For private investigators and do-it-yourself sleuths alike, there is an inordinate number of potential resources that can be used during the course of an investigation. So. Where do you begin? What if there’s a magical resource out there you just don’t know about yet? How do you find it? How many resources is enough? Is there such a thing as too many resources? What’s the best use of your investigative time?
I was overwhelmed with the number of resources available to me when I first became a licensed private investigator. Anyone who knows me knows that I am thorough. To a fault, really. As a new investigator, I knew I had to figure out how to find that “sweet spot” when it came to resources. Otherwise, every single case would be a never-ending endeavor to search to the ends of the earth for answers for my clients. They would run out of money to pay me. Or I would end up conducting mountains of research for free and lose more money than I made.
I had some decisions to make.
Admittedly, I did go a little overboard when I first started out. I researched and collected as many resources as I could get my hands on. I searched high and low on my own. I read blogs and books, listened to podcasts, and paid attention to tips and tricks from seasoned private investigators. And then I got overwhelmed.
In the midst of feeling overwhelmed, the great PI, Brian Willingham, simplified it all for me when he said (this is certainly not verbatim, as this was years ago and my memory fails me quite often), “There are a sh*! ton of resources out there. You don’t have to use every last one of them to be a good investigator.”
I immediately took Brian’s advice, slowed my roll, and found a rhythm that worked for me. I learned to be thorough, but not exhaustive.
Now back to the questions I posed at the start of this blog post…
WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
Research. Read. Listen. Ask.
Pay attention to resources that other private investigators are using. If your work is more specialized, don’t narrow yourself to what private investigators are using. Widen your net and figure out what resources would be most helpful for the kind of work you do.
I reconnect adoptees to biological family members. Many of my resources are used more by genealogists and less by private investigators. I use historical records, old newspapers, and obituaries more than I use court records, financials, and interviews.
Get connected with your state PI association. Familiarize yourself with PI articles, blogs, and podcasts. Attend conferences. Immerse yourself into the PI world.
WHAT IF THERE’S A MAGICAL RESOURCE OUT THERE YOU JUST DON’T KNOW ABOUT YET? HOW DO YOU FIND IT?
There is no magical resource. But the best way to figure out if you’re missing anything that could blow your socks off is to “stay in the know”. How do you “stay in the know”? Research. Read. Listen. Ask.
Don’t live under a rock. Stay connected with other private investigators. Have conversations about what resources they like best. Ask questions. Try them out for yourself. If you try out a resource and don’t like it, don’t use it.
HOW MANY RESOURCES IS ENOUGH?
If you feel like you’re spending too much time on your cases and robbing your clients of the best bang for their buck, you’re probably using too many resources. If you’re using five different resources that consistently return the same information, stop using five resources for what you can get from one or two. Again, be thorough, but not exhaustive.
On the other hand, if you are regularly unable to find key information for your clients, you’re probably not using enough resources.
I’ve found that the more specific I can get my clients to be for the “ask”, the better equipped I feel to bring their case to a fruitful and satisfying conclusion for them. I know exactly what they want and know exactly where to find it. There may be a dozen different ways to get the information, but I’m not going to use them all. I’m going to use the few that work best for me.
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS TOO MANY RESOURCES?
Most definitely. I can take any simple case that should take three hours of my time and turn it into 30 hours. That’s using too many resources. It’s also being careless and unethical.
WHAT’S THE BEST USE OF YOUR INVESTIGATIVE TIME?
Do your research and then go with what you know. Stay informed and make changes as needed.