David Hernandez

Be completely up-to-date with the regulatory aspects of your business to avoid possible problems.

 

Pacific Collection Group is a consumer debt collection agency with the goal of performing its collection activities in a good-natured fashion. The Group supports businesses and individuals who need to recover their debts in order to achieve financial stability. The Group also provides end-to-end financial resolution support, catering to businesses that do not want a hands-on approach to their debt collection needs.

David Hernandez, Client Manager, has the unique role of supporting the resolution of clients’ debt collection problems while making sure that all of the legal requirements are met. The Group’s software products help businesses of all sizes handle their debt collection needs.

Where did the idea for Pacific Collection Group come from?

The idea for our company came because we were looking for a way to help businesses with debt collection without being overly punitive. Our good-natured approach means that we do not run into that many conflicts with our clients, though we can, of course, be firm with our clients if we need to be.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day involves taking care of all of our client accounts, from business to personal needs. We believe in excellent customer service, and we don’t stop working with a client until they are completely satisfied. During the course of a day, we deal with hundreds of clients, and we try to make each one feel as if they are important to our business as a whole.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by discussing them with my staff. I believe strongly in the power of collaboration. I have taken good ideas from members of staff in all positions and at all levels within the organization.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The most exciting trend I can think of is the rise of debt collection software. It really takes the guesswork out of collecting debts of any kind. It is also much easier to keep within the bounds of existing regulations.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I always get up early and get my work out of the way while my mind is fresh. I know that a lot of people will sleep in and work late to make up for it, but I am a morning person and I get a lot done in an hour or so before my colleagues get to work. Then I am able to take off at a reasonable hour and spend time with my family.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell myself not to be afraid of getting into debt collection. Debt collectors have such a negative reputation, but we work to make our business as fair as possible.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

It is often better to hire outside the company than to promote from within. I find that people have fresh ideas when I bring them in from outside and they are not bound by previous connections with their coworkers.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I recommend that everyone be completely up-to-date with the regulatory aspects of their business. We have a legal department, so I am not as concerned with this as I would have been if I ran my agency on my own, but I feel that it is crucial to keep up with regulatory issues.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Early in my career, I tried real estate investing. It did not work out for me because I did not have the right attitude. I was too fearful of making a poor investment, so I did not take as many risks as I should have. Financial services is a much better fit for me.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

A  subscription box for people who collect vintage toys and other memorabilia would be great. I love the surprise aspect of subscription boxes, and a selection of carefully curated collectibles would be a lot of fun to receive.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently bought a new pair of running shoes. I love to run, and having new shoes is important because they wear out a lot more frequently than you would expect. Running is such a huge stress reliever for me. I tend to run in the evenings after work, it is a great way to put my thoughts together after a busy day.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Our proprietary software is amazing. It makes me proud to work with Pacific Collection Group. It saves me a great deal of time and work. Before we had the software, we were not nearly as efficient as we are today.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham really opened my eyes. It has led me to greater success as an investor and has helped me to solidify my retirement plans.

What is your favorite quote?

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller

Key Learnings:

• Try to conduct your business with as much integrity and fairness as possible.
• Arrive at work early and you will see that you are more productive.
• Be completely up-to-date with the regulatory aspects of your business to avoid possible problems.

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