Amber Howe, P.I.

Meet people like Amber Howe at Work Club

A lot of people ask if it’s possible to take private calls during Work Club. The answer is almost always yes, but it’s not every day that the person asking is a private investigator. Amber Howe gets paid for what most of us do for fun — tracking down people on social media (and in real life, too). She’ll tell you her job is boring, but to us it’s everything but.

Like any good investigator, Amber asked that we not use her real photo, but you can meet her yourself at a Work Club in San Francisco!

We asked Amber to share a little about her career, her daily routine, and her Work Club experience.

What do you do, and how’d you wind up in your line of work?

I’m a California licensed private investigator, working mainly for attorney clients. I started off as a process server, tracking down people to deliver lawsuits. Eventually a private investigator hired me to work with him on a case. He taught me a lot about the business, and after several years working under his license, I decided to get my own and start a business.

What’s the schedule of a private investigator?

My schedule is nothing if not flexible — and unpredictable. Sometimes I need to work nights, weekends, and early mornings so I can interview witnesses or deliver legal documents. I also need to be available during normal business hours to meet with clients, take calls, and visit courthouses or record agencies. Some places are only open during the day, and some people are only home at night. In some cases, I need to visit the scene at a certain time of day or night to see how the lighting looked when the incident happened. In between appointments, I write reports, fill out legal forms, and send updates to clients — general admin stuff.

What’s your #1 challenge at work?

Finding the motivation to get work done that doesn’t have a hard deadline or appointment attached to it.

Have you discovered any “hacks” to stay motivated?

I try to do my top 2 or 3 most important (or most unpleasant) tasks first thing in the morning, if at all possible. It always brings a sense of relief to get those things out of the way, and everything else after feels a lot easier.

What motivated you to join Work Club?

Sometimes I miss being around other co-workers in a workplace setting. Also, I tend to be more productive if I have “somewhere to be” with a hard start and end time. Finally, I like the idea of working in a variety of settings, rather than the same old office everyday.

How has Work Club improved your workday?

Before discovering Work Club, my desk work would pile up and I’d find too many ways to procrastinate at home. And…this is a little embarrassing…but if I don’t get out of the house some days, I’ll wear the same clothes I slept in and start feeling like a shut-in. With Work Club, I commit to being some place at a certain time. Having those few hours around other people working, for whatever reason it helps me stay focused on what I need to be doing. I get more of my important things out of the way in a shorter period of time.

How would you describe Work Club to someone who’s never been?

I’d describe Work Club as a “co-working club,” I guess. It helps self-employed people and telecommuters find a sense of workplace camaraderie, and get out of the home office. You can discover new local places to work or have meetings, and maybe make some friends who also have flexible schedules. For anyone who’s hesitant to join, I’d suggest trying it out a few times to see if it helps your productivity or inspires you to think in new or more creative ways.

Amber is just one of thousands of people you might meet at Work Club — so what’re you waiting for?