At this time in 2009 I was drafting up an article for Auctioneer magazine about my experience as a summer intern for the National Auctioneers Association. I was being my typical, overly-sentimental self reflecting on my “only” summer at the NAA.
Now, five years later and still happily employed by the NAA, I am fortunate to count many NAA members as friends.
Each summer conference always brings a spark of auction-fever and rooms overflowing with professionals that I admire. These members combine professional integrity and passion. Kindness, generosity and transparency are three key elements that I continue to see year after year as these competing professionals join together every July for a sensational celebration of the industry. They are always eager to better themselves through education, to lend advice to newcomers, and work to learn from every person.
Above all, they undoubtedly, absolutely love what they do.
The persistently-showcased fire for their daily grind is what inspires me most. And is a major motivation for my pursuit to participate with the World Race. This July, I greeted many friends again and was overwhelmingly humbled by all of the supportive comments about my future. “We will miss you,” was the common phrase and I echoed that back wholeheartedly. At this time next July, I will likely be somewhere in Vietnam with my life contained in a backpack and my heart unbound for the people of my ministry. But you can bet (if I can figure out the time difference) that I’ll be live-streaming the IAC finals from an internet café with a smile beaming across my face.
This song from my childhood was my only auction reference pre-internship- not a solid foundation but what a fun song!
