People are passionate and emotional because they care

By Greg:

2020 is clearly going to be remembered as the year of the pandemic.  Covid-19 dominated the news, and no one can deny how much it has impacted our lives.  For some it brought illness and grief, for others it brought unemployment and struggle, and for the fortunate ones it brought inconvenience.  However, I believe that it revealed some basic truths about us as people, and what we truly care about.  No, I’m not talking about stocking up on canned goods, bottled water, and toilet paper.  I’m also not talking about the strength of our internet bandwidth, or even our political beliefs.  What I am talking about are the fundamental things that all people are most concerned about: our loved ones, our livelihoods, and our future.

I believe people are passionate about political races and government because of the things we care about, and that people are afraid “the other side” or “opposition” somehow has a different set of priorities.  I also believe that these “political differences” distract us from the fact that we all do have the same priorities.  Unfortunately, those differences end up making people more divisive, and now the pandemic seems to have had the added effect of exacerbating those differences.  Obviously, we all miss our extended families, we all wish our kids were at school, we all want to be able to safely eat at a restaurant, and we all want to stop wearing masks.

However, if you stop and think about it, if that’s all a person has to complain about, they must be doing pretty well.  This pandemic is very similar to a life-changing event.  Those events have a tremendous impact on our daily lives, and they reveal things about ourselves that others don’t often see.  People react differently to things like stress, illness, loss, and financial trouble.  Therefore, we all have different opinions on how to cope with these things.  Since we are all in this pandemic together, we question the way other people cope, we argue over what actions are safe or not, and it fosters a great deal of anger and distrust.

I, however, take comfort in knowing that people are passionate and emotional because they care.  Shouldn’t that be our focus in 2021?  To let kindness and compassion dictate our actions, and not give in to fear and distrust.  To be patient and understanding with those we disagree with, and to try and see things from their perspective.  We may not always understand the actions of other people, but perhaps we could try harder to respect their choices.

Every consumer has different challenges

That way of thinking translates into what we do here at American Profit Recovery.  When our collectors speak to consumers, they remember that the specific bill they are calling about is probably not the only financial challenge the consumer is facing.  The truth is, we have no idea how many challenges a consumer is facing in their personal life.  Furthermore, the overdue bill we are calling about might be the least of that consumer’s worries right now.  That is why it is so important to listen to a consumer’s concerns, and to help be part of the solution to their financial problem.  I think that is one of the strengths of American Profit Recovery.  We recognize that every consumer’s situation is unique.  Even though we may be speaking to other people with similar challenges, from the perspective of the consumer the situation they are in is unique to them.

Our calls can lead to passionate and emotional responses from the consumers we speak to.  I think that we at APR understand that a consumer’s initial fear, distrust, and anger are simply signs of how much they care.  That is why it so important to respect those fears, to allow consumers to voice those fears, to let consumers know that we understand, and ultimately let them know that we can help.  After all, in times like these, who isn’t looking for some sense of relief from anxieties?

I believe that APR will continue to be a relief to consumers who, in my opinion, genuinely care about their finances.  I also believe that the consumers we speak to daily are good people trying to cope as best they can during very difficult times.  I also believe that our collectors take great pride in knowing that they can help those consumers.  I am also very proud of the fact that American Profit Recovery will continue to empathize with consumers long after everyone is vaccinated and back to living their “normal” lives.

I hope that at this time of year we can all take some time to celebrate as well as reflect on what is most important to us.  Hopefully, 2021 will bring less fear and division, and more empathy and togetherness.  In that spirit, I say to our management, our employees, our clients, and especially our consumers that I sincerely wish all of you and yours a very safe, happy, healthy, and well-deserved Holiday Season.