Having a balanced life.

Chatting online the other day some one asked how in our business it is possible to have a balanced life working and yet having a life. A few people agreed with me. What’s your thoughts?

Now THAT is one tough question.

I think the first thing to consider is that ours is one of those jobs that is a lifestyle. There are also many like me that consider our occupation not only to be a lifestyle but also a professional hobby.

This is great for us but not so hot for those in our lives that deserve our time more than our clients do.

As someone that started his first company just over one year ago I would say it is all but impossible to get a healthy balance in the early years. This is especially the case when like in my case you have left a very well paying job guaranteeing a monthly salary and very nice benefits.

Less going out, Less socializing, less nice restaurants, less glamorous holidays. All this means home is where the balance is needed.

My solution:

LISTEN to loved ones, partners, children, parents etc don't just hear them. They will keep you centered.

Have at least one day a week (a FULL 24 hours) dedicated to the above people, no sneaking in to the office or making a quick call.

Can’t afford that one day a week? Can you afford to be without these people or to miss out those special moments? School plays, promotions, birthdays, sitting in the sun doing and saying nothing with a loved one are all of the utmost importance. Far more so than missing out on even a couple of jobs.

If the bills are paid with you and your loved ones warm fed and watered then you have done your job. The most precious gift anyone can give is themselves and their time. Everything else is supplementary. Your loved ones give themselves to you. You owe it to them to return the gift. Extra jobs leading to extra money is a great thing but it is also no good being the richest guy in the graveyard.

No loved ones? Then read, walk, visit friends (never neglect friends you don’t have many) call your family and every day make three people that you do not know smile.

Don’t be afraid irresponsible on occasion. No you can’t afford to hire a boat for the day. A weekend in a spa is just about more than you can afford. Buying a motorbike might be a little over the top. A meal at the top restaurant in town is just pure indulgence. But all of these make life fun and a life without fun is no life at all.

But don't just live your life for others and your work do something for you. Fire a hundred rounds at the range, learn to dance, surf, meditate, garden, play golf, go to a pool hall. Whatever it is remember you don't have to be good you just have to enjoy it.

I know a guy who’s motto is “have fun, make money.” It’s tough to find fun without money and very easy to fall in to the trap of having money but being afraid to have fun. But it can be done.

Good ongoing cases on the books

Got an interesting armed robbery on the books at the moment. Wasn’t fun for our client but we stand a good chance of catching the mutts. Three armed mutts off the street would be a very pleasing result.

The profile of our piracy work seems to be increasing with a couple of new clients on board.

Nasty husband seemingly hiding his assets overseas from his wife of many years. Why do guys think they can get away with it?

Looking forward to an up coming surveillance at a rather pleasing venue (more on this another time)

Surveillance. It aint sexy! Certainly not in a one donkey town.

We have recently moved in to the field of surveillance and will soon be expanding our undercover (UC) work. All of this is very exciting until one becomes familiar with the need to sit motionless for hours and the cost of buying the best kit.

To be honest the surveillance side of things is not really my favourite thing to do, I’m the wrong personality type I am however blessed with a colleague that seems to love it! Give me UC work anytime.

Whilst I may not actively enjoy sitting in a vehicle watching absolutely nothing happen half a kilometer away, it is however something that clients have a need for. So we packed up cams, comms, a longlife maritime battery, an inverter, a stack of mints and provisions.

It’s not easy you know. Sitting there writing up the surveillance notes having a coffee and then “movement movement movement” and we’re off! Then its cut throughs, parallel roads and we catch up with the target dealing with pedestrians who have no fear of jaywalking, traffic lights that conspire against us, street dogs, beggars approaching us and all manner of other inconveniences.

An afternoon of total concentration, following by car and foot trying to get photos and video without seeming to conspicuous all the time hoping that you cams are getting the pictures framed properly.

Back at the primary surveillance position everything is written up while others watch the target address and you’re off again! This goes on ad nauseam until at the end of the day you drag your tired weary bones and addled mind out of the vehicle to seek some form of refreshment in a one donkey town at the back end of the back of beyond.

Even then it’s no walk in the park. Everyone knows everyone and each has probably owned or at least borrowed that damned donkey from one another through the years. You’re a stranger in a tiny place so everyone has an interest in you. You can’t talk openly and even though off duty a part of you stays lit up for possible problem.

After days of this you notice an ache in a previously untroublesome area of your back, you crave your sofa and some mindless TV program, and just want top get home. Sadly it’s almost a day’s drive home but you get there in the end and feel that you really don’t want to sit in a car seat for at least a month.

So to any rural surveillance people out there that read this I salute you!

Having said my bit and whining and grizzling through the pest part of a page we will be out there again sometime soon.

Far to long since I last posted

Here we are in May and I’ve just realised when my last post was!

Memo to self: Don’t be too busy in future to write in the blog!

So what’s been happening?

Quite a bit recently. We have moved in to the surveillance field after much deliberation. It’s a very specialized skill and not one that can be entered in to half heartedly.

I can also say that I know why good surveillance costs so much. You try walking after being stuck in a car watching an address half a kilometer away for eight and a half hours straight!

Other jobs have been coming in from Australia, Switzerland, UK and US.

I’ve had some nice overseas travel on an anti piracy gig and life is to be honest fairly damned fine!

Outside of work life is also fairly damned fine.

Thinking about holidays, family all good, healthy wealthy and happy!

Mates are doing very well and I’m pleased to see Adriel Hamilton my claim to fame as far as US congressional Contenders are concerned is has a campaign that is going places.

You US readers can keep up with Adriel at http://aclarado-enquiries.blogspot.com/

Well that’s about it for now.

Keep well dear readers!

One Year Old!

The company is one year old on 15 May. So in a shameless piece of self promotion pride and ego boosting I thought I would post a few comment from people over the last year.

Feel free to ask to be put in touch with the people that made the comments.

What Aclarado Enquiries Clients Say About Our Work:


I on behalf of the whole family would like to convey our special thanks to you and your team. Thank you so much for the support and concern you have shown. We are truly thankful but can not find words more than thank you to express how grateful we are.

Ugandan Client


Thank you Tony. Your assistance has been crucial and is much appreciated.

Middle Eastern Director of Fortune 500 Company


The report is excellent!

Swiss Based Financial Organisation.


Can I just say, how impressed I am with the results so far? If this is the indicative of the level of service you offer your clients then you must be a very busy outfit.

UK based Private Investigator


Thanks for your care in this case Tony. It’s very rare in today’s world to find people with such a caring heart for others as you have shown on this case.

Malta Based Investigative Company


WOW! Unbelievable, how do you actually do that?

South African Investigative Client.


If I ever needed anything in South Africa - Tony Goring's the guy I would call!

US Based Private Investigator


Fantastic result

UK Based Private Investigator