| As an auctioneer, you are paid in direct proportion to | | | | talk at all costs. Ask questions about your clients and |
| your ability to communicate with people. The lack of | | | | how you can help. You must show an interest in them |
| this ability can destroy you as an auctioneer. Here are | | | | and in their needs to get them to open up to you. |
| some steps to professionalism I'd like to share with | | | | Choose your words carefully so as not to offend. Plan |
| you. Follow them and you will be able to go as far and | | | | your auction presentation from your prospects point of |
| as fast in the auction business asyou want to. | | | | view. |
| 1. Professional auctioneers keep their attitude positive | | | | 6. Stay in tune. The auction profession is constantly |
| when all the world crumbles around them. A little bit of | | | | changing. You'll see the less competent people leaving |
| the world crumbles around all of us at times, so we | | | | the business every week, Devote some time to |
| must learn to anticipate it. It's something that can't be | | | | learning of new developments in the field. (ATTEND |
| avoided, so be ready to handle the crises when they | | | | YOUR STATE AUCTIONEER CONVENTION |
| occur, If you allow them to get you down, you won't | | | | EVERY YEAR. IF YOU HAVE AUCTIONS, THE |
| be ready for the next positive thing that happens to | | | | CONVENTION NEEDS YOU, IF YOU ARE NOT |
| you and you just might miss a fantastic auction | | | | HAVING ANY AUCTIONS, YOU NEED THE |
| opportunity. | | | | CONVENTION) the world is moving too fast and it is a |
| 2. Professional auctioneers have a look about them. | | | | lot of fun to move with it. Everyone wins when the |
| They don't act like a clown. Draw a picture in your | | | | team gets stronger. |
| mind of what a professional auctioneer looks like, | | | | 7. Respect your fellow auctioneers. Others in the |
| envision every detail from the hair style down to the | | | | auction business have the same challenges you have. |
| shoes. Hopefully, your vision of a professional entails | | | | They deserve the same credit and recognition when |
| someone who stands out as being sharp and | | | | they succeed and the same help and encouragement |
| conscientious about the impression they leave with | | | | when they fail. |
| others. This same professional should portray a feeling | | | | 8. Remember family and friends. They want and need |
| of trust and knowledge of the auction profession just | | | | a high quality relationship. Be sure to plan time for |
| through his or her actions and the way they carry | | | | family and social needs. Someday I'll spend time with |
| themselves. Look at yourself in a mirror. Do any of the | | | | my family. Someday never comes. It will help you gain |
| details in your picture fit you? If not, maybe it's time to | | | | their understanding when business takes you away |
| make some changes. Start with minor changes and | | | | evenings and weekends. |
| watch yourself grow into that professional image you | | | | 9. Get out and see the people. There are literally |
| have in mind. | | | | thousands of people in your area who need and |
| 3. Customers and clients relate business success with | | | | deserve professional assistance with their auction |
| competence. Professional auctioneers surround | | | | needs. If you don't get out and bang on some doors |
| themselves with images of success. Does your car, | | | | and take it to them, they might be short changed. The |
| truck, briefcase, desk and office communicate a | | | | more you get out and meet the people, the more |
| successful auctioneer career? We all want the best | | | | people you can serve. |
| for ourselves. People love to do business with people | | | | 10. Keep your integrity intact. Almost every day an |
| who are the best at what they do. | | | | opportunity to take unfair advantage of someone |
| 4. Organization is an important image to clients. This | | | | arises. A professional knows that a dissatisfied |
| means being on time, having ready answers, handling | | | | customer today will cost him or her several possible |
| details, calling back when you say you will, and diligent | | | | auctions in the future, A professional auctioneer knows |
| follow up. Do what you say you are going to do when | | | | how important selling with the facts is. Stretching the |
| you say you are going to. All these things tell people | | | | truth, omitting information and avoiding present |
| that you are a person worthy of their confidence. (It | | | | problems by stalling or blaming someone else is for |
| would go like this if someone were asked to describe | | | | amateurs. Sell with the facts and you only have to sell |
| your general characteristics) Mr/Ms. is a person of | | | | them once to be a winner. |
| great integrity, scrupulous in discharge of commitments, | | | | If you use these ten steps as a guideline, when |
| and a high sense of ethical responsibility. He/she is a | | | | someone asks what do you do for a living, YOU CAN |
| credit to the profession in both attributes of character | | | | STAND TALL AND SAY; I AM A PROFESSIONAL |
| and knowledgability. | | | | AUCTIONEER. |
| 5. Talk like a professional auctioneer. Avoid nonsense | | | | Success to you and have a great bunch of auctions. |