Confirming what you know and finding what you don't
Careers rarely move in straight lines. If there’s one thing my professional life has taught me, it’s that change is not an interruption. It’s the norm. I didn’t set out to become a private investigator. I started my career as a librarian, then became a business owner specializing in business and market research. After 15 […]
As a professional investigator, my job is to connect various bits of information, including court records, business filings, news articles, and more. I then process the data and share my summary report with clients so they can learn from it. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that my blog operates on a similar principle. […]
This post was originally posted in Sept. 2023, and it’s as important today as it was then. When you’re conducting research and investigations, it’s easy to get sidetracked by opinions, expectations, and wishful thinking. Sometimes we hope for or have too much invested in a particular outcome. Other times, we rely on our usual tools […]
This post was originally published in March 2022. The advice still holds true. Since starting my business in 2000, I’ve had the honor of mentoring with some of the top people in the business, including Amelia Kassel, Mary Ellen Bates, and Kim Dority. They all gave me the same advice: Speak to many, instead of […]
As an investigator or researcher, it’s easy to get caught up in simply answering client questions, meeting deadlines, and checking tasks off our to-do list. The true mark of excellence, though, lies in going beyond the bare minimum and delivering work that exceeds expectations. We can do that by “going the extra mile” and delivering […]
A couple of weeks ago, I attended what’s now become my must-attend professional event. It was the second annual, and second for me, Fraud Retreat, hosted by Jo Erven in Denver, Colorado. Don’t call it a conference, because it’s not that. No large crowds, no exhibit tables. This is more of a family affair, as […]
If you own a small business, you probably don’t have a lot of time or much passion for marketing. When I first started as Phelps Research in early 2000, just the thought of dealing with sales funnels, cold calls, and endless coffee meetings, in addition to actually running my business, created a lot of stress. […]
After 22 years in business, I’ve learned that writing is one of my biggest business assets. As a private investigator, my findings mean nothing if I can’t explain them to my clients clearly and succinctly. I blog and write articles to learn and to share what I’m learning with colleagues. For some reason, though, at […]
I’ve taken some time off from the blog for the summer for more time at the beach and with my camera, so here’s a favorite from August 2021. Some of the best client management tips come from the parenting experts. No, I’m not advocating that we treat our clients like children. In fact, my favorite […]
Since starting my business, I’ve had the honor of mentoring with some of the top people in the business, including Amelia Kassel, Mary Ellen Bates, and Kim Dority. They all gave me the same advice: Speak to many, instead of just one. As solopreneurs, they said, we don’t have time to meet each prospective client […]