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

Alright, Kelley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Taking a risk is scary and we’ve all been in a situation where sometimes it is literally fight or flight… but leaving the security of the corporate world and literally LEAPING, feet first into the unknown … it is terrifying.

That is exactly what I did. Life was spiraling out of control and I knew something HAD to change because I was not living a life that fulfilled me any longer.

So, I sat my husband down, at which he braced himself for another one of my “crazy” ideas and I told him I was leaving my job … and starting a Genealogy business. You can imagine the look on his face as he said.. “A WHAT?”

Mind you, I’ve been “doing” genealogy since before we were even dating… but I think the blindside of me actually SAYING IT OUTLOUD left him in a state of awe.

That was hard… what was harder is ACTUALLY STARTING my own GENEALOGY business.

I have a business background, but implementing processes from the ground up, writing business plans, filing for business permits, and GETTING STARTED… it was a HUGE risk and I have questioned my decision a million times since I started this sprint!

But… I am in year two of this crazy Genealogy business and I am BUSIER than ever, LOVING what I do, and I put my heart and soul into each and every ancestor I have the incredible opportunity to walk with.

Take the risk!

Do it Scared!

My life is so much happier. I am a better person, a happier wife, an attentive mom, and I love getting up every day to see what I can investigate and uncover for someone else’s story.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Kelley Amstutz, The Genealogy Investigator. I am a Professional Genealogist with over twenty years of experience. My background includes Business, English, and I am a self-proclaimed HISTORY NERD! I have certificates in Genealogy Research and DNA and Genetic Genealogy Practices.

I took my HOBBY professional about two years ago and never looked back. I started my business with a solid business plan and have worked hard to implement each piece, including Personalized Research Report and Family Trees for clients, DNA Consulting, I run a podcast: CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO (available on all podcast platforms), a social media series: TIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO highlighting old stories, bios, and architecture in and around Toledo, Ohio, AND I have two fully comprehensive self-paced courses: The Genealogy Academy AND DNA and Genetic Genealogy Academy, plus several eBooks, mini-courses, and coaching programs.

I love helping others find their ancestors story to share in order to keep the memories alive. I am most proud of the reviews that I get from my clients and hearing/seeing their excitement over what I uncover. I always give my all in every case and work exhaustively to uncover the truth at every turn. This carries over into my courses that I offer.

I am also a part of a larger network: International Genealogy Team – (@internationalgenealogyteam on Instagram) and love the work that we do together to help others with their genealogy research.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I had learned and eventually had to UNLEARN was HOW to use some of the software programs available for genealogy.

I started doing genealogy so long ago that I knew if I wanted to “level up” my genealogy research skills, I had to LEARN how to research all over again and it was only through this learning that I uncovered some things that I was doing THE WRONG WAY!

For instance… I was not using a RESEARCH REPORT or CITING. I had to learn the HARD way many times before I “learned” a better system. I know have a research report template that I created (and my clients LOVE) that not only captures what I am researching, but tells a story that makes it engaging for my clients.

One thing you NEED to be able to do within ANY business is be TEACHABLE! Sometimes the WAY you do things… that you think is great and works… is NOT the ONLY way. I am ALWAYS learning new things within my genealogy business and I would not want it ANY other way.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I recently had to PIVOT some things within my business plan because I was just TOO busy.

I am a natural multi-tasker… and with that comes a lot on my plate at any and all times. With my client workload tripling this year, it left less time to spend on social media and my podcast. I had to make a decision.

I do want to note that it is always great to have support to bounce ideas off of. I have a great support system with the International Genealogy Team, and was able to reach out and get some opinions… because it is so difficult for me to think about letting anyone down if I let something lapse.

I had to pivot within my business this year. I am reusing social media content and even pause my Podcast to take some time off for the Summer to focus on some client work that remains steady. I also had to do this because it is SUMMER and one of the biggest reasons I started my own business was for flexibility and to be able to spend more time with my family.

Sometimes you HAVE to make a choice and it can be tough to “let go” especially when you’re Type A, like myself. I have build my business, website and all, from the ground up, including my following, which I did organically. I don’t want to let ANYONE down, but it can be easy to burn out, also.

Pivoting is just a part of the business. Knowing when and how is KEY.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thegenealogyinvestigator.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegenealogyinvestigator/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegenealogyinvestigator
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegenealogyinvestigator/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KelleyAmstutz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KelAmstutzatgraygables/featured