Becoming a Champion

(photo credit: "TJ" Frieje's facebook)

A True Champion

by: Justin Croy

Nope, that’s not me. The man in this photo is Mr. Richard Freije, better known as TJ. In this photo, TJ looks calm, collected and professional, well....that’s because he is. TJ is the 2016 International Auctioneer Champion. He won this award by competing in the International Auctioneers Championship, which is hosted every July by the National AuctioneerAssociation. This photo may not look inspirational but if you look close, you can see that TJ has one eyebrow raised slightly higher than the other. This is because TJ has a very common disease, Bells Palsy. Bell’s palsy is a disease in which you lose muscle control over one side of your face, including your mouth. As auctioneers, our mouths are our most useful tool, calling bids rapidly and smoothly requires the full use of your mouth…or at least that’s what we use to think. In July TJ took the stage and won the 2016 IAC with Bell’s palsy after not being able to move his mouth six months earlier.

I connect with this photo because it shows that even after you have lost your greatest asset, you can climb to the top and become a champion. This photo of TJ was taken about two months after he was crowned the IAC champion. This is about that time that the interviews have slowed down and he is coming of the high of being champion. And even though TJ can’t fully use the one side of his face, He continues to show everyone that you can be strong and be a champion no matter what you have gone through. 

To learn more about Bell's Palsey and how you can help, click here. 

With questions about the International Auctioneers Championship, please comment below.