PI Union The Intersection of Investigation and Business

Chuck Mclaughlin of the McLaughlin Investigative Group, is a mainstay in the greater Boston investigative community. He has been in business since 1990 and focuses on international business investigations. Chuck is a past President of the World Association of Detectives and we cover a wide range of subjects including international investigations and the current state of the investigative / business community. Here's a hint business is back!Mclaughlin Investigative Grouphttps://bit.ly/3hfOJuS  

Yin and Phil Johnson of JJ Associates International have been the mainstays of International Investigations-Business Due Diligence for many years. In this episode we cover general business conditions internationally (here's a hint things are ramping up) and the differences in private investigation laws in the European Union. Believe it or not, U.S. based investigators actually have access to more data, compared with our European counterparts, at least for now! Please share this episode! Please subscribe on Apple or Spotify!JJ Associates International Websitehttps://bit.ly/3aWTXaZFacebook Pagehttps://bit.ly/3ufL7MV

1. Ditch the traditional office, you simply don't need the commitment anymore.2. Success- Success presents it own problems, don't let it swamp your growing business.3. Cash Flow- Cash Flow over profitsBoom You're Welcome!Pursuit Magazine "The Future of Work"  by Kim Greenhttps://bit.ly/2QRnziFDa Vinci  Virtual Offices https://bit.ly/3vjOu5yRegus Virtual Officeshttps://bit.ly/3gCWQkJ

I once conducted the unintentional experiment of working for 40 straight days, this ended with predicable results. Do you push the envelope when it comes to work? You might not even realize the business is running you, rather than the other way around.  Is it even possible to balance home and case work? Listen to this episode, you know you need to get a handle on this crucial aspect of your business. You can't serve from an empty vessel. Here is a great article from Forbes on work-life balancehttps://bit.ly/2PXuhDJPlease Share this podcast! We are available on Apple and Spotify!

Business professionalism is severely lacking in our industry-there I said it. I know we all see it, but what is to be done about it. The reputation of private investigators in society is in a bad way. Wearing a suit to court doesn't  make you a professional. Integrity does, timelines does. When you decline a case that is outside of your expertise, when you need the money, that makes you a professional. When you tell your potential client that their desired case outcome is out of reach, unrealistic and possibly illegal that makes you a professional. Ghosting a client because you've had a disagreement simply makes you a fraud. I'm not fond of the format of this podcast, as it only provide problems, rather than solutions, on this issue, but I'm simply vexed as to this never ending conundrum in our industry.Here is an excellent article on professionalism.https://bit.ly/3cJdqwU

You've hit a milestone, the business you dreamed about is so busy you need to hire your first employee! Take a moment to acknowledge that. Then focus on your first hire, this is a critical step in the development of your business. What position would you fill first and why? Let's take a look at which of your pain points needs to be alleviated first. We've narrowed the categories to three areas of immediate need. You need to hire; an administrative professional, a salesperson or another investigator. Tune in as we go over the benefits of hiring from all three critical categories. Please share and review our podcast! We are available on Apple and Spotify! 

The characteristics of successful private investigators in the twenty-first century run wholly contrary to the values, infused into citizens by our Christian-Judeo society.  Society tells us, mind your own business and don't stare, it reminds us to be truthful in all things. We, as investigative agency owners ask our investigative staff to violate all of the standard societal practices in their first week! So what does the right candidate need to be successful in a world that is full of deception, dodges and endless plotting? Would't any candidate for such a job have screw loose? We hire atypical employees for a crazy business, how do you know if you're getting it right? Check out this episode for a few tips! Please subscribe on Apple or Spotify.Share this podcast!!!

The company you founded is drowning in work (that's a good thing) you've heard others in the industry contract out investigations when busy, Is this the solution for you? Listen to this episode if you are on the fence (and you should be). You really have to consider a number of factors for this relationship to work properly.   Subcontracting may give you reasons to pause.Here is an excellent article from Pursuit Magazine on subcontracting by Richard Brooks, check it out!https://bit.ly/3qMEIGr

This episode could be entitled battle of the accents! Boston v New York! It is PI Union's mission is to bring the upper echelon of the investigative industry to your earbuds each week. Eddie Cruz is a decorated NYPD undercover detective turned surveillance investigator. Have you wondered, Is it better to be burned or suffer the loss of your subject?  We talk all things surveillance, GPS Trackers, Go Bags and more. If you like surveillance you'll love this interview. Please check out Eddie's books, the books are laid out in a sensible fashion, allowing readers to consume the information in small doses, perfect for a surveillance read! I've conducted-supervised more than 5000 surveillance operations and I picked up new tips from these books! a must for your investigative library. We are on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, please subscribe and leave a review! Please share our podcast!Eddie is the author of two books on surveillance Surveillance:A Concept of the Arthttps://amzn.to/3kUxMWzSurveillance Manifesthttps://amzn.to/3v2sXiB

What do your clients expect of you? Why do they hire a PI in the first place?  When will courts get back to normal? What's the hold up! Well, jury safety for one.  Melanie Soloman covers all of this and more. Melanie went to Harvard University and then on to Massachusetts School Of Law.  She manages a busy law practice in Milford, Massachusetts. Melanie focuses on Criminal Law, Family Law and Personal Injury work. Here is a link to the law practice. You don't want to miss this episode!https://bit.ly/37V1p4N

Investigative reports, we hate them, but reports ARE the face of our investigative businesses. Period. Full stop. What voice will you use active or passive? What tense will you use?  Whatever you choose, make it consistent, the hallmark of a bad report is confusion  between tenses, its strangely disorientating. Reports are also a branding opportunity for your company, its your chance to hit a home run! I've provided some tips on effective report writing, Let me know what you think?

Steve Koenig has been at the forefront of the investigative industry for more than twenty years. I came across Steve's writing in Pursuit Magazine, many years ago.  Steve has a personalized writing style that makes it feel like you are the sole recipient of his communication.  His articles on surveillance and the industry as a whole are exceptional. Steve  is founder and past president of the Nebraska Association of Licensed Private Investigators. I wanted to ask if there is a direct business benefit in writing for an industry publication? You don't want to miss Steve's answer or this episode! Linked below are two of Steve's articles for Pursuit Magazine. Please share this episode!https://bit.ly/3u0wbmchttps://bit.ly/3qmCGgN

Scott Fulmer of Intermountain PI is widely known as a  leader in the investigative community, He is also considered the preeminent private investigator in Utah and the surrounding region. Scott started an investigations podcast during the infancy of podcasting. We discussed podcasting as a revenue enhancer and the mediums ability to amplify community standing. Scott is also a published author. He wrote "Confessions of a PI, My Thirty Years Investigating Cheaters, Frauds, Missing Persons and Crooks" Check it out,  here is the link:https://amzn.to/3pJs6jKHere is Scott's podcast. "Intermountain PI", linked through Audible.com it's also available on Apple and most other platforms.https://amzn.to/39C8Mz7Scott named "The E-Myth Revisited" by Micheal Gerber as his favorite business book and that was my choice as well.  A must read for small business operators. Here's the link:https://amzn.to/3pTX6Ob

Brian Willingham writes what Hal Humphreys of Pursuit Magazine considers to be the best investigative blog today. Brian delineates his journey in blogging and investigations in this episode. Does blogging provide a business benefit? Well, he IS on PI Union...right? You don't want to miss this episode! Here is a link to Brian's bloghttps://bit.ly/3arw0anBrian's answer to what's the best business or investigations book you've read?Rework by J.Fried    https://amzn.to/3jciGe3Barry's response Business Background Investigations by Cynthia Hetheringtonhttps://amzn.to/3tjEE3qDiligentia Group website https://bit.ly/37iXgHv

Welcome to the introductory episode of PI Union, the Intersection of Investigation and Business. In this short episode our concept to professionalize and provide a sense of community to the investigative industry will be outlined. I've long believed that as investigators we work in functional silos, that inhibit the forming of a more cohesive investigative community. In the subsequent episodes you will hear from industry thought leaders and be able to directly incorporate their business advice into your investigative agency.  I'm Barry Maguire from Boston and I've been a PI since 2001, I have conducted or supervised over 5,000 investigations to date. I have been a contributor to Pursuit Magazine and have recently published my first book, "The Business of Private Investigation" which is available on Amazon. . The way we interact as an industry has always bothered me, hence PI Union. More to come! Thank you! Please Share this podcast! Check out my interview with Hal Humphreys of Pursuit Magazinehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK-_GATfKNk&feature=youtu.be