Leadership Is A Daily Choice

Leadership Is Not a Title. It’s How You Show Up.

February 20 is National Leadership Day.

It’s one of those days that doesn’t get a parade. No balloons. No sales. No spotlight.

But it matters.

Because leadership matters.

Not position.
Not title.
Leadership.

As notaries, we receive a commission from the state. That commission gives us authority. It allows us to act. It gives us responsibility.

But it does not automatically make us leaders.

Leadership is not printed on your commission certificate.

It’s revealed in how you show up.

Position Is Granted. Leadership Is Chosen.

Every notary holds the same position: Notary Public.

But not every notary leads.

Position says:

• I passed the exam.

• I have a stamp.

• I am authorized to notarize.

Leadership says:

• I will uphold the law even when it’s inconvenient.

• I will slow down when others rush.

• I will protect the integrity of this transaction.

• I will raise the standard of this profession.

Leadership is a daily choice.

And in our profession, most of that leadership happens when no one is watching.

Leadership Is How You Show Up When It Would Be Easier Not To

It’s easy to lead when things are smooth.

It’s harder when:

• The signer is confused.

• The appointment is running late.

• The hiring party pressures you to “just make it work.”

• You realize a document is missing a required certificate.

In those moments, you are not just holding a position.

You are leading.

Leadership is choosing to explain the process calmly to an elderly client instead of rushing them.

Leadership is refusing to cut corners, even if it means losing a job.

Leadership is knowing the law well enough to say “no” with confidence.

Leadership is preparing before the appointment, not scrambling during it.

No one may see that preparation.
No one may applaud your ethics.

But that is leadership.

Are You Leading Your Business or Reacting to It?

National Leadership Day is a good time to ask ourselves a harder question:

Are we leading our businesses… or reacting to them?

Leading looks like:

• Staying current on law changes.

• Investing in training.

• Tracking your income and expenses.

• Setting your fees with intention.

• Planning for growth.

Reacting looks like:

• Taking whatever fee is offered.

• Hoping work shows up.

• Ignoring continuing education.

• Operating in survival mode.

A position allows you to operate.

Leadership requires you to be intentional.

And intentional notaries build sustainable businesses.

Leadership Is Quiet in Our Profession

We don’t have corner offices.

Most of us don’t have teams reporting to us.

We don’t have impressive titles beyond “Notary Public.”

But we hold enormous responsibility.

We:

• Protect families during estate planning.

• Safeguard borrowers during loan signings.

• Stand as impartial witnesses in moments of vulnerability.

• Prevent fraud with a single refusal.

That is influence.

That is leadership.

It’s not loud.

It’s steady.

It’s consistent.

It’s the notary who reviews documents before leaving for an appointment.
It’s the notary who keeps clean, organized records.
It’s the notary who mentors a newer professional instead of criticizing them.
It’s the notary who raises pricing when necessary because sustainability matters.

Position gets you authorized.

Leadership earns you trust.

And trust is what brings repeat business, referrals, and longevity.

Leadership Adds Value Even When No One Notices

The highest form of leadership is adding value to people who may never fully understand what you protected them from.

The borrower who never knows you prevented a costly error.

The family who doesn’t realize you caught an incomplete acknowledgment.

The elderly signer who simply feels calmer because you took your time.

You may never get a thank you note for those things.

But they matter.

Leadership adds value quietly.

It shows up prepared.

It stays ethical.

It acts with integrity.

And it builds a reputation that outlives any single transaction.

A Personal Reflection

After more than two decades in this profession, I can tell you this:

The notaries who thrive long term are not just technically competent.

They are leaders.

They lead themselves.
They lead their businesses.
They lead by example in their communities.

They do the right thing when it costs them something.

They invest when others hesitate.

They hold the line when standards try to slip.

That is not about position.

That is about character.

This National Leadership Day

On February 20, take a moment to reflect:

Where are you leading well?
Where are you reacting?
Where could you raise your own standard?

You don’t need a bigger title.

You don’t need a larger platform.

You don’t need a spotlight.

You need a decision.

Leadership is not about being in charge.

It’s about being responsible.

And every time you pick up your stamp, you have another opportunity to choose it.

At your service,

Laura