From Unexpected Guests to Professional Milestones: A Week in Review
This morning started with a bit more excitement than we usually expect at the building. Kristen arrived at her normal time of 8:00 AM. As she settled in, she thought she heard Margaret come in but was quickly distracted by a phone call from someone needing help. She briefly stepped outside, and when she returned, she noticed that Margaret’s van wasn’t there, but she didn’t think anything of it—after all, it’s an old building, and noises can sometimes play tricks on you.
When Jay arrived at 8:30 AM, he overheard part of Kristen’s conversation about someone needing help. He went into the kitchen to start his coffee, flipped on the light, and was met with an unexpected sight—a man sitting there eating chips. As Jay calmly went about his coffee-making routine, he decided to check with Kristen to see who the guest in the kitchen was. Kristen was completely unaware that anyone was even in the building. Immediately, she called the police while Jay went back to speak to the man.
It turned out the man was waiting for the laundromat to open, except it’s open 24 hours. He was so impaired by drugs that he didn’t understand he was trespassing. He was hungry and eating someone else’s chips without realizing the problem. By the time the police arrived, he had wandered over to the laundromat. Kristen was understandably shaken, but Jay’s calm demeanor helped defuse the situation. We believe that if he had reacted aggressively, the situation could have turned out much worse. Instead, by remaining composed, he avoided escalating things unnecessarily. Just another morning at the office!
Thinking about past surprises, I recall an equipment auction we held a few years ago. I was so proud of our community—nothing had been disturbed or stolen. People kept asking what had gone missing or what problems we had, and I would respond that everything had been left untouched. Maybe we just had faith in humanity. But two weeks after the auction, I got up one morning and saw a Ring camera notification. I checked it and thought, "Hmm, those are some weird khaki shorts that guy is wearing." As my brain caught up, I realized—those weren’t khaki shorts. Oh my. Yes, there was a naked man at the building in the middle of the night! It was quite the realization, and while it was certainly an unexpected situation, it has since turned into a funny story. I’m still proud of our community, but I guess life throws in some unexpected moments for a bit of humor.
In more structured and celebratory news, I recently earned my Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate (AARE) designation from the National Auction Association! It’s a big deal for me, and I’m excited about what it means for both myself and our business. Investing in continued education is important, and this achievement is something I take a lot of pride in. But as proud as I am of my own accomplishment, I might be even prouder of my niece. She made the President’s List at John A. Logan College for her last semester! She asked Ahma what it meant since she had never been on the President’s List before. When Ahma explained that it was like making the honor roll, my niece’s response was classic: "That’s great! Maybe we’ll get to go out to eat again to celebrate." Alex had already taken her and the rest of the family out to a nice restaurant for her graduation from John A. Logan Community College before she started at SIU. We don’t always make a big deal out of achievements in our family—we tend to just say "good job" and move on. But can you tell I’m a proud aunt? Because I absolutely am!
This week is also the Illinois State Auctioneers Association (ISAA) Conference. I’m heading there today since the conference starts tomorrow, and continuing education classes will be held on Sunday. Friday will be filled with speakers, and Saturday will have more presentations, plus the ringman competition, the senior bid-calling competition, and possibly a novice competition for those who have had their license for less than three years. Attending this conference is always a great experience. I usually learn a lot, and I get to see people that I only cross paths with once a year. It’s an opportunity to grow, improve, and stay updated with industry trends while reconnecting with peers.
Through all of this—whether it's dealing with unexpected visitors at the office, funny moments from the past, or achieving professional milestones—one thing remains consistent: staying calm makes all the difference. Whether handling an uninvited guest, navigating business challenges, or celebrating achievements, a level-headed approach can lead to better outcomes. At least the guy eating chips had his clothes on! And of course, a little humor along the way never hurts!
Happy Bidding!
Kara C. Belcher-Miller
