I talk to a lot of students who want to pursue a career as a Private Investigator. It is superficially "Glamorous" and attracts the attention of people starting out, as well as those who are looking for a career change.
When I first spoke to Mr Van Den Berg I made a couple of observations. One was, "Flippant" - Imagine having "Van den Berg Private Detectives" above your door, the other was succinct: You have a multitude of talent and if you channelled all your energy into getting started - you could make it as a Private Detective - "If you grasp the nettle".
Mr van den Berg attended our Private Investigator Training day and was one of the students who stayed from the first handshakes till the very end of the day when we locked up the building. Russell was a keen, extremely bright, student who absorbed information easily and kept full concentration throughout the day. The support material on the memory stick offered Russell extensive further and self study opportunities.
Mr van den Berg's background is music and we noted that he was an eminent musician, tutor and educationalist himself. We were keen to receive any feedback or advice that Mr van den Berg could give.
"Dear Kevin,
As I mentioned in an email I posted to you after the session, it certainly inspired me, but also opened my eyes up to how it can be utilised in other fields. Your course gave me an understanding to pursue an area in my line of work I recognised to have a weakness in.
After a period of much needed thinking time, it reignited an interest in the field I allready know so well. I began using the principles of information searching, people tracing and surveillence techniques and it's prooving a success for me in my work. Now with a new personal website and various projects on the go it's your course I have much thanks to give. I've even managed to organise an 18 date tour scheduled for 2010, with sponsorship and funding.
The intrigue and interest in PI work is still there and I think back to our encounter from time to time. But my gut told me, it's better the devil you know, instead of venturing into a world of what seemed to be equally hard competition in self employment.
Russell
We all have the power to mentor, guide and influence people - in this case it has been a two way process!
Please take a look at - www.russellvandenberg.com and www.myspace.com/russellvandenberg
Please note: Russell van den Berg has given his full approval for his name and opinions to be included on this website. Selections of Russell van den Berg's photographs are included with permission.