Authority...an easily abused power

When authority is abused through micromanagement, intimidation or verbal and or nonverbal threats, people/teams tend to shut down; inevitably they become unproductive.

Authority is a fragile gift; usually given from people who have trusted you to act on their behalf. Giving authority, or sharing authority can create business/team momentum. Using authority to micromanage usually destroys momentum.

Authority requires trust. It requires people having goals that are team-oriented, not "me" oriented. Growing a thriving team requires good communication. It requires team members focused on a group goal. Its members must be positive and provide an equal contribution. Thriving teams support its members. They are not self-serving.

Team building is a skillset that leaders are looking for. The antithesis of team building is team destruction. As I read a local news outlet regarding less than critical goals in our community, I couldn't help but think maybe some of our local people in authority positions should have a little self-reflection focusing on some of these thoughts. There is nothing more beautiful than a team that understands group goals. It has the power to make us flourish as individuals and as teams.

Life and death.

Life and death

James said

 ^“Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.” He had just finished the analogy of a horse being controlled by a small bit

James, the brother of Jesus was very direct in this chapter talking about the power of the tongue. He used two metaphors that could be related to by the land minded people and the sea driven individuals. He wrote that mankind is not perfect and will stumble. I’m sure having a deity as a brother, he understood quite well the difference in a perfect life and not.

Andy Stanley said about this scripture and the tongue as it related to the human body, it is a “small part, big influence”. It has the power to control your destiny. Words that are spoken can create relationships, fights, wars, contracts, divorce and a host of decisions. Speaking/engaging the wrong person can change your trajectory. Once words are out of the mouth, it’s like toothpaste out of the tube; it can’t go back in.  And the reality is, the tongue is one of hardest things to tame. Like a small match, it has the ability to create an entire forest fire. Forest fires are often accidental, but the unfortunate thing is, once a forest fire has erupted, all that is left is scorched earth. Jesus himself said in Matthew “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person”. The writer in Proverbs said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” So, the equation of what comes out of the mouth starts with what we put into the heart.

The connectivity of the heart and the mouth are like a ship engine and its utter. Like the small utter on a ship, the tongue has the power to control your destiny, the direction of your life.  And usually when a negative word is uttered, it takes multiple positive words to counter-balance the weight of a single negative word. When a ship sails in the wrong direction, it takes a significant course correction for the destiny of the ship to be righted.

So, coming from a person who is an extravert and who has never minded talking, I am personally going to try better and take to heart the advice of James in his first chapter where he said “be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Remember what the writer in Proverbs 18 said, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Think about the power you wield.

Don't stand around!

Ecclesiastes 11:4 Revised Standard Version ⁴ He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

I think it's safe to say when an instructor begins his class with words from Solomon, you can probably be prepared for wise counsel.

Solomon is a writer in the Old Testament and was an incredibly wealthy and wise king. His fame in the Old Testament is only rivaled by his father, David, who defeated a mighty giant, Goliath. Many people use the book of Proverbs for life decisions and directions. 

NAA Instructor, Auctioneer, and farmer, Mark Manley from Georgia, opened his presentation to CAI Class III at the Indiana University Alumni Hall with the above 3000 +/- year old writing. It was a refreshing start to my day and a thought provoking idea. 
He began his thoughts related to work ethic. What do you do with your day?

Wise counsel always points you in the right direction. I'll challenge you with another writing from Solomon found in Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Coming from the wisest counsel in the world, I think that my/our/your future plans, whatever they are, should be considered with a trusted team. Trusted advisors can steer you in the right direction. 

Congratulations to the 2019 CAI Class. Don't let the clouds in the sky get in the way of your future!

Trust

Grandmaw lived with us my entire childhood. She would rise early daily. On the mornings I would awaken early to go hunting or otherwise, she would already be up beginning her daily routine of homemade biscuits and bacon or sausage.

She ran the classic white german sided country store that was in walking distance to the house. During rainstorms, you could hear the pitter patter of the metal roof.  By 7 am, she would start her short journey to open up where many locals would be waiting on her. As I look back, I realize this small trek was part of her exercise routine. At the store, she sold cokes (for northerners, that means Pepsis, Coke-Colas, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and Cheer wine), nabs (peanut butter and cheese crackers), tobacco products, flour, Crisco, bread, potted meat, Vienna sausages, and sardines just to mention the best sellers. The store was heated by a wood stove. The front of the store had a counter with what we would now call an old-timey cash register. It was filled with enough cash and change to handle daily transactions. Grandmaw would usually be around the stove in the winter or she would have a chair pulled up to the quilting rack needling the beautiful patterns like the lone star

pattern.

Regulars would come in the store to purchase their staples and sit around the stove to warm up. When it was time to go, my grandmother would exercise trust with so many of the customers she knew. She would allow them to make their own change. She had relationships with these people to enter her “circle of cash”, her money drawer and put in the 50 cents for a drink or dollar and withdraw the change. I would always ask her “Grandmaw, do you really trust people to make the right change or worse yet, steal from you. She would tell me, “Know who you allow in your money drawer." With those that she considered in her “circle”, she would never really concern herself with people taking from her.

I am reminded of that with a mentor of mine in the auction industry. Early on in my real estate auction career, I brought a farm to him (a competitor, and friend), and we conducted a significant joint venture transaction together. We later did another transaction which a result of that original auction. He and I never had a written agreement, it was strictly a gentlemen’s agreement. You could say we opened the cash register up to make change.

I asked Grandmaw if she thought anyone ever stole from her. She said she was certain it happened but said those people probably needed the money worse than she did. The list of values I learned from the country store continue to teach me things. Trust is an important one. Allow people in your life you can trust, and live a life whereby they can trust you. I still call my auctioneer friend my mentor and still call him occasionally to talk auctions, real estate and sometimes just life. He's one person I know my grandmother would have allowed to make his own change. 

The gift of memories.

As you get older, it’s funny how photographically you categorize events in your life. I’ve tried hard to picture my first memories of my childhood and images come and go in my mind. For example, I vividly remember 1976. That year had multiple significant events in my life, and the American Life.

I remember raising two fingers and saying, “peace man peace.” I remember the bicentennial American experience. My grandmother sewed me multiple revolutionary uniforms. Knicker and clawed tail jacket included. I was so patriotic, I wore then to school. The funny thing is, I don’t remember getting laughed at.

I remember being introduced to Jim McKay in the Olympics on TV. The Olympics were sponsored by Brim coffee, among other consumer products.  Another interesting thing I remember was a warm summer night when family friends, Donnie & Glenda Smith came over to watch the Olympics with us. Donnie owned the coolest 1970 Camaro.  After eating water melon slices and spitting out melon seeds, I was responsible to take the rinds into the woods. How did I know that a criminal had escaped the local prison and decided he needed a 1970 Camaro. I’m certain I walked right by him. Donnie and Glenda looked at the clock and said they needed to leave. When they walked outside, the 70 was gone. I have always wondered if the thief saw me and thought about kidnapping me. 

All of these thoughts make me realize just how eventful this year was. I tried to think before that time tonight, and all I could think about was a banana seat bicycle. That stuck out in my mind.

Closing my eyes, I cracked a little smile for these memories. My mom still has my revolutionary suits. I’m still friends with Donnie and Glenda, and I still watch the Olympics. When I see a late 60s early 70s Camaro, I think about Donnie. Memories are great things. I think they are gifts from God. Think about your memories.       

Update on Dad (Jerry Swicegood)

February it turns out was not much better than end of the year for dad. To recap, we took dad to  the hospital the week after Thanksgiving. He stayed there until January 1. He spent 20 days of January in rehab. After leaving rehab 21 days later, he made in back home. For two weeks or so, he enjoyed his living room where he has spent quality time since building the house in 1978. However, on a Monday morning towards the end of January, I received a call from Mom. "Kyle, can you come to the house". After rushing over, it was obvious we needed to call 911.  Dad has been at Novant/Forsyth since then.

Tomorrow(2/26/19),  Lord willing,  Dad will be leaving the Hospital and going back to rehab. While he still has a ways to go, we are all optimistic considering where he has been. As the doctors have said more than once, "he's a very sick man".

Elizabeth said the other day, "God has the ability to use this for His glory." With that in mind, I have been able to see the goodness of God. So many friends have reached out, prayed and expressed their kindness. On a personal level, associates in my business sphere have picked up the slack, constructed a few bridges for us to cross. God so often shows himself through His people.

Lastly, Mom has done just exactly what we expected her to do. She has been there beside Dad in the weakest time of his life. While it has been no fun to watch Dad in this time, watching Mom has been uniquely fulfilling; an example of what marriage is all about. Thanks for your interest in Dad.

What do we do with this real estate and all this personal property?

One of the constant questions we get from people is what can we do with our  real estate and all  this "stuff"?

It's a great question, and one that has a real answer. For many years, we have been a reliable resource for families who want to find solutions for both personal property and real estate. As a practitioner of  real estate for thirty years and an auctioneer, we  have seen our economy change. In fact we have been through multiple cycles. But more importantly,  we have witnessed the revolutionary way the marketplace has changed. Following that change, we have created a buyer and bidder experience an marketplace where consumers can look, scroll, visit, and bid online. In fact, our firm transacts more real estate with a cell phone that most conventional brokers do.

Yes, we transact real estate with a digital platform, and its easy!

Back to the personal property; we create online catalogs, displaying assets and asset groupings where the buyers/bidders can be seated in the privacy of their home and use their personal handheld device, cell phone or computer, and bid their price. We've actually had people on airlines at 32,000 feet use the plane's Wi-Fi and bid while flying.  And auction day weather is not a problem! Rain, sleet, snow or 102 degrees, our bidders find their comfortable place and enter their bids.

What have we sold?
Million dollar estates
Acreage farms & houses
Collector Cars
Guns, Gold, Silver
Household furniture
Tractors, equipment
Cattle
Lake houses
The list could go on and on!

If you need a free consultation on how to turn your assets in cash, give us a call! We are members of the National Auctioneers Association,  National Realtors Association and various state organizations. We have a long list of satisfied customers and clients.

Swicegood elected at State Association

The Swicegood Group, Inc announced today that Kyle Swicegood, CAI, CCIM, BAS, GPPA was elected by the membership of the Auctioneers Association of North Carolina as a Director. This position is a 3 year term.  The Auctioneers Association of North Carolina's mission is to provide education and communication for the auctioneer and the public in order to promote the auction method of marketing.

Swicegood w/ IAC Champion Dustin Rogers  & Eli Detweiler jr and most likely future IAC Champion Hudson Rogers

Swicegood has been a member of the AANC since 2009. He is a member of the National Auctioneers Association where he serves on the NAA Education Institute as a Trustee. Swicegood teaches continuing education in various states and has been an adjunct instructor for the Nashville Auction School.

Swicegood said he is “excited to participate on the board. Education and networking are the paramount pillars of the association”. The Auctioneers Association conducts two annual conventions and has members across the state of North Carolina as well as members from neighboring states. You can learn more about the AANC by visiting their website at Northcarolinaauctioneers.org.

Swicegood is the president of The Swicegood Group, Inc., a minority-owned company that specializes in Real Estate Marketing and Auctions. They are headquartered in Mocksville, NC and hold licenses in South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina. Their team consists of 5 licensed auctioneers and four licensed real estate brokers. They are a premier real estate auction team conducting both live and online solutions. They have a proprietary bidding platform that boasts over 200,000 visitors annually. Their digital home is TheSwicegoodGroup.com.

Jerry Swicegood & A Yellow Ribbon

"I'm comin' home, I've done my time" is the first line of the old song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon".  A small yellow ribbon was waiting for my dad yesterday as he arrived home. If I'm correct, Dad spent his first night back home since November 26, 2018. That's 55 days away from home. Since that afternoon the EMS came by, he has had more sticks with a needle, more visits from doctors and nurses, and three procedures. 

While dad is not back to his normal self, he is now in the comfort of his own home.

Mom has made more trips to the parking garage at Novant, awakened early every day to spend the day by his side, and demonstrated the lifestyle of a soul mate. We are all so happy that now, she will be able to rest and maybe see the clock say 8:30 am a couple of mornings.

While the memory and images of the last two months will not be considered happy, I have taken away some positive things from the experience. 1.) A community that cares. I can't count the likes on social media for prayer request, I can't count the calls, text or IMs all of us received. We all truly felt enveloped by our faith communities. It was truly an ecumenical experience as churches and people from all denominations surrounded us in prayer. As dad said, "it was truly humbling". 2.) The medical community. Doctors, nurses, and medical workers have a very difficult job. I believe more so than most people realize. They exercise their roles in rooms with human emotion seeing people at their lowest. Despite their hectic patient rosters, I have seen how they care for the patients and their families. If you're in that role, thank you!

It hasn't been "two long years" as the song lyrics say, but I promise you, dad feels like it has been.  Home has never been a more beautiful word!