Startin' to Tackle That Mountain!

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time now & the week of Thanksgiving I took the first MAJOR step. Believe me....there were quite a few little steps I had to take to get to that point, but it's done.

I gave the company I work for my 30 day notice & for the first time in my working life....I don't have another JOB lined out, but I do have a PLAN & a mighty exciting one!

I won't lie. This is probably the SCARIEST thing I have EVER done....EVER.

I want to share a small piece of the journey that brought me to this point, b/c I'm well aware that some people will have their opinions & some...quite frankly....may not get it & that's okay. That's what makes this world go 'round.

My overall MAJOR plan is to pursue my auction career. I have a plan, but having worked with MANY businesses of all shapes & sizes over the last 7 years I KNOW that certain elements of that plan will have to change, happen sooner, happen later, happen differently, not happen at all... So for now, until I get more of the details panned out, I'm pursuing my auction career.

It has been a little bit of a mental roller coaster for me for several different reasons. Here are the MAJOR ones:

1) I have a VERY strong faith & I pray A LOT. This whole auction journey adventure all started while in prayer & for a while now - I knew I needed to act on it, but I didn't know how. I didn't know what I wanted to do EXACTLY. I didn't know how I'd help support my family. I didn't know how I'd replace my income. I did not know HOW.

2) It is hard, Hard, HARD to step out into the unknown. SO hard...& SO ScaRY.

3) I have dealt with NEGATIVITY for years now from all kinds of different personalities: prospects, co-workers, clients, bosses, business personnel, patients, families.... & for all kinds of different reasons like: money, power, work loads, territory,  protocols, end product results....or literally having NO interest in what you have to say. BUT - This step  COULD  mean managing negativity from some of the people that I LOVE most & it took me a little bit to MENTALLY PREPARE myself for that.

4) Knowing that IF I made this move there would be A LOT of change. Finances would tighten up. That means that life as we are living it - changes & we won't know exactly how - until we get the ball rolling.

5) Getting the support from  my husband & my uncle. - THIS was the scariest for me. I hold SO much weight in their opinions & NEED their support. I NEEDED them to hear the plan, see the plan, understand the plan, know why I want to take this HUGE step & have them aware of the way life COULD change - positively & negatively. I needed them to know that I wasn't just shootin' at this thing half-cocked. It went almost SPOT ON to what I expected. Once they had a little time to work through it - JUST LIKE I HAD TO - I had their SUPPORT. ONCE I HAD THAT - All that was left to do was ACT on it, so I did.

6) Right now the hardest part for me is finding out the WHERE & I'm workin' on that.

I have been BLESSED to have family & friends PUSH me & SUPPORT me & ENCOURAGE me. I am BLESSED to have professionals of the field offer their guidance, help, & support.

I am BLESSED. When I was praying that early, EARLY Sunday morning - wanting a change, wanting an option, wanting a way to love my husband, raise my children, & KNOW that if I worked hard I would be rewarded ALONG WITH my family. BECOMING AN AUCTIONEER was TOTALLY NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT - by God's grace I called my loud-mouth Daddy that told my Uncle Mele (even when I told him not too) & it opened up a whole new world of opportunity for me & totally unexpectedly. There is so much more out there than any of us would have ever thought.

I gotta tell ya! I know I've been a little dormant in the blogging world here lately, but it is some kinda tough to have a blog called BUCK UP BABY! when I KNEW that I needed to BUCK UP in a much bigger way. It is all a process. I truly think we are conditioned for what is to come. We are put in certain situations to learn from them & add a little something to our toolbox.

Well here's to more AUCTIONS, FAITH, BLESSINGS, & BUCK'N UP BABY! Prayers welcomed.

CALLING ALL AWESOME PEOPLE!

CALLING ALL AWESOME PEOPLE!

Calling all people that want to LEARN something!

Calling all people interested in the AUCTION WORLD...

Calling all people that want to learn a thing or 2 about small businesses...

Calling ALL CrEaTIve people :)!

I have a project. I have A PLAN. I have a NEED for some folks who need something too..... education, intern credits, something to do......good company. I can't pay much, but I buy good presents & keep cold drinks.

If you dig RESEARCH, marketING, BRAINstorming, BuYing things, Selling things, SURFING the web, hollerin' REAL loud....LET ME KNOW. If you know somebody....LET THEM KNOW.

Just wanted to throw this out there. It may be for ya......It may not.

EMAIL ME @: HDSKaspar.buckup@gmail.com

STAY COOL PEOPLE....it's hot out there & BUCK UP BABY....shoot me an email & let's do this ;).

Good People.

If you read my other blog: Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus, you will know that I am at a "tryin' to figure things out" stage with my AUCTION career. BELIEVE ME...I ain't quittin. I'm just tryin' to figure out how to make this work into my life & how to make this AUCTION COMPANY what I want it to be...not what everyone else thinks it should be. I'm tryin' to really figure out what is REALLY important to ME & how to have that SHINE THROUGH in my company. It is SO much easier from the outside looking in, to see a better way of doin' things. One of the most VALUABLE LESSONS I've already learned is to spend time with it. Don't rush things.....AT ALL. Most importantly.....GO WITH YOUR GUT!

I have to say that I am SO BLESSED to have GOOD PEOPLE in my life! I have a CREW that just keeps hangin' on in there with me, supportin' me, helpin' me, & just flat out BEING GOOD PEOPLE! They won't ever know just how much I APPRECIATE THEM!

I know I've blogged about this before to, but in this industry, there are AUCTIONEERS that will HELP you & there are AUCTIONEERS that won't....for all kinds of reasons: busy...they feel threatened, they may be a bit territorial, they've been burned & its hard to trust people... No matter the reason - GOD BLESS the HELPERS.

I want to give a BIG shout out to ELCO AUCTIONS in Odem, Texas. Danny is another person that has no idea how much I appreciate him. If you are anywhere in the Corpus Christi area you need to be sure to go check out his auction. When you are new to a business & your learnin'...it is SO GOOD to have someone that you TRUST to call & ask questions....& not feel like a dummy about it.

Another group of folks I want to give a shout out to is LIQUIDATORS AUCTION in Nachadoches, Texas. JUST GOOD PEOPLE....is all I have to say. Give those folks a call if you need to settle an estate!

That's all for today. On another note...THESE PEOPLE ARE AWESOME, but I would never know how awesome they were if I wouldn't have had the COURAGE to BUCK UP BABY! I called EVERY auction company in the coastal bend area when I got my license & Danny was the ONLY one that called me back, took the time to talk to me, and give me a chance to work for him. With my crew....I knew I needed good people I could trust, but I also knew that I had NO IDEA how much I could pay them or IF I could pay them. It's not real easy to tell folks that, but I wanted to be extremely REAL with them. There is nothing like working as a team, when you have one heck of a team to work with. With ole' Samantha from Liquidator's Auction... I remember being SO shocked to see ANOTHER young, female auctioneer in class. I honestly thought I'd be in a room with a bunch of ruff & gruff old fellas. To my suprise there were a few other ladies, some young guys, SOME ruff & gruff older fellas & little ole' Sammie. You know how it could've went. We could either choose to like each other & get to know each other OR NOT. I am ever so thankful for that girl & ever so thankful that we both had enough sense to BUCK UP & learn from each other & learn together.

BREATHE......

So....I have to say. We worked our little tails off for our March 30th auction. Talk about feelin' spent!! I have just now been able to relax & feel a little rested. Now it's time to tie up a few loose ends & gear up for the next one.  I sure learned a lot. A WHOLE LOT.....

I'll be honest. It wasn't as big as I was hopin', but it was all right. I don't know why I think everything will be the way I picture it.

We got LOTS of compliments about our crew, the consignment items we had, the way we conducted the auction, the check-in/check-out process. REALLY....everything was good, BUT we could have used more bidders.

I mean if it would have been pourin' down rain it could have fixed that. If we'd had more than 5 weeks time to organize, advertise, & gather consignments it would have helped. If I had had the LLC set up earlier than what it was - it would have helped.

The fact of the matter is. We didn't. That is NO ONE's fault. We did everything we could as fast as we could - while we were still workin' our full time jobs & livin' our full time lives.

We oughta be pretty stinkin' PROUD of ourselves. I mean....we had people talkin', saw faces we had NEVER seen, got MORE COMPLIMENTS than complaints. We know what to FOCUS on next time. We KNOW what can help us IMPROVE.....and NOBODY DIED!

My CREW has not abandoned me. In fact...they're ready for the next one. My Nachadoches people from Liquidators Auction said they're comin' back!

Eventually I'll learn how to not be SO hard on myself!!

I have to thank ALL the LOCALS that came and helped out in whatever fashion they could. I have to thank my crew again, all they people supporting this little adventure of mine, THANKS to the folks at Liquidators Auction in Nachadoches & the folks at ELCO Auction over in Odem, Texas. I REALLY am VERY THANKFUL.

Stay tuned for the next one. I'm not positive on the date. We're gearin' up to have a POW WOW & figure it all out. I KNOW the next one will be in Rockport.

We have a new website.Check it out here: www.buckupauctionservices.com.  I'm still doin' some tweakin', but it's up for everyone to look at. If anybody is willin' to leave a testimonial let me know & I'll get it up ;). We will be posting new auction, amongst other things, so check it out.

Also...I started a new blog. It's called: Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus. The first post is up, so check it out. Until next time.......

Yea Doggie! We're Havin' an Auction!

Well folks! It’s been awhile, but I’m not lyin’ when I say that I’ve been busier than a cat on a hot tin roof! All in a good way…

For starters…Buck Up! Auction Services is holding its very first CONSIGNMENT auction at the Round Top  Rifle Hall in Round Top, Texas – THIS SATURDAY!!! This auction is an ANTIQUE, COLLECTIBLE, & UNIQUE GOODS SPECIALTY Auction. Check out our listing on Auction Zip & keep checking back! We are continually updating!

So what’s the big deal? Why EASTER weekend of all weekends to have your first one? Well…because  this week kicks off the WORLD-RENOWNED ROUND TOP ANTIQUES WEEK. And guess what folks! The Round Top Rifle Hall is where it all began MANY years ago.

Ms. Emma Lee Turney started this beautiful commotion over 40 years ago with a set of vendors in the Round Top Rifle Hall. Since then some of the original vendors & a few others have filled the hall during the show. I actually had the honor to auction at a Gala fundraiser for the Round Top Area Chamber of Commerce & Ms. Turney was the GUEST OF HONOR.

I’d kicked the idea around when I first got my license to how it may be a good idea to have an auction during the show & mentioned it to a few friends, BUT really thought it would be somethin’ to think about down the road.

Well the President of the Rifle Hall (Mr. Lundy) approached me at my Aunt & Uncle’s 50^th wedding anniversary in February & asked if we would be interested in holding an auction at the Rifle Hall during the show. He informed me that for the past 3 shows they hadn’t had any vendors. I kicked the idea around with Uncle Mele & some of my AUCTION pals, had a conversation with the PREZ about what they were expecting & what we were expecting & just how we THOUGHT we could pull this off in 5 weeks & ran with it.

Now here we are. Almost 5 weeks later. The Rifle Hall is stockin’ the bar & orderin’ the FISH to FRY on GOOD FRIDAY night that will be available during the preview & the DeLiCiOus hamburgers that will be available on Saturday…AUCTION Day. Me & my (ABSOLUTELY WoNdErFuL, BEST PEOPLE in the WORLD kinda folks) crew are working HARD on pulling EVERYTHING together---in between our full-time jobs to make this day a reality.

I’ll be honest…we don’t really know what to expect. All we can do is pull together QUALITY consignments, have a little somethin’ for everyone, GET THE WORD OUT to EVERYONE J (or as many people as possible), give’m a place to PARK their car (free parking), take a load off, give’m something to drink, somethin’ to eat, somethin’ to do, & try as be as ENTERTAINING & hospitable as possible. We want EVERYONE involved to have a good time: the BUYERS, the SELLERS, the STAFF, the HALL, the STANDERS by, the WANDERERS….EVERYONE.

Whether or not this will be FEAST or FAMINE….I’ve got some people to THANK. It’s a pretty long list, so here goes: Christ Jesus for dying for a bunch of sinners like us & giving us LIFE, The Round Top Rifle Hall & all the people that are part of it, Round Top State Bank, Stephen Keng with Keng & Keng Law Firm in Giddings,  Frank Hillbolt with Round Top Real Estate, Cooper Farm, Color Craft Printing, ALL the businesses & vendors out spreading  the word & putting up flyers, my HUSBAND for puttin’ up with not havin’ a whole lot of time with me the past few weeks, my FAMILY that has helped watch my BEAUTIFUL children while  I’m out figurin’ & takin’ a look at consignment pieces & for puttin’ out flyers, ALL the people that have shown me support along the way, OUR CONSIGNERS, The Fayette County Record, Mr. Will Moon (Say a prayer for his wife. Cancer is ugly.), Mrs. Samantha Womack & her crew at Liquidator’s Auction in Nachadoches, Little Birdie Designs for getting our website up & running, KTTX, KBUK, Mrs. Stacie Brown (you didn’t know what you were signin’ up for when you started interning with me) & Mike for puttin’ up with her J, Mrs. Cathy Gau for doin’ what you do & Hubby Jeff,  Abe & Christina Pace with Pace Fertilizer Company, the ENTIRE crew that is going to be helping  ALL week long & on AUCTION DAY, & last, but certainly not least…Uncle Melvin SCHOENST for just knowin’ what he knows, bein’ who he is, & keepin’ me as grounded as somebody like me can be.

Aaannd…..BREAK!

No, but really - I hope you can all come out, you all have a good time, & you have a WONDERFUL EASTER with your families and friends!    More stories to come my friends! Go ahead & BUCK UP BABY!