February 22, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 0 comments
I’m Marcy Phelps, President of Phelps Research, Inc. I’m a former librarian turned business owner – and a licensed private investigator. You won’t find me doing surveillance, hunting down deadbeat spouses, or any other type of work that comes to mind when you think about private investigating. Using my computer and interview skills, I help […]
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Confirming what you know and finding what you don't
Visualization: How to choose the right graphic
April 23, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Visualization / 0 comments
Displaying research results in a visual format adds impact and brings clarity where words often fail. Whether you’re creating an annual report, executive summary, or a presentation for your CEO, charts, graphs, and maps provide analysis and help readers understand and remember the information you deliver. When I lead workshops on information visualization (it’s not […]
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The Vendor Experience – the tools of our trade
April 16, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources / 0 comments
Here at Phelps Research, we use a wide variety of tools for gathering and processing the information our clients crave. Without these tools, I couldn’t run my business, and without the benefits I receive from my membership in the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), I wouldn’t be able to access them without charging much […]
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PI licensing
April 8, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Investigative business / 0 comments
It’s official – As of June 1st, when the new Colorado law goes into effect, I will be a licensed private investigator in this state. Before now, there were no licensing requirements for private investigators, except for a brief time when it was voluntary – and the requirements so ridiculous, that very few could qualify. […]
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Requesting military records – It’s complicated
March 22, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources / 0 comments
One of the most frequently-asked questions in investigative work is, “How do I obtain copies of someone’s military records?” The quick answer? – It’s complicated. I’ve just come across what’s probably the best resource for tracking down this type of information that I’ve ever seen. Compiled by investigators Dean and Karen Beers, the Guide for […]
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Taming the information monster
March 11, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 0 comments
With such busy business and personal lives – and so much incoming information, it’s essential to have a few tools that save time and give us a bit of a break. Here are a few information-related productivity tools that I can’t do without: Those who know me know that I’m a big fan of GTD […]
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It’s a crazy mixed-up world
March 4, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources / 0 comments
The world of business information sources is changing so fast that every so often I feel the need to start singing and dancing to Soul Asylum’s “Crazy Mixed Up World.” Discontinued content, new interfaces, and huge price increases are just some of the issues info pros are dealing with lately. You know things are crazy […]
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You get what you pay for
February 25, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources / 3 comments
Why would anyone pay for online information when there’s so much available for free? Sometimes – when you can’t find what you need on the free web, when you need it fast, or when you need something beyond basic information – it’s a good idea to consider paying for premium. For example, if you’re going […]
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New site, new blog
February 22, 2015 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 0 comments
I’m Marcy Phelps, President of Phelps Research, Inc. I’m a former librarian turned business owner – and a licensed private investigator. You won’t find me doing surveillance, hunting down deadbeat spouses, or any other type of work that comes to mind when you think about private investigating. Using my computer and interview skills, I help […]
Read more