? Why not beat last year? Why not be better. I always thought that the master elixir is to be the best. Am I the best? Best at what? Best auctioneer? Do I need to believe that to be a success? The answer is no. I am not the best auctioneer. I strive to be the best I can be, I constantly strive to learn how to improve. Do I need to know the make, model, and story behind every piece that I sell? It would be nice, but with a photo and a succinct description, any interested party that is bound to be smarter than me, can Google it. No, I strive to make myself more expert in the process. The Profit says, People, Product, Process. I have no product, the product belongs to my Clients. I am the people, and I market to the people, not typical auction goers, but the end users that want what you have. So, what I have to improve, is my process. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what will propel me to better years. That, and a better balance to work and play.
In closing, if you are not where you want to be, let me ask you this. What are you doing to change it? Can you change one tiny thing at a time to improve your situation? I think that you can.
God Bless you all,
Shawn J Dostie, Auctioneer, CAI
Hard to top that, and it is because of that, I struggled. Where do I go from there. I questioned that once before, and lost everything, so God, I am not questioning you. I am a man that analyzes thing, and plans, even though I am not the detail guy, I plan the direction, and execute those plans with an end goal in sight. Now, I've made excused in my pea brain, just in case I fail to equal last year. I've said, well it was an anomaly since that was a special deal that happened in 2017 and didn't close until 2018, and, what's the likelihood of THAT happening again, referring to another 7 figure deal.... Then I stopped.
What the heck is wrong with you? If you are good enough to put yourself in the crosshairs of deals like that, keep it up, for those Clients Need you.
So, it is with gratitude to my Maker, that he has put such wonderful professionals such as Rich Kruse, Ben Schafer, Brigitte Kruse, Alan Losier, Tim Keller, Charles Nicholls, James F Nelson, Spanky and Amy Assiter, Lisa York, Tim Luke, Billy Hagan, Dean Blackburn, and so many others in my path to help create the fabric that is shaping my career. When I can call the Captains of my industry and they talk to me as old friends.... except the ladies... they're not old.... Better edit that later... anyway, they bless me with their knowledge that I have absorbed and applied, like a science, and... it has worked. I have been taught by the best, the best practices when conducting a live, online, and simulcast auction. As an aside, all 3 are completely different animals, and if an auctioneer tells you they're not, find another auctioneer... well... me... call me, as I have a Gavel and will travel.
These people have given me the tools to succeed. I have used these tools and have succeeded. All that is left, to really make it kick, is to create a pipeline, to steady the revenue, instead of feast or famine. So, the question I had to ask myself, was Why not? Why not beat last year? Why not be better. I always thought that the master elixir is to be the best. Am I the best? Best at what? Best auctioneer? Do I need to believe that to be a success? The answer is no. I am not the best auctioneer. I strive to be the best I can be, I constantly strive to learn how to improve. Do I need to know the make, model, and story behind every piece that I sell? It would be nice, but with a photo and a succinct description, any interested party that is bound to be smarter than me, can Google it. No, I strive to make myself more expert in the process. The Profit says, People, Product, Process. I have no product, the product belongs to my Clients. I am the people, and I market to the people, not typical auction goers, but the end users that want what you have. So, what I have to improve, is my process. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what will propel me to better years. That, and a better balance to work and play.
In closing, if you are not where you want to be, let me ask you this. What are you doing to change it? Can you change one tiny thing at a time to improve your situation? I think that you can.
God Bless you all,
Shawn J Dostie, Auctioneer, CAI
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