As I was flying from Charlotte, North Carolina to New Orleans, Louisiana today I took a quick look at the American Way magazine.
The first story I glanced at was about American Airlines Captain Eugene Richardson (III.) His tale recounted that his father (a Tuskegee Airman) was not able to become a commercial pilot due to his race, but that his son was able to fulfill his father’s dream.
Eugene’s father had taken his son to the World’s Fair in 1967 where his son had his first lesson flying. The instructor remarked afterward, “He’s a natural at this …” From there, Eugene Richardson (III) eventually began working for American Airlines.
I recall as a child the first auctioneer I heard bid calling was Jake Campbell of Liberty, Indiana. My father — much later — remarked that he saw that I truly enjoyed being an auctioneer. In turn, I’m on record saying that some people (Peter Gehres, for one) were born to be auctioneers.
But can someone be born or destine to be a certain occupation? If we consider the phrase “born to be” we might infer that a person can have natural qualities or talents which would make him or her perfectly suited to do or be something.
Not surprisingly we often see the sons and daughters of auctioneers also become auctioneers. For one, they are exposed to auctioneering at an early age but they also may have some almost genetic connection — having those same qualities or talents as their father and/or mother.
For auctioneers who have children as auctioneers (and pilots who have children as pilots,) there is immense pride; such pride is held by both the parents and the children. It’s another connection between parent and child beyond their natural kinship.
Can you be born to be an auctioneer? Can you have qualities and talents which favor the auctioneering profession? I think absolutely.
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, Keller Williams Auctions and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at Hondros College of Business, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School and Faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University.
Comments