Just Because You Could - Doesn't Mean You Should

 Today, I was brought back to some of the thoughts that ran through my head before I decided to really pursue building my own business, instead of working for someone else. Without Jesus, I would not be here. Those prayers, back then, were a kind all their own....fervent, desperate, FULL of fret and worry, talking out loud ALL....EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. MY. CONCERNS..... Jesus knew them. Even though He called me, I was not able to recognize it right away. I questioned EVERY thought. I thought of EVERY scenario....EVERY possibility.....REALLY sat with the less than favorable possibilities, let it saturate me and then decide if I was willing to make the sacrifice and FOLLOW Jesus's call. A TD Jakes sermon & The Holy Spirit snapped me into action back then and......here I am....more than a decade later.....and TD Jakes has once again motivated me with one of his sermons and I felt that familiar feeling. The feeling of ALLOWING God to show me. To put all my plans, thoughts, ideas, limited knowledge to the side and....well....BUCK UP BABY & RIDE WITH JESUS!

This brings me to my most beautiful lesson this week. In business.....just because you COULD, does NOT mean you should. Sometimes.....we are SO hard-headed that God literally has to LET US recognize for ourselves our weaknesses. He let's us FEEL the discomfort, angst.....He lets us struggle in our limited knowledge. 

I am a person that likes to be in motion. Sitting still, focusing on numbers, piecing things together, and trying to figure out how to make a program work.....that's not my thing. Yes. Once upon a time that was my thing....because I was curious....engaged....interested....learning. That being said, I identified years ago, that - that was one of my least favorite parts of the business and taught, encouraged, hired, and/or trained others to do that very thing. NOW.....as I sit in the middle of my reset, fumbling my way through what's next...wanting to BE REAL SURE I need a person to do X, Y, Z....I have never been more sure of anything in my life.

My brain was SOOOOOOOOOO tired that once I struggled my way through programs and documents and process manuals, and FAQ web pages, then double, triple, & quadruple checking my numbers (which BTW....as I sit at my daughter's music recital, realize I forgot a very important deduction that was accounted for, but not notated) I realized that....when I work myself to a place where basic addition and subtraction is a struggle......it's time to let it go. AND...if that wasn't enough to convince me....after ALL the corrections and THINKING I was printing page 9 of a 9 page document.....I take a call and, by the end of it, have NINE FULL COPIES OF A NINE PAGE DOCUMENT....that is not where I'm supposed to be.... THUS, just because you could, doesn't mean you should. 

God gives us such AMAZING gifts. TRULY, when I started this whole journey FRUSTRATED with my J.O.B. at the time....I HAD NO IDEA that I would one day become a Texas Reserve State Champion Auctioneer, learn how to sell EVERY type of asset under the sun, and HELP RAISE MILLIONS for non profits! In fact, when I started this journey....being an auctioneer was a thought written in a journal out of frustrated prayer. I reached a point where I did all I knew how to do in my own knowledge and ability and I did not know what to do. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY OBEDIENCE. 

God knows that sometimes we have to wear ourselves down to the place where we will be obedient; where we have exhausted all we know & we SURRENDER. 

And as I type that, I think to myself....knowing all this....why is it still SO HARD? I'd like to think that God is teaching us how to trust Him the way we will, one day, need to trust Him. Every time we get ourselves to these places we trust God a little more. AND....it is not that we don't want to trust Him...it's that we don't know how and He is teaching us. It gets easier to say yes. It gets easier to step into the unknown and LET HIM paint the road as you walk. We can't rush it. We can't make plans. We can simply EXPERIENCE His goodness and His grace and His mercy towards us & LET HIM SHOW US!

BUCK UP BABY & RIDE WITH JESUS! GO where He takes you. No questions and no expectations. 

A Chapter Comes to an End

You talk about a rough few months. I AM PAYING ATTENTION. I took the liberty of reading my blogs from this first chapter, where the "Buck Up" journey began. As I documented my thoughts and feelings...from the most humblest of beginnings...I would contemplate whether some of those words mattered....whether those stories needed to be told.....whether certain credit was even interesting to the reader. 

I KNOW, without the shadow of a doubt, that IT ALL MATTERS. As I find myself holding a heavy, HEAVY page and have CONTEMPLATED for MONTHS (at least) on whether or not it was time to turn it, I AM SO GRATEFUL to be able to look back at the last chapter. Having the opportunity to use my own words to........give me the COURAGE and STRENGTH & CONFIRMATION to turn this heavy page is a beautiful gift I gave to myself....and others, quite possibly. 

As I read my blogs from the beginning of this journey it was really such a mix of awkwardness, nervousness, uncertainty and gradually mounted to EXCITEMENT & courageous steps, INTENSE moments of soul-searching and digging and digging and digging to get to my WHY. Part of me was SO glad when I left the "corny" stage of my blog writing & now, as I grin recalling it, I think....maybe I should inject a little more of that "corny."

My WHY was SO clear. It was SO incredibly clear from the beginning.....to help people. Whatever people came into my life I wanted to help them and I did. I went from wanting to help the organizations and bidders that gave me a chance to the friends that were comforting in scary times to other auction companies, to the clients that hired me to assist with settling their loved one's estate to raising money to help make a sick friend's life easier. Then I transitioned to wanting to help other auctioneers, working mothers, women in business, people on the edge of making a life-changing transition. 

What a journey.  WHAT. A. JOURNEY! As I begin quoting the courageous words that have given me all that I need to turn the page I want anyone reading this to KNOW.....IT ALL MATTERS. It matters SO much...even the corniest of the corny! Buck Up Baby & be BRAVE enough to put yourself out there KNOWING that you will grow. You will grow into who you are called to be.....and you'll keep groWING. 

Why is this page SO heavy? Well....it's FILLED with these invisible questions that have no answers. Energy used to not really be a concern of mine. Ten years ago, I had plenty of it and the excitement of something new just fueled it. Now, in my mind, each invisible question has a weight I attach to it. EVERY decision we make takes a certain amount of time, money, and energy and you can't get it back....not easily at least. Now my fuel supply of experience was slowing me down. As I went back to my very first blog called "Just Gettin' Started," I say: "If you don't know what to do...just do something. That's probably the sales skills in me." 

This is the first known picture I have of me selling. This is at Carmine VFD, taken by the late Melissa Wickel. 

I don't know (in FULL view) what is next. I have these little bread crumbs. That is all I have, and...the combination of bread crumbs don't always make sense, but then again....neither did a young mother, with a college degree in advertising....& a good paying job....feeling called to figure out all she could about the business of selling things by talking fast. It really is SO much more than that, but I'm not sure I knew that in the beginning.  Here is to me doing SOMETHING. I am turning the page, finishing the chapter, and starting another.....with a COMPLETE blank page in front of me. 

From "Startin' to Tackle That Mountain," I said: "My overall MAJOR plan is to pursue my auction career. I have a plan, but having worked with MANY businesses of all shapes and 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." 

I smile as I re-read that. I had NO IDEA what was in store for me. I had dreams, within the industry, that I chose not to pursue.....because I was made aware of something bigger and better than what I was able to dream. I smile because I made a business and a life and MANY friends doing things in this industry that I had NO KNOWN DESIRE to embark on. When I wrote that I had NO IDEA that I would go on to have numerous appearances on a hit TV Show, like Texas Flip N' Move or achieve the title of 2021 Texas State Reserve Champion Auctioneer. I'm still working on the Champion title. 

Photo Cred: Myers Jackson on my first or second shoot with Texas Flip N' Move.

Wrapping up shoots for a season.

Toni, Donna, & Randy joined the Buck Up Crew for Lights, Camera, Texas benefiting the Family Crisis Center and Children's Advocacy Center.

One of my last shoots. We brought little Hunter along. The last season I shot with them I was either pregnant with Hunter or just had him. The fam made a trip out of it with me and we spent a few days in DFW. 

Last 4 Photos: Photo Cred - Myers Jackson

Today, my overall plan is to turn the page. I have ideas and I have the ability to pivot at any given moment. God & life has taught me that. 

There reaches a point when you reach the goals you set out for. You made and continue to make the most of EVERY situation. You EXPLORE and you find. Then...you find yourself wanting more of something and not really knowing what. For me, I want to live out God's purpose for me. I don't want to miss a thing. I don't want to NOT experience what God has planned for me. In God's most perfect way, The Holy Spirit led me to a class that was less about skill development and totally about self-development and discovery. It was the Interpersonal Communications Class offered by the National Auctioneers Association. I wrote a blog about my experience called "Accept the Compliment." 

My Interpersonal Communications Class

The Compliment Giver - Suz

The life-changing truth uncovered about myself in that class was: "I had such little respect for myself that I squandered every EXTRA ounce of energy I had on being better and perfect for other people, with ABSOLUTELY no regard for myself." Yeah...it's HEAVY.....kind of like this page I'm getting ready to turn. It amazes me how we function...how we cope as humans....and the things we do in response to trauma. I REALLY do want to experience all God has planned for me and there was no way that was ever going to happen if I didn't own the fact that I was not respecting myself and then dive into what that meant. As I look back, this was a pivotal lesson, that took quite some time for me to grasp. It also took me down and kept me on a path, I hadn't planned on going down. 

Now.....having walked through similar situations meaning....hitting "brick walls" within the workplace...when it was The Good Lord's way of shutting doors to help me make the decisions He needed me to, to get me going the direction He needed me to. Another example would be....things just not working and forcing me to make decisions I would not normally make. I AM PAYING ATTENTION.  I have walked that walk and do not want to resist that truth any longer than necessary. I have identified these transitional moments and messages as I have made my way to where I am now. 

Over the last several months I have found myself unwilling to be disrespectful to myself. Isn't that a novel idea. I find myself being more thoughtful, asking myself more questions before making a decision, saying NO more easily, knowing what I DON'T like and what I will not allow to mess with my peace. My peace has become EXTREMELY important to me and if someone or something is not contributing to my peace, it has made my decision-making process much easier. MUCH. In fact, I have made decisions that create short-term stress at the aim of life-changing peace. 

My blog post: "A Locomotive Rolling Down the Tracks," is raw. It is real. It is confusion and frustrations and thoughts that went from my brain, to my fingertips, to your screen. You may want to check it out for reference. In that post I said: "For 10 years I built and developed something that I thought I wanted to, that served a purpose and helped many people - including myself, in many different ways and in many different seasons." I DID build and develop something I wanted to. Just because that is what I wanted then....when my focus was SOLELY to be better FOR OTHERS and their needs. That does NOT make it wrong. The way we did things, the choices I made, the services we offered were COMPLETELY in line with what was important to me. Now....other things are important to me also. HONORING and BEING KIND to myself is something brand new that BARELY existed in the last chapter. Now that, that vision is clear - I can turn the page and invite you along. 

Father, I am thankful for these words....Your words that you have brought me this week, to ENCOURAGE me to believe: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4 NIV

You can check out my other blog: Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus!

Buck Up Baby....& turn the page!

The Villa Bay Motel

Every so often we get these unique gems that we get to work with in real estate. A good bunch of my auction properties are diamonds in the rough. Properties with potential. Properties with stories. Properties with history. Properties pregnant with opportunity.

The Villa Bay Motel is one of those properties. It's located in the heart of the Texas Coastal Bend, in Aransas Pass, Texas. Aransas Pass is located right in between Rockport, Port Aransas, Portland, & Ingleside.

The Coastal Bend is known for many things: fishing, refineries, vacationing, the beach...& SO...for properties like the Villa Bay Motel, it attracts a variety of customers. You may see contract workers, working on one of the projects in the gulf, a refinery worker, or any other industrial type worker that is looking for a place that offers weekly rates. You may also find fishermen and women, needing a place to lay their head before heading out the next morning. You may also meet some locals that have visitors coming in, that need a place to stay, tourists visiting the beach or attending one of the many festivals in the coastal bend, or someone just needing a shower from spending all day at the beach.

It is amazing how the Coastal Bend has bounced back from Hurricane Harvey. You can see the opportunity and potential as you make the drive.

One thing about The Villa Bay Motel, is it stood strong when many things around it did not. Hurricane Harvey was not it's first rodeo. In fact, it was even able to house some that were distraught and homeless from the aftermath.

There is something special about a property that has survived and thrived in hard times. If those walls could talk... they would have quite the story to tell.

This property is up for auction. The auction closes Thursday, June 18th at 6 PM. Here is the link to the auction.  Here is a link to the Terms & Conditions. 

Here is a link on how to log in: CLICK HERE!

Here is a link with all of the details. LINK TO DETAILS Be sure to click the "Documents" tab under the picture of the hotel. You will find everything from a survey to the property condition statement to the number of rooms & MORE.

Link to Loopnet Listing HERE!

Buck Up & Bid! BId! BID! This property has the potential to become your retirement investment, the boutique hotel you've always wanted, your opportunity at coastal living with income potential, OR anything else you want it to be.

We will be at the property tomorrow, if you would like to preview it, talk with us, or get additional information. You can also call or text me at: 979.421.0325 or email me at heather@buckupauctions.com.

Heather Schoenst Kaspar
Auctioneer TXL 17037, BAS, CAI
Realtor, GRI, SRES
Buck Up Auctions & Realty
My Real Estate Expert, LLC.
heather@buckupauctions.com
Call/Text 979.421.0325

ALL

What a BLESSED, wonderful morning! God is good!

Today, I want to share with everyone MY WORD for the year. I have tried finding my "Word for the Year" in the past & although I picked one, I can't recall it EVER jumping out at me, much less it sticking with me throughout the year.

This year was different. God has really placed certain things on my heart & one of those things is to really, truly work on loving myself the way HE loves me. He's been sending me reminders lovingly & so when a prompt in one of the Facebook groups I am a member of asked what our chosen "Word for the Year" was, it was so, so clear to me.

My word is ALL. What that word is to me is a reminder that God loves ALL of me. My husband & my kids love ALL of me. My friends love ALL of me. I can be so, so critical of myself & hard on myself when I don't meet the expectations I set for myself in the time I want to meet them. If I can learn to love ALL of me the way God & those closest to me do I truly believe that a peace will consume me, like nothing I have ever experienced & that peace that God blesses me with will pour onto EVERYONE around me in a way that I could never ever do on my own & what a blessed beautiful gift that will be.

Go to wordart.com to make your own image.

God is just so good. As I reflect over the last couple of months He has sent me to scripture, and articles & encouraging places to remind me that He loves the things I almost loathe about myself. He loves it, because He will use it. Those things will be connectors for Him.

Photo cred to Myers Jackson

Something God taught me this morning as I was praying is that we will have to wrestle with sin. As I'm laying in bed, but waking up, TRYING to pray intentionally, I was hit with the things I am normally hit with every morning. I'll start out with the plan of what will free my mind & as I feel like I'm getting somewhere & connecting, the devil tells me: "You really need to be thinking about this." "You really should be better at this." "If you don't do this, this will happen." "You should be doing this a certain way & you're not, so you suck." You get the picture. It took a little while, but I was determined this morning. I had and still have enough time to get my day started how I need to & it was like The Holy Trinity came in with a beaming light & cleared my mind. All the mind critters left. I even had a similar situation like I described in my last blog: "Accept the Compliment", where I wanted to retreat & God bless my Interpersonal Communications class, because I knew to let the wall down & to soak it in. Let the truth soak in, to the fact that there was absolutely NOTHING I could do to make God love me anymore than He already did in that moment.

Buck Up Baby & let's make 2019 a FANTASTIC year!! God bless!

Auctioneer Bid Calling Contests - An Explanation to the Public

The Texas Auctioneer Association State Convention is knocking on the door. What that means to me as an Auctioneer is that I have an opportunity to fellowship with Auctioneers from across the state & some visiting from other states, meet with vendors that help me improve business operations, receive continuing education in areas specific to my auction company's role in this industry, and I get to compete for the State Champion Auctioneer Title.

When I mention the competition to friends, family, and members of the public that aren't as familiar with auctions some picture each contestant coming in guns blazing ready to light the stage up. Others ask questions trying to understand why there is such a thing, and others seem like they want to ask me questions, but they don't know what to ask.

Considering that the contest is literally right around the corner I thought this would be a great opportunity to share what competing means to me & many other contestants & invite friends, family, & members of the public to join us for the Prelim round taking place on Sunday at the Hilton in College Station. Prelims are scheduled to start at 2:45, but if you are interested in coming, be sure to LIKE the Texas Auctioneer Association Facebook Page for the latest updates. You can also go to the Texas Auctioneer Association Website, where there is LOTS of interesting info about the auction industry.

Last year when I made the Top 10!

Getting back to what competing means to me. Several years ago, I attended my first convention. I had never been to one, didn't know what it was about & literally walked in like a sponge...just soaking it all in. I decided to sign up for the rookie contest & wound up placing 3rd. Stepping up and competing showed me something. I went from knowing very few people to meeting a group of people that were there doing the same thing I was...working on making ourselves better....learning things we did not know, but needed to...meeting people that could help us with the things we hadn't experienced yet....and dedicating ourselves to bettering our method of communication with others in the sale of merchandise. Not only did I meet and make friends with the other competitors, but after I stepped off that stage - there were people that didn't know me, make a point to talk to me....even if it was just to tell me how I did or shake my hand & introduce themselves. It put me out there. As a rookie, I didn't really know what that meant, but I knew it was good & I liked the way it felt.

Every single time I compete I learn something & I leave better than I came. Being judged by other Auctioneers & those in the industry that hire us, let's us know how well we are communicating with our audiences & helps us to see where we can be more effective.

First year of the Texas Lone Star Open in Fort Worth, TX. 

Let me also say, that standing on a stage in front of our peers, the best of the best in the industry, and other Auctioneers that have decades of experience is not the same for  us as when we stand in front of a crowd of buyers at a gala, car auction, cattle auction, estate auction or any other for that matter. The way I see it, we are putting ourselves in the fire BECAUSE we want to be sharpened.

As I continued to compete, it did not take me long to realize that we are REALLY competing against ourselves. Our performance has EVERYTHING to do with us & not a thing to do with the other competitors. All we can do is go out there and be our best self & take the feedback we've gotten and practice and apply it. We are mindful of things like: pitch, tone, rhythm, hand gestures, presentation, descriptions, speed & increments. Then, for the State Championship contest - we are also judged on our industry knowledge through an interview portion. 

In the Ringman competition last year, where I was a Top 3 Finalist.

If I could compare it to something mainstream, I'd compare it to The Voice. All of those singers can sing. The judges give them feedback & they apply it, but there can only be one winner at the end of the day. It doesn't mean the other's can't sing. It means that day...the winner MOVED the people the most & COMPELLED them to vote. I just think about what those judges tell those singers that run the risk of leaving the show. Something along the lines of: "Once you reach this point you are all winners. Your life will be forever changed, once you walk off this stage."

Earlier this year, I was calling a benefit auction & a lady came up to me, shook my hand & told me she had never heard or seen a female auctioneer & she complimented me on my clarity & told me she had more fun at that auction than any she'd ever been to because she could understand me and she knew what was going on. Then she said..."What you all do as Auctioneers is a dying art." I had such an appreciation for that lady.

She never enjoyed auctions before, so she rarely bought at live auctions - but that day...she bought items, lots of items & she called what I did a dying art & she enjoyed herself enough to let me know about it.

As an Auctioneer, who is around Auctioneers on a regular basis & who hires Auctioneers to help call my auctions - I can tell you all what we do is alive and well, with EXTREMELY talented male and female Auctioneers right here in our state & you have the opportunity to see some of them this Sunday.

2nd Year of the Texas Lone Star Open

At the end of the day, we care about our buyers and our sellers & we want to use the tool God blessed us with to communicate as effectively as possible. Buck Up Baby & come on out! There are lots of GREAT items up for bid, with money raised going to special projects like our scholarship fund & Scottish Rite Children's Hospital.

This past December at the U.S. Bid Calling Championship in Las Vegas
(Pregnant with our new baby!)

Photo Cred: Myers Jackson, Wes Pool, U.S. Bid Calling Championship

Buck Up - It's a Call to Action

Hey Everyone! Over the last year the fact that my blogging has been ALMOST non-existent has been nagging at me. I still have topics to write about come to mind, but it is finding the time to write them! Well I have decided to dedicate time each week towards blogging & a few other things, that I can't wait to put into place!

"Buck Up" is a call to action and has several different meanings in several different dictionaries, but TODAY to me...it means It's time to take action! Share our AUCTION journeys & LIFE journeys & really get back at it!

A month ago Tuesday, we were blessed with our 3rd child! Mr. Hunter Wayne Kaspar has joined our little family & he fits right in! I have been reflecting so much, the last several weeks in particular, & I just feel extremely blessed that we are surrounded by ALL the people we are surrounded by.

While I was pregnant with Little Man, I had several people ask "What are you going to do now?" or "Man, things were really moving with your business. I guess it will have to slow down now..." & a handful of other comments along those lines. The way I see it is...he just fits right on in, to life how we're living it. All this reflecting has given me a VERY clear direction of where I want to go & a more realistic viewpoint on the time it will take to get there & that PEOPLE in your life are what you live and work for & are your safe place and they are worth protecting, honoring, & enjoying. Life doesn't just stop or abruptly change. It's a constant flow of people coming in & out & one thing evolving into the next. I have an incredible team behind me, a supportive family all around me.

Our little family is just livin' it & lovin' it & trucking right along! Hunter has already been on several AUCTION ADVENTURES with Me & My Mom & crew members & we've got many more up ahead!

Day 1 with Hunter :)

The whole fam: Kyle, Me, Kylee Jo (8), Heath (5), & Hunter. 

Here is a link to a vido of Hunter & I on his first Flip N Move Trip! If you have trouble viewing LIKE the Texas Flip N Move Facebook Page!

https://www.facebook.com/TEXASFLIPNMOVE/videos/1920135228299495/?hc_ref=ARSq1y2WaOJd4SHbkwzG0jz2z2gTgY4P7gXqi88I7FYSj05o4RSS0bG2t1zT7sCZp_I

Everyday we have the opportunity to Buck Up & enjoy new adventures, make new friends, & take those we love along with us on the ride! Stay tuned for MORE adventures & don't forget to BUCK UP BABY!

Reflections from Scottish Rite Children's Hospital

The Texas Auctioneer Association board recently had a meeting. This meeting was held at the Texas Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Dallas. We had our board meeting on Sunday & then some of us stayed over on Monday for the annual Toy Auction held there for some of the patients. After the toy auction, which was SUCH a wonderful experience, the hospital held a luncheon for us & had a wonderful speaker that shared his testimony with all of us. His name is Desmond.

I have to tell you....he connected some dots for me. One of the things that struck me was when he talked about how the hospital cared for the SPIRIT of the children there & he elaborated more on how they nurtured his spirit specifically. I identified with what he had to say on: a mom level, parent level, faith level.....(regarding some of the things I wrestle the most with God about), professional level, public service level....and a level of basic humanity. I won't share details on each one. Those may need to be reserved for another blog post, or maybe a one-on-one conversation with anyone that is interested. The bottom line is we all need people that care to make the effort.

For someone who was born with all their limbs, just thinking about his journey may overwhelm you. I have to say when he stood up there to share it, he really made it sound like he played the cards he was dealt & he was surrounded by a mighty good army of influencers to get him there. This man....born with no hands...painted the painting he is pictured with, along with many others, graduated with a Bachelors & Masters degree, taught at a university, is married with a precious daughter and now works at the hospital that helped him so much. Getting from Point A (aka birth) to Point B (present day) he had to face AND overcome a lot of struggles, silence a lot of naysayers & literally had to BUCK UP & keep going.

One of the areas that I've reflected on since his speech is my role as a Board of Director for the Texas Auctioneer Association. Sunday made for a lengthy, intense, and thorough meeting. We discussed A LOT & I am quite proud to be serving on this board for this organization.

When I was nominated I had just committed to the CAI program (3 year advanced auction education program), was REALLY focusing on growing my real estate business and was adding online auctions to the services we offer. Truth be known, I had no idea I was being nominated, but when I was asked if I accepted the nomination I couldn't say no. I couldn't say no because I knew the struggles and trials I went through growing my business. I knew what I wished I would've known sooner. I knew how much the TAA & it's members helped support me, many not knowing it. I knew I was going to be in this industry & the growth and development of the industry as a whole, was going to be important to my own personal success, as well as many others. I am passionate about EVERY segment of this industry & believe they are all essential. I could be of service and I cared, so I accepted the nomination. THANKS to Lance for nominating me & the members for voting me in.

The job isn't easy & it takes all of us to make the whole that fairly represents our industry. As members, you have people that care & do make the effort & every time you vote be sure you are voting for someone who cares enough to make the effort. If YOU care enough to get involved somehow, I encourage you to reach out and discuss the possibility of joining a committee.

I also want to express how PROUD I am of our Champions. The joy Kyle, Tyler, & Si brought to those littles & the way they represented the Live Auction Method of Marketing was spot on! Way to be! There was one little boy that seemed down when they wheeled him in in his bed & he didn't really "want" any of the toys, but once he caught the auction excitement he was raising that bidder card with a smile across his face & had a pile of toys piled up around him.

PHOTO CRED: SCOTTISH RITE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

To our membership, we care about your SPIRIT. We care when you are at the brink of calling it quits because what you are doing isn't working. We care when someone tells you you can't do something. We care that you have the tools and information you need to run your business. We care about the laws surrounding our industry. We care about how we interact with other industries. We care about providing the opportunity for fundamental education. We care about hearing from you & what YOU need.

Another thing that Desmond said was that the hospital would ask his mother at each check up: "What is he trying to do now?" "What is he struggling with now?" At every stage of your business...if you keep going... there will be a new struggle or something you are trying that you haven't before. Please tell us what that is. We care enough to put in the effort. You will have to do your part, just like Desmond did, but we want to support you & help you get the tools you need NOW.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone! I encourage our members to reach out and get involved, even if you aren't sure how & I encourage anyone that isn't a member to consider becoming one. Being a member of the Texas Auctioneer Association has opened up numerous opportunities & created solid friendships for me, that give me fuel to keep going. Buck Up Baby, enjoy your people, & never close your circle to new people or new experiences. God bless!

Heather Kaspar
TXL 17037

Exciting Announcement!

Hey Friends & Followers! I have a pretty cool announcement to share with everyone!

I will be an Auctioneer in Season 5 of the hit DIY Network show - Texas Flip N Move!! New season will start November 25th (the Friday after Thanksgiving). The first episode you will see me on is on December 2nd!! Set your DVRs & Tune in EVERY Friday 8PM Central Time!

DIRECTV - Channel 230

Dish Network - Channel 111

I want to shoot a quick message out to ENCOURAGE all of you who do not regularly watch the show - to START! It's been my privilege to get to know the cast & crew that is a part of this show & to be a part of the action! 

It is a FAMILY show. My 4 & 7 year old LOVE to watch it with us. It has FRESH & CreAtiVe design ideas! My FAVORITE thing about this show & all it stands for is highlighting REAL, true blue, working men & WOMEN ;). You get to see a snapshot of the lives of HOUSEMOVERS, CONTRACTORS, BUILDING PROFESSIONALS, DESIGNERS, & AUCTIONEERS & learn a little bit about our industries!

Buck Up Baby & TUNE IN - Friday NIGHTS - 8PM Central Time!!

Our Antique Fair Adventure: The Wandering Auctioneer Day 1 Recap

Good Morning Lovelies!!

Me & the gals have been thinkin' & we have decided & started implementing a VERY grassroots/guerilla/out of the box marketing campaign for Buck Up Auctions.

Let's just say it has a little somethin' to do with little ole me, my dear sweet workin' girl Christie, a wagon, & a portable PA system....and charities, several different charities. I'll have more details for you later this evening (or tomorrow morning).

We spent ALL day yesterday in the fields of Warrenton & Round Top talking to landowners & vendors & we've got more work to do today.

Just keep an eye out for us, if you are walkin' around. PLEASE like us on FACEBOOK: Buck Up Auctions & find us on INSTAGRAM: hdskaspar. Follow up & keep up with our journey.

A Couple of other things....

A SUPER cReaTIVe lady brought the beginnings of this idea to me, we tweaked it & turned it to make it make sense to us. Then we went out & talked to vendors & organizers & BY THE GRACE OF GOD he has turned it into something SO MUCH MORE than what I thought.

We talked about this idea in February & I wrestled with it since then. I crawfished in & out of it. BUT the Good Lord WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT LOOSE. It even got to a point where I didn't know how much I really wanted to do it anymore, but that I HAD to do it. Now....just one day in.....I am SO thankful I forged forward.

FOLKS...this is DIFFerENt. It is....but it's a GOOD different & I hope ya'll have as much fun with it as we do!

Many, MANY blessings & BUCK UP BABY! I'm sure glad I did!

RE-affirmed & Ready to Go!

This past Saturday was the annual RTC Education Foundation Round Up. The event was GREAT. We had GREAT auction items for the LIVE & silent auctions. The food was delicious. The music was toe-tappin' good & the caliber of people there were TOP NOTCH! A big THANK YOU goes out to all the donors and the FANTASTIC group of bidders we had. You guys truly made it FuN & a HUGE success!!!

Photo credit goes to Melissa Wickel!! Great Job! Lace Dress comes from Junk Gypsy Company & Turquoise Necklace from Brenham Saddle Shop.)

This auction also REaffirmed a few things for me. Unless you've gone into business for yourself before, it's hard for me to explain ALL the different thoughts that can go through a person's head like..... Did I make the right move? Can I hack it in a sea of other auctioneers? Can I hang with the best of'm? Will there be a FUTURE in this? 

Let alone all the specific BUSINESS things that go through your head & processing what you hear from other people in the industry: Am I being fair? Am I shortchanging myself? Is my image "professional" enough? Is it unique enough? Am I holding true to ME? Am I taking care of my voice?

WELL....you GREAT, WoNDerFuL people of ROUND TOP CARMINE.... You gave me a moment of reaffirmation. I won't go into every single little detail.... or conversation... or my epiphanies, if you will...

Let me just say that I had a few conversations, with several people, about a plethora of rAndOM topics. ALL of them were just what my SOUL needed, in JUST the right "areas of concern" that were millin' around in my mind.

I prayed a BIG prayer before that auction & the GOOD LORD delivered.

Folks...I have a couple auctions coming up. The next one scheduled thus far is a benefit auction for Dana Herzog Srubar. She is a young mother (early 30s) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer & has already started chemo treatments. The auction is February 22nd at Chicken Ranch Dance Hall in Nechanitz. Please shoot me a message or give me a call if you are interested in donating to the LIVE or silent auctions & please keep in mind when you are looking for something to do on February 22nd. Black Cat Choir will be performing. For all of you business owners & political candidates out there. Donating items & bidding on items makes for a GREAT PR campaign in these little small towns - where TV ad campaigns are non-existent.

Also....starting February 9th - We can start accepting consignments for the 1st GENERAL CONSIGNMENT AUCTION Buck Up Auctions will be holding this year. It is at the NEW Ledbetter Fire Hall (right beside the old dance hall) one block off of HWY 290 - ACROSS the Highway from Stuermer Store. I'll be blogging more about it later, BUT please mark your calendars to be there & PLEASE be thinking of a few items you may like to consign & get some money for.

Many, many BLESSINGS ya'lls way! Buck Up Baby! Come to an auction! Ask me some questions! Leave me some comments! Also...pick the picture you like best. I have to send one off to the National Auctioneer Association & I want to pick THE BEST! I appreciate all of it!

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.

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.

Creating That Sense of Urgency

First off.... I apologize for my lack of posting lately. Hopefully...over the next few months I'll be able to share stories with you about the last couple months :)!

At the last general consignment auction I helped at, we did things a little different.

We started the auction out....like we always do. Well...we had A LOT of items and not near as many bidders as we did the month before. I call bids closer to the end and you could tell that there was VERY little interest in some of the items... It was kind of like we were pulling teeth to get a $5 bid at times - so a couple of the auctioneers decided to ShAkE things up a little bit.

It seemed a little CHAOTIC at first, and it was a little hard for the clerk to keep up with everything going on because we were skipping ahead 20 lots, then we'd go back 10, etc. I have to say though...that she did a FANTASTIC job. She's good...

So instead of beggin' for a bid, we asked the bidders to tell us WHAT they wanted to bid on. One of the other auctioneers would go with them, get the lot number they wanted to bid on, we'd get it up on the screen - so everyone knew what we were selling. The person that wanted that lot - started the bid. Then I auctioned it off and we went from there. We developed a system and kind of had the Auctioneers/Ringmen take turns with the people that came to them for an item.

I DEFINITELY have never seen that done, BUT it did the job. It was the end of the day and folks were kinda sittin' there with their eyes glazed over. This made them get up to their feet, so they could bid on what they wanted. If they wanted it - they had the chance to take it home if they were high bidder & we didn't have to worry about passing over items. AUCTIONS are ALL about URGENCY! This helped pep things up a bit!

I had to share that story. You never know what could happen at an auction and every one I go to, I seem to get put in a little different situation.

Be expecting MORE posts this week. I've got a lot of catchin' up to do. Remember to BUCK UP BABY! I kinda feel like the pony express! I've been ridin' hard in SO many different directions - I can't seem to catch up. Don't fret though....everything will wind down eventually and I'll have some pretty cool stories to tell :).

I PASSED!!!!

Hey! Hey Everyone!! So....GUESS WHAT?! :) I PASSED!!! I made a 92...only got 6 wrong. Now....once I get the license in the mail I will be a FULL-FLEDGED, FAST-TALKIN´, LICENSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AUCTIONEER!!

Proof :)

So now what...you ask? (If you´re not askin´...I am.) Well...I´ve decided to do all kinds of things and not really limit myself.

I´m going to help out at an auction house about 40 minutes from Rockport. It´s pretty cool and I think I´ll be able to learn a lot from helping out here. They sell smaller boxed lots, nice antique pieces, boats, trucks....a good VaRiEtY :). I´m also meeting with an auction company after the Thanksgiving holidays. This fella was inducted into the "Texas Auctioneers Hall of Fame." I´m pretty pumped about talkin´ to him. He´s also won a state bid-calling competition. I want to get experience selling all kinds of different things and working in different settings.

Me and Uncle Mele might be conjurin´ somethin´ up too. There is just no tellin´ about us. I mean...you can imagine....I have TONS of ideas floating around in my head. It is just a matter of sortin´ through all of them and figurin´ out what will work, when it will work, and if we can make it happen.

Nonetheless...I´ve had some really AWESOME conversations with a few VERY interesting people. I´ve got lots to look forward to and think about.

I´ll be sure to keep you all posted and let you know when I get the license! I´m ready to BUCK UP BABY!! I´m just even more ready to $$$ (Buck) Up :).

I just wanted to let all you know that I´m VERY thankful for my little Blogging Community. If I don´t post again before....have a very happy TURKEY DAY!!!