We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharnai Fisher a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sharnai , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

I started my business about 6 years ago. I started it in my third bedroom of my then condo. I only had a iPad, no laptop, or desktop. I worked 12-14 hour days promoting the business and working my cases. In the first two years I would wake up at 0400 drive Uber and Lyft, reach my daily quota then start conducting investigations on whatever case I was retained on. After my case work I would go to local networking events to rub elbows with other business owners. It was my mission to be known in every door I walked in. I was advised of this Government contract so I made contact with the vendor and was added to the waitlist. I hustled for two years to stay above the ground. I also opened a second location in the state of Texas within those 2 years. Once I approached year two I was contacted by the vendor. They wanted me to send in my application. I turned it in and about 4 months later I was awarded the contract. The first year was very hard as I had to adapt to being paid a third of my hourly retained rate but my caseload started to grow. I was able to hire 4 employees and pay them a livable wage. I went from a room in my home to a two person office, moved up to a 5 person office. Now we on the top floor of my building servicing the County where the headquarters is located in Phoenix, Arizona.

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 a “boy mom”. My son just recently graduated from high school. I work in the Criminal Justice Industry. I have been in this industry for about 16 years now. I got into because it has always been a passion of mine since I was a kid. Growing up in poverty you either become your environment or you grew above it and become something great! That is what we call Nature vs. Nurture. I started off by obtaining my degree in Criminal Justice. From there I became a Fugitive Recovery Agent. I also worked in electronic corrections which is a fancy term for ankle monitoring for first and second time offenders.

I opened a Bail Bond Agency before joining the World’s Greatest Airforce, and becoming a Police Officer. While waiting on my basic training date I had a thought of becoming a Private Investigator so I sought out companies in Arizona. I was hired and boy it has been the time of my life. It really beat fighting and arresting people that had out standing warrant’s.

I provide a rather unique service. I provide people with a peace of mind when they are at their lowest point in life. I also provide a service to indigent people who can not afford counsel while they are going through pre-trial of the criminal justice system. Let’s say you get arrested but you can not afford a lawyer and or an investigator. My company can be appointed to your case to uncover what happened, why it happened, and determine whether a case should procced to trial or the defendant should sign a plea agreement.

I am set apart from others because I do not look at my clients as just a case but as people. I believe everyone deserves a second chance and the most thorough review of their case. Also to find out why people do what they do. I am also set apart by my education, training, and personable personality.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2017, I was working undercover for a Fortune 500 to revamp security measures internally and externally. I was also tasked to stop organized crime. I located a group of people that I suspected were a part of a ring. I approached them, identified myself, the male suspect started fighting me. We got into a fight, ended up on the ground. When I got up and went to my office I couldn’t really move my arm. Management of the company called the local law enforcement and fire. I was rushed to the hospital. I had to go into emergency surgery. This fight resulted in my radius bone being broken in half and I now have a metal plate and six screws in my arm. I also have nerve damage and classified a handicap. I worked hard for 1 year to get my arm back to working as best as I can get it. I get up everyday to give my job and clients 100%.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lessons I have learned is to never bring in a business partner no matter the financial situation or how good they are at the job. I learned this lesson two times. I will not go into detail about these situations. SAY NO TO BUSINESS PARTNERS!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fisheyeinvestigationsgroup.com/
• Instagram: s.fisherthepi
• Facebook: Sharnai Fisher