Reflections

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 peo...

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 d...

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 w...

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 wa...

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...

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 ab...

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...

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 annu...

"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 c...