Welcome to Enformed Insights, the official podcast of Enformion.com and your guide to the world of public records and data analysis. Join our host, Fred Pfiffer, as he interviews industry experts and shares practical tips for navigating the future of digital information.
0:19
Welcome, everyone, to Enformed Insights. I’m your host, Fred Pfiffer. Today, we embark on a journey through the realm of online information services with our esteemed guest, Rob Miller, the founder and chairman of Inform. Rob’s illustrious career spans the evolution of the public records industry, from his beginnings as a professional investigator at Intel Corporation to his pivotal role in founding PeopleFinders, a pioneering B2C data provider. With decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge, Rob is a beacon of expertise in an ever-evolving landscape. Join us as we delve into his insights, experiences, and the fascinating world he navigates.
1:00
Fred: Rob, thanks so much for joining the Enformed Insights podcast. What motivated you to start your first business, and how has that motivation evolved over time?
1:08
Rob: I think, like a lot of people, it was thrust upon me. I don’t think people go in thinking they’re an entrepreneur. I was working as a corporate investigator for Intel, and Intel is famously known for laying off large swathes of people. I was one of those people in 1987, after working there for almost seven years. It was a time when data didn’t really exist in the way it does today, and there were no online services per se. I had this knowledge of courts and government agencies, so I thought, “I could be a licensed investigator.” I acquired a mailing list of all the PIs in California and, being an expert in the data that existed at that time, that’s what led me to start my business.
2:22
Fred: Are there any defining moments or experiences that shaped your entrepreneurial journey?
2:24
Rob: The thing that stands out is that when I got out of college, I wanted to work for one of those three-letter acronym agencies. I had a degree in criminal justice and envisioned a federal role. But I was told I didn’t speak Russian. Ironically, that was the best thing that happened to me because it led me down a different path. I might have been a director today, but here I am.
3:00
Fred: What habits and routines do you credit for your productivity and success?
3:03
Rob: I’m very schedule-driven. I love sports, and I credit a lot of my routine to my workouts. I work out every day, 365 days a year. Running more than 10 companies, it’s how I decompress.
4:08
Fred: How do you approach failure, and what lessons have you learned from setbacks?
4:10
Rob: My successes have outweighed my failures, which has helped keep my stress levels manageable. People often don’t understand how to handle failure, which is a big killer for business owners.
5:51
Fred: Could you share a time when you had to make a tough decision as a leader?
5:52
Rob: Years ago, in one of my consumer businesses, we lost our biggest revenue generator, which was about $1.5 million in income. We had to retool our entire business model overnight due to legislative reasons, switching from a pay-per-search model to a subscription model.
7:04
Fred: What do you consider your greatest strength as an entrepreneur?
7:05
Rob: Tenacity. My son would probably say “unbreakable.” You can’t wither under life’s challenges. For me, it’s about maintaining stability during tough times.
8:13
Fred: What advice would you give to a business owner struggling to stay resilient?
8:15
Rob: Young people especially don’t always understand that tough times will come. It’s all about staying resilient and moving forward.
11:12
Fred: Could you provide an overview of a typical day for you?
11:13
Rob: I get up at 4:00 a.m., have some coffee, and spend time with my cat. I work out from 6:00 to 7:30 a.m., then head to the office for meetings at 9:00. I go home around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., do a bit more work, and then wind down.
12:46
Fred: Where do you see the greatest opportunities and threats in the consumer and business data marketplace?
12:48
Rob: We have a massive data store that rivals the top providers in the U.S. We’re focusing on AI, data analytics, ID verification tools, and data licensing. We’re also awaiting rulings from CFPB, which could either limit or strengthen the field.
13:36
Fred: Rob, thank you for your time today. You’ve achieved great success in the business world, and it’s always insightful to hear from someone with your experience.
