Meet Jamie Sterling

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamie Sterling. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamie below.

Jamie, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic definitely comes from my Dad, my mom, and within myself.

Growing up I saw my dad, who worked in the bindery business, go from working for a company to opening his own business. In opening his own company he worked 7 days a week, around the clock. Fortunately, I was provided with the opportunity to work for him during the summer and holidays as a teenager. In doing so, I was able to see how dedicated he was to making his company successful, which included a lot of grit, determination, and the belief that “failure isn’t an option.” I think because he reinforced so many times that failure isn’t an option, I took on that mentality myself when opening Insight Investigations. After watching my dad overcome obstacles in starting and running his business, I knew if he could be successful, I could too and that failure is not in my genes.

My mom also played a big role in my work ethic as she was a single mom who raised two daughters. She worked multiple jobs to make sure our needs were met, and we were provided for. She was never lazy. She would get up and go to one job and then go work another job in the evenings. In between those two jobs, she was always taking on odd jobs here and there like cleaning houses or babysitting for other people so we could have extra stuff like Christmas and birthday gifts.

Watching both my dad and mom, it instilled in me my workaholic attitude, which helped when I got divorced and became a single mom myself. I knew I couldn’t rely just on my ex-husband, and that it was on me to make something of myself in order to give my kids the life they deserved. As the saying goes, “if it’s meant to be, it’s up to me” and nobody else!  Like my mom did, I work multiple jobs. Not only do I manage Insight Investigations, I teach Criminal Justice/Law classes to high school students in a local school district and online, as well as provide process serving and notary services. I love my work. It never really feels like work. I think it’s always been an important goal of mine to be successful so I set a good example for my children. I want them to know that with grit and determination, they can accomplish what they set their mind to.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a private investigator as well as a process server and notary. I also teach law. Being a private investigator is unique and definitely a job that provides an opportunity to tackle new and intriguing challenges every day. As a PI, I work on a wide range of cases, from background checks to surveillance; domestic affair cases; fraud investigations; missing persons; and much more. Each case presents a unique puzzle to solve, which keeps the job engaging and intellectually stimulating.

Although my primary specialty is domestic cases, I am now working on personal injury and workers compensation cases; I have even branched out to provide security services. I love helping people and companies get the information and services they need to help them resolve very personal matters and also feel protected. No case is the same so it takes a unique mind-set to be able to work with people from all different walks of life who are needing help with different circumstances. I think what sets me apart as a business owner is that I have been through a lot of different trials myself, and I can easily relate to what my clients are going through or needing. I take every case seriously and as if it was my own, and put myself in the client’s shoes. The sense of satisfaction that comes from uncovering the truth and bringing closure to clients is very rewarding!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most important in my journey to become a business owner are:

  1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Private investigators must possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to effectively analyze information, patterns, and connect pieces of evidence. The ability to think critically and approach cases from multiple angles is essential for uncovering the truth and solving complex puzzles. Critical thinking also involves the capacity to evaluate information, assess reliability, and make sound, evidence based judgements.
  2. Attention to Detail and Observation Skills: Whether conducting surveillance, analyzing documents, or interviewing witnesses, the ability to notice subtle details, changes in behavior, or inconsistencies in information can make a crucial difference in uncovering the truth. Being able to observe, remember, and accurately report on even the smallest details is essential for building a comprehensive and accurate understanding of a case.
  3. Communication: Communication is very important in the PI industry because without good communication, you can ruin a case. Communication skills are needed in building positive relationships with clients, witnesses, informants and law enforcement officials. Effective communication is vital in conducting interviews with witnesses by asking the right questions and establishing rapport with the interviewees. In addition, it is important to have clear and precise verbiage in written communication such as reports to attorney’s, clients, or other relevant parties.

For those people interested in PI work, it is important to practice, practice, practice. Practice on writing and editing reports from a Google search. Talk to others and work on how effective you are in communicating what you are needing. Take communication classes and watch Ted-Talks. There are many cold case files that are open and available online that need volunteers to help solve these case; this is a great way to work on your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
As a private investigator, dealing with feelings of being overwhelmed is a common challenge given the demanding and often high-pressure and nature of the job. Some of the things I have learned to do to help me in the job and in life personally are:

  1. Take a Step Back: When overloaded, I try to take a moment and step away from work temporarily, taking a short break, or even just stepping back mentally helps me gain a broader perspective on what is making me feel stressed.
  2. Prioritize Tasks: I often have so many things to do everyday; I make a point to assess the workload and based on urgency and importance, prioritize what needs to be tackled first. Breaking down complex cases into smaller, manageable tasks helps me in regaining focus and a sense of control.
  3. Collaborate with Others: In cases that can be taxing, I reach out to other investigators or professionals that can help in sharing the workload or giving me advice on how to work a case that I may have overlooked.
  4. Setting Boundaries: Since I love to work, I often get caught up in it and at times, it can become draining. I have to remember to set boundaries around work hours, availability, and my caseload in order to prevent burnout and give attention to my family.
  5. Practice Self-Care: In the past, I have often put myself on the back burner. Lately, I am learning to focus on some of my own needs such as engaging in activities that bring me joy like taking some time off to travel or even just watch a crime show that I enjoy.

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Image Credits
Pictures by Voyage Magazine’s Madison Truscun

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