18/09/2024
Today marks five years in business, which feels very bizzare. It feels a heck of a lot longer than only five years.
It has has not been easy at times. There were anxious and nerve-racking times to begin with. Pumping everything into something that may not work out, for Covid to then bring the world to a standstill within months too, I couldn't of taken the plunge at a worse time. I had to make it work though. There was no choice. No compromise!
So, to now get to this point, through Covid and with many other obstacles along the way, with the business now thriving, is a huge achievement and milestone for me.
It's unbelievable to think of where we have come from, to where we are now.
I remember weeks where I was continually doing a thousand miles, easy. Driving to obscure areas up and down the UK, through the night. In all weather's. Surviving for weeks on end on little sleep. Going many weeks without a day off. Working every bank holiday and Christmas too. Not having a life outside of work and business. The business becoming my life (normal for most Private Investigators I think).
At times you wonder if it's all worth it?
Looking back with reflection, absolutely, 1000% it is, of course. I wouldn't change a single thing I have done. Thankfully it has allowed us to get to this point, of which I am incredibly proud. I am proud of what I have achieved, and the reputation we have now built.
As mentioned, it has not been easy at all. Infact, it's one of the hardest things I have ever done, within an industry that is incredibly niche, super competitive and often quite ruthless.
I also have a small group of very trusted operatives and tracers around me, who I trust immensely and have decades of experience between them. Huge thank you to all of those who have worked for and alongside me, and continue to do so.
I'm also incredibly thankful to every single client who has trusted us with their cases, of which many are often very serious and life changing, with their lives and livelihoods often on the line.
Also, those who recommend and continue to use us too. A large proportion of our work now comes through word of mouth and recommendations.
It's an incredibly rewarding and satisfying feeling to have clients trust us with their cases. It's an even better feeling of reward and satisfaction to be able to provide them with the answers and clarification they so very need.
The most interesting thing for me is to be able to interact and assist people from all walks of life, from varying backgrounds and places. We've had clients find us from as far away as Australia and South Africa, and even exotic places such as The Maldives (it's not just 7 star resorts) along with India, The US and Canada too, to name a few.
Every day is a different challenge. Every day is exciting. New challenges. New clients. New projects. New problems to solve. Some more serious and complex than others....
I'm thoroughly excited to see where the next five years may take us. If it's as half as positive and successful as the previous five, I'll take that.
I'd like to make it to fifty though, so less mileage, late nights, and lack of sleep. (Crikey, I'm fifty in ten years). Now that's a scary thought too!
To be fair, I've not had a 'thousand miler' for a very long time, and I generally sleep more than 'the early days'.
Anyway, here's to the next five years!