Ask the Experts: What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
Through relentless practice, difficult challenges, countless lessons, and mental resilience, auctioneers perfect their craft and lead fulfilling, exciting occupations. Today, we’re asking some of these masters about the greatest achievements they’ve accomplished in the lifetime of their careers.
“I made a promise to myself that if I ever made it up the line to where I could hire other people and have my own business then I wouldn’t treat them [the auctioneers] quite that hard. But we about starved to death in the first couple months and years. The first year that we really committed to business we were down to the last night, and I said I had to go get a job tomorrow. We were getting behind on our payments. The business wasn’t coming after struggling and working so hard. But I ran into an opportunity. The phone rang that evening for a nice auction, and somehow we were able to stay in business ever since. Nobody’s gonna pay you better than you pay yourself. But you have to have the guts for it.” Barry Cole, United Country A.B. Cole & Associates Auction & Realty
“Having a satisfied seller and buyer!” Lamar Fisher, Fisher Auction Company
“I have had several achievements in my career. I have been President of the Florida Auctioneers Association twice. I have been Bid Calling Champion. I am in the Florida Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. I have taught at auction school. I have given seminars at the National Auctioneers Association. I have gone to Tallahassee to lobby state officials on behalf of the auction industry. I have travelled around the country and conducted auctions in many states, and even in other countries. I ahve been an expert witness in court cases. I have raised money for many charity organizations. My greatest contribution to the industry is surely to have a good reputation with my seller clients. Every time you take care of a client, and do what you say you will, you make a positive impact on the auction industry. That seller will speak favorably about the auction process, and that will give another auctioneer an opportunity in the future.” Stan Crooks, Auction America Inc.
“The most fun sale we have done was for Col. Ralph Albertazi who flew Air Force One for five presidents. We had items from all over the world as well as many items from the Presidents and the airplane.” Darwin Plumlee, Plumlee Auction Service
“My parents built our company from scratch, and the biggest pressure on me is to not screw it up and to honor their hard work and legacy. To be able to, with the help of an amazing team, grow our company and enhance how we can help our clients is the best way that I can honor my parents and our great profession. There have been too many wonderful hard working men and women who have paved the way for me to succeed, so it is my responsibility and duty to make them proud and take it to the next level while at the same time paying it forward to the next generation.” John S. Nicholls, Nicholls Auction Marketing Group