Beyond The Gavel

As I progress in this fascinating profession, I discover new tools, and new projects all the time, but when it comes down to it, what makes me successful in this business, is the same thing that has made me successful in my other ventures throughout the years. People, and the way I interact with them. Last week, I worked with a large non profit to help ensure their event would be more successful than in years past, helped set up a larger contentious manufacturer liquidation, auctioned a bit of real estate that had been on the market for more than a year, and had one failed attempt at an auction, and sold with my friend and colleague, Brian Shafer in West Virginia. Even got threatened by a feller with a gun, or at least he said he did. Today, I closed a deal that will be an online event, featuring general store merchandise with 3 beverage air refrigerators, shelves, and slat board, then closed a deal on another online event, 8 parcels of real estate. The one that touched me and caused this writing however, was a referral, not far from me, with a lady that wants me to auction Studs, Bitches, and semen. While that sounds humorous, the story behind it is not. Lady's daughter raised very fine Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Pomeranians. She had some nice horses and dabbled in cattle and goat breeding. In February, she passed unexpectedly. While visiting their farm this afternoon, a dark, cool, rainy day, I could see where this woman, a 40 plus year denizen of the farm, had way too much on her plate. One daughter gone, another that only visited for money, a son in very poor health, another daughter in poor health, and a husband that just had a stroke, yet she plugs along daily, caring for her daughters dogs, 3-4 hours per day, while balancing the other chores left to her. Had it been a sunny day, I might have grabbed a mower and weedeater... may still go back soon. Anyway, people think that us auctioneers just talk fast. Today, I hugged a stranger 3-4 times to try to help her through her grief. Sure, there is money there, and sure, I may or may not get the opportunity to help her solve just a small problem, but it made me look again at the fragility of life, and how insignificant my own problems are.
To all of you, I wish you enough.

Shawn J Dostie, Auctioneer

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