Top auctioneer Leland Little gives us a unique inside peek into auctions, life, and leadership.

In addition to being one hell of a business leader, Leland is a husband, father, and my friend. I highly recommend you visit his very impressive gallery in Hillsborough, NC. LelandLittle.comThe auction business has undergone significant transformation over Little's 35-year career. Market preferences have shifted from 18th and 19th century antiques (popular in the 1980s-1990s) to mid-century modern and contemporary pieces produced after 1970. The business has evolved from manual processes with hand-clerked tickets to fully digital operations.  Leland emphasizes that their competition isn't just other auction houses, but cultural expectations for convenience, citing Amazon's next-day delivery and instant payment systems as benchmarks. The company aims to make auction participation as easy as "going to Starbucks".   Little emphasizes that trust is "critical" in an industry dealing with fakes, forgeries, and condition issues. The company maintains credibility through long-term employees (about half of their 40-person team are career professionals) who have specialized expertise in various departments.  Leland advocates for daily attention to details, continuous coaching through programs, and maintaining strong cash flow with minimal debt. He emphasizes the importance of personal development, particularly maintaining strong home relationships, as foundational to business success. His advice to struggling business owners focuses on three priorities... Listen and enjoy!I help business leaders buy and sell great companies. Let me know how I can help you.Chuck [email protected]