An Exclusive Interview: Jill Thomas, Big Winner

Jill Thomas of Zarzaur & Schwartz, PC, was the first winner of a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate in our monthly mini-drawing for our Tell-a-Friend-About-Us-and-Win-a-Cool-Prize contest. We sat down with Jill — or, at least, we were sitting (we’re always sitting); we’re not sure if Jill was sitting or not — recently and talked with her about the heady rush of all that winning.

CollectionIndustry.com

Jill Thomas: Thank you!

CI: I?m surprised that you?re still at work after winning that $100 Amazon.com gift certificate, because I would have quit.

JT: It was tempting.

CI: I mean, a hundred bucks.

JT: It was tempting.

CI: What kept you from it?

JT: Mortgage, children?

CI: You know, you can sell the children to pay the mortgage.

JT: [Laughs a little nervously.]

CI: It?s an eBay thing, it might be illegal.

JT: [Continues laughing nervously, only now with a hint of fear.]

CI: I don?t know. How long have you been a reader of CollectionIndustry.com?

JT: For many years. I don?t know. I?ve been on the distribution list for?well, you can probably find that out.

CI: It?s always nicer when you tell us how awesome we are in our own words.

JT: I?m not really sure. It?s over two and a half years.

CI: What was your strategy in getting folks to sign up, thus propelling you to this watershed win?

JT: I sent emails and said they?d better do it or Guido was coming.

CI: I enjoy that you?re not above the threat of physical violence.

JT: I just told them that it was a great thing that I enjoy reading, you know, the information ? and that they should check it out.

CI: What are you going to buy me with your $100 gift certificate?

JT: You?d be surprised at the people who have asked me that.

CI: You have all sorts of new best friends now.

JT: I do! [Ed. note: Notice how she hasn?t answered my question.]

CI: Seriously, what will you be doing with the gift certificate?

JT: You know, I don?t know. I love to read, and I don?t get much chance to. Obviously, I work full time, I am a parent, and I?m married. I don?t have a lot of additional time. But if I buy myself some new books, I?ll make the time.

CI: Have you thought about maybe just buying a clone? It sounds like a clone would take care of the extra time business.

JT: I don?t think those are available.

CI: Probably not for a $100 either. I think they?re probably priced a little bit above that.

JT: Probably.

CI: What do you use the daily newsletter, Credit & Collections Daily, for?

JT: I look to see if there?s anything going on regarding our clients. I see if there?s news for anyone else in the industry I know ? folks I?ve met going to conferences or if we share something like the same software: it?s nice to see if there?s anything going on in the news for those folks as well. I?ve been known to ? even if I know someone already gets the newsletter ? if I see something that I think someone else would have interest in I?ll forward them the article or the link and say, ?Hey, did you see this? What do you think?? It?s great for opening up discussion.

CI: Don?t tell anyone else, but you?ve always been our favorite reader. That?s just something for your ears only. Anyway ? it?s been a pleasure talking to you, Jill. Thank you so much for taking time out to answer some questions. And again: congratulations!

JT: Thanks! You, too.