As someone who has been a collector and collection leader since 1987, I have developed a unique perspective on the value of collectors and astronauts. I often pose this question during my training sessions with collectors to gauge their understanding of the value they bring to people’s lives. A collector who excels in their role can profoundly impact individuals and their families. This leads to the intriguing comparison: who adds more value to people, the work of a collector or that of an astronaut?
The Astronaut Theory
You are a professional collector who has been working with people for years helping them resolve their challenging financial situation. Your daughter has asked you to come to school with her for career day and explain to her class what you do for a career. Your daughter is so excited that you get to come to school with her and counts down the days. That morning you get up and dress in your best business casual outfit and head to school (If you are currently working from home, you pretend you go into the office for the day). For days you have been preparing for your presentation so you can impress the kids and make your daughter proud.
As you get ready to go, little Jimmy’s dad gets up before you and he is dressed in his astronaut suit. He recently got back from the International Space Station and has brought along space dust for all the kids (assuming there is space dust) and tells them all about the Space Station. He goes on and on about weightlessness and his experiments on growing beans in space. He has captured everyone’s attention, and you are thinking, why did I have to go after Jimmy’s dad.
The teacher thanks Jimmy’s dad and finishes up with the Dust Buster as all the space dust has blown over the whole room. She looks at you and says, we now welcome Ken’s mom to the front of the room. Suddenly everything you prepared is gone and you are thinking, my daughter is going to get laughed out of the classroom. What do you say about being a professional collector?????
Why is a Professional Collector so Important?
When you think about it, space dust, weightlessness, and space beans are pretty cool, but do they actually have a direct impact on peoples lives right now? I think the answer is no. When one of my customers shares their financial situation with me and the desire to get out of financial harm’s way, I step in and make a difference.
This is what I do:
- I attentively listen to their unique situation, striving to understand their available resources and how I can best assist them in resolving their financial challenges.
- I am well-versed in my company’s procedures and the tools at my disposal to aid customers in their financial matters. This enables me to apply the appropriate solutions tailored to each customer’s needs, initiating the resolution process for their accounts.
- I firmly believe that once I guide my customers towards a solution that addresses their account challenges, they experience genuine relief, knowing that progress is underway towards resolving their financial issues.
- Financial stress often accompanies the inability to pay all bills. Assisting a customer with even one account can significantly alleviate their stress. A reduction in a parent’s stress level positively impacts the entire family’s well-being.
- Providing effective assistance to customers not only benefits them but also generates considerable value for our company. When we successfully resolve a customer’s account issues, it fosters loyalty, increasing the likelihood of future business.
- A win-win-win solution entails a customer resolving their financial situation, our company gaining a loyal customer, and me, as a professional collector, taking pride in positively impacting someone’s life. This trifecta embodies the essence of a mutually beneficial outcome.
Now, What Do You Say to the Class?
After taking a moment to compose myself, I stand up, “Hey there, I’m Ken’s mom, and I’m a professional collector.” Every day, you will find me at my desk in the office, tapping away on my computer, talking with people who are having a tough time keeping up with their bills. And let me tell you, many of these people are not exactly having the best time at home. There are tons of reasons why people find themselves in a bind when it comes to bills, and it is my job to listen and figure out what is going on.
Sometimes, the fix is quick and easy, and I can sort things out right then and there. But other times, it is a bit more complicated, and I have got to use all the tools in my collection tool belt to help. Some people take a while to get back on track, but most of the time, they are super grateful by the end of our talk, thanking me for helping them find a way to tackle their bills.
Looking around the classroom, I assure the kids that if I ever need to talk with their parents, I will be there to lend a hand and sort things out, so no need to worry about Mom or Dad not being happy anymore. And as for Jimmy’s dad with his cool astronaut gig? Well, sure, it sounds neat, but man, all that traveling must stink. Me? I am happy to be home every day, helping people sort out their money stuff, bringing smiles back to their faces. Plus, at Christmas, their kids get some pretty cool presents, and hey, I have got no space for a clunky spacesuit anyway!
Summary
So, when it comes down to it, being a collector might not involve space dust or weightlessness, but it is just as important – if not more so – in making a real difference in people’s lives. Sure, being an astronaut sounds exciting, but being a professional collector means being there for people when they need it most, helping them navigate through tough financial times, and ultimately bringing happiness back into their homes.
So, whether it is space travel or financial navigation, each has its own unique impact. And as for me, I will stick to collecting payments and bringing smiles, because that is where the real adventure lies – right here on Earth.
Disclaimer
Astronauts bring a lot of value to the world and the astronaut theory is not intended to dilute their value, but to highlight that being a professional collector is also very valuable. The value of an astronaut extends far beyond the bounds of earthly measurement. Astronauts embody the pinnacle of human achievement, pushing the boundaries of exploration and discovery to new frontiers. Their courage, dedication, and scientific contributions inspire generations, sparking innovation and fostering international collaboration. Astronauts serve as ambassadors of humanity, highlighting the collective aspiration to explore the unknown and expand our understanding of the universe. Their endeavors symbolize the relentless pursuit of knowledge and the boundless potential of human ingenuity. In essence, the value of an astronaut transcends material wealth, representing the spirit of exploration that defines our species. So, if you are ever driving down I75 in Ohio, stop in Wapakoneta and check out the Neil Armstrong Museum. Must be something significant if he walks on the moon 7/20/1969 and people are still talking about it.
Author: Ken Evancic
Ken.Evancic@ResourceManagement.com
Ken Evancic is a Vice President at Resource Management Services, Inc. Ken Evancic is a collections veteran with over 25 years experience. He has managed all phases of collection, including all levels of delinquency, automated dialer units, early out agency management, recovery, and skip tracing. In addition to collections operations management, he has lead initiatives in the areas of performance management, collections strategy development, collector and manager training, collector desktop design, collections reporting systems, and risk and compliance.
As a consultant for Resource Management Services, Inc., Ken has specialized in developing and completing third party compliance and performance audits for collections agencies and collection attorney firms for many top credit grantors and debt buyers. He has leveraged his 25 years of experience to develop multiple collector and collection management training classes designed to maximize collector performance. In addition to collection training, Ken helped develop and facilitates the RMS Third Party Vendor Auditing training.
For more Blogs from Ken, and others at CollectionCompliance Experts.com,
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE
(Just add your email at the top bar – no other info required. It’s free.)
The every other week newsletter provides updates on Blogs and Other Industry Resources for the Collection and Recovery Professional. And, we don’t sell your email – we just send the industry resource updates and any new blogs about every other week.
