My voice has been one of my greatest assets in the auction world, but in my non-work life it is something that I’ve always been self-conscious about. I have always had a deep voice, and it’s only gotten deeper as I’ve gotten older. I don’t have the same range as most women. I can’t sing the same parts at synagogue. When I call to make reservations at restaurants, people often don’t know if I’m a man or a woman. I attribute part of this confusion to my uncommon name, but part of it is definitely my voice.
2. I spent three years working on a cruise ship
It was a blast, but this non-traditional work experience set me back when it came time to find a real career. I came home after three years on a cruise ship and could not get a job. No one would hire me because they didn’t see any of the skills I had as transferable. To make matters worse, while I was gone all my friends found real jobs and gotten settled in their lives. It was really tough on me, I felt like garbage and my self-worth took a huge hit. I felt like the odd one out.
Today, I think I appreciate my success even more than I would have without the experience of being unemployed and unemployable.
3. I read often
My favorite genres are Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. If there’s a map at the front of the book, I know it’s the book for me.
I love books so much, I volunteer at my kids’ school library a few hours a week and all the kids know I’m the one to come to for book recommendations.
4. I am really self-conscious about my skin
I have had acne since I was thirteen. It’s still there, though it has tapered off in recent years. It has taken me a long time, but I have come to accept bad skin as a part of my life. I have spent a lot of money, time, and energy on fixing my skin. And I get everything: Botox, fillers, laser treatments. If it’s available, I’ll try it and I’m not embarrassed to talk about it. Some people just have bad skin and I’m one of them.
5. I don’t have a ton of close friends, and I’m okay with that
I don’t have a lot of close friends, and most of the friends I do have live across the country so I rarely get to see them. Despite this, I don’t feel the need to make more friends. I am a social loner type; I am very social but I really really enjoy being alone.
However, I’m married to someone who hates being alone. I mean absolutely hates it. He’d be perfectly happy to never spend another moment alone, but I need my alone time. It helps me recharge and prepare to face the world once again.
6. I consciously limit my social media time
Social media is great for a lot of reasons, feeding jealous tendencies is not one of them. I get very jealous and competitive when I see everyone’s perfect lives on social media. I don’t need to see your newest million dollar purchase or your clean, well-behaved kids.
Everyone is always skinnier, prettier, and wealthier than me and when I am subject to a constant barrage of this, I can’t help but compare myself. Constant comparison is not healthy. So I limit my time. I don’t really use my personal social media accounts at all anymore. I hardly ever post anything myself, and I don’t look at anyone else’s accounts if I can avoid it.
7. I take medication every day to stay alive
This has been my life since I was fifteen. I’m not going to talk much about it because it’s personal, but I had multiple brain surgeries when I was younger.
Everything is fine now, I’m totally healthy. But I do have to take medication every day for the rest of my life.
8. My office is a mess
It's a disaster all the time. But it’s an organized mess. I know where the things I need are. Every once in a while I will develop the urge to clean my space. It stays that way for about a week before it begins slowly dissolving into chaos.
I currently have over 400 unread emails, twenty texts, and eight unread notifications. I will get to most of them eventually. Except the notifications. I don’t know how to clear my notifications. This does not bother me.
9. I’m handy
I can fix a lot of things. I know how to use power tools. I can take a door off a wall. I can build furniture. I love being self-sufficient and having the power to do tasks around the house.
10. I have three children
I don’t talk about them very often. They are six, three, and one. I never wanted to be a mom, but here I am and I love it. Philanthropy is very important to our family and it’s something I teach my kids about even at such young ages. I hope to bring them with me to an auction one day.