Although it’s glamorous to imagine that private investigators solve cases using secret powers whilst lurking in the shadows undetected by others, that’s not the case at all. At least not for me.

For the past six years, pretty much every time I get the question, “So, what do you do for work?”, I get instant intrigue, surprise, and loads of follow-up questions when I answer. It’s kind of fun to experience those initial reactions. I mean, who doesn’t puff up a little when their job title automatically elevates them to cool status? It’s fun being the cool kid.

But it doesn’t last long. Once I explain exactly what it is I do on the daily, people aren’t nearly as impressed as they were when they thought my job was nothing but constant intrigue and excitement. Though there is intrigue and excitement, there is also research, patience, disappointments, and many potential rabbit trails involved.