Credit guru Thea Dudley has spent more than 30 years in LBM credit management. Now she's here to answer your credit and collection questions. Got a question for her mailbag? Contact Thea at [email protected]

Dear Readers,
Thank you for another wonderful year of questions, comments, insights, and camaraderie. Last year was literally a creditpolooza! In total, I wrote about 71 columns in 2017. Most of those were about life in credit and collection in the building materials industry, but some were about dealing with co-workers, being a woman in this industry, and career advice. Other columns never made it to you, dear readers, such as the one containing my rant about LinkedIn and the one about how to deal with an annoying coworker (I am probably not the person to take advice from on that).
I owe you all a glass of wine or cup of coffee for helping to keep my sanity with what I call my “therapy” column. Writing this column is way cheaper than going to a therapist to work through my issues (although my husband thinks I just trade out sessions for wine and shoes), so, thanks to all of you.
As we start another year of credit and collection management, I reflected on 2017. During these reflections, I started my list of credit resolutions for 2018. I do a list every year, but generally do not share them with anyone; I don't usually make it past Jan. 15 of any given year before they are completely shot all over God’s little green acre.
I am striving to do better this year, so in making my list and making it public so that I may have a real shot at them. Sort of like sharing your workout goals, public shame and guilt is a very motivating factor. So, here goes.
In 2018 I resolve to
- Refrain from laughing midway through a sales rep's speech about a potential customer who is a really good guy (but has no payment history or bad payment history).
- Avoid staring blankly when a sales rep starts talking. (Although, in my defense, it is better then most of the facial expressions and guttural sounds I could use).
- Not raise my voice to sound like I am yelling when I believe we are having a “spirited” discussion. (I don’t want to be accused of overreacting when it is a normal reaction to an abnormal about of BS).
- Stop using big words like "financial statement" and "payment bond" when talking to sales.
- Walk through the office without what has been loving referred to as RBF (which means "resting biddy face" or whatever “b” word you think of).
- Avoid talking over sales reps the minute they say the account name and present their limited/incorrect knowledge of that customer’s credit history (try being informed and not just opinionated, punkin’).
- Not resort to threats of physical harm, always said with humor, in front of witnesses.
- Not be the reason HR has to create another webinar that is required viewing by all employees.
- Explain extended terms to people without looking like Tom Hanks in "A League of Their Own" when he is asking the ballplayer he made cry to “do better.”
I will stop here. I don't want to make a list that is unrealistic and set myself up to fail. I believe I can make it to the 16th before things start to get suspect. Considering I am always about one smart-mouthed comment away from costarring on an episode of "Snapped" I think this is enough.
Have a happy (profitable, low bad debt, and entertaining) New Year!