I grew up in Preble County, Ohio less than one mile east of the (Indiana/Ohio) State Line Road. Growing up, I probably spent as much time in rural Indiana as I did in rural Ohio. Upon graduating from Eaton (Ohio) High School, I headed to Columbus, Ohio to attend The Ohio State University. Thereafter, I attended auction school.
To say the diversity in Columbus, Ohio, and The Ohio State University was completely different than in rural Indiana in the 1960’s and 1970’s would be an understatement. In Columbus, Ohio I was exposed to different races, colors, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, ancestries, and lifestyles.
We currently work as an auctioneer and appraiser selling cars, other personal property, and real property in Ohio and around the United States. We began selling cars at auction over 25 years ago and certainly, our crowds (Columbus, Ohio and Cincinnati, Ohio) have become more diverse.
In addition to working as an auctioneer, I currently serve as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College based in Columbus, Ohio. Starting in 2003 I could pronounce most all the students’ names were here in 2021 it takes a far more concerted effort to do the same — as the student body has become far more diverse in those 18 years.
What’s the point of my story today? The world is changing and it doesn’t mean you have to change, but you have to be able to respect different races, colors, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, ancestries and lifestyles. As we are the auctioneer for Goodwill Columbus, it’s heartening to know they feel the same.
Do you have the courage to ask questions? If you do, do you also have the courage the listen to the answer without judgment? Celebrating diversity can be as simple as talking to your neighbors to find out about them. Celebrating diversity is not finding people who look like you and think like you. I believe it is the courage to respect someone who is not similar to yourself. Respect does not require agreement, it is an understanding that those around you, no matter where they are from, what they believe, what their customs are, how they look, or who they love, are just as human as you. Respect is about learning – if you have the courage. The more you learn, the less you make assumptions that lead to biases and bigotry. Learn about the human beings with whom you share this planet in the hope that it will lead to understanding and peace. Read more here: https://goodwillcolumbuswfd.com/2021/04/05/april-is-celebrate-diversity-month/ Victor Johnson, Goodwill Columbus Career Facilitator
As Mr. Johnson notes, are you seeking out people different than you in order to learn more about them? I agree that such behavior helps one make fewer assumptions about different people, and as a result, can make you a better person.
To start, it can be as simple as asking questions of people different than you and listening to the answers.
The auction industry has struggled with embracing diversity. We have written about such many times including here: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2017/04/19/diversity-in-the-auction-business-naa/ and here: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/auctioneers-tolerance-empathy-and-caring/.
Can you be a better auctioneer? I think one way all of us can be better is by being more respectful to the diverse nature of our communities, states, and nation. As we’ve noted, it’s not the 1950s auction industry anymore: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2021/03/14/the-1950s-auction-business/.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, CAS, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services, and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, and an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and Western College of Auctioneering. He is faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University and is approved by The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.
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