There are conversations we postpone because they feel heavy.

Estate planning often lands in that pile. We tell ourselves we will “get around to it.” We assume it belongs to retirees, to the wealthy, to people with complicated assets.

And most planning, if it happens at all, focuses on death.

But here is what I see, over and over again in real life, not theory:

Very few plan for incapacity. Almost everyone believes they have more time than they do. And crisis exposes what preparation would have prevented.

As a notary, I sit at tables during some of the most important moments of people’s lives. I see families organized and calm because documents are in place. I also see families scrambling in hospital hallways, trying to solve in hours what should have been handled years earlier.

The hard truth is this: incapacity is more likely than death at any given moment. An accident. A stroke. A sudden diagnosis. A complication during surgery. One day you are managing your calendar and your b...

The Real Work of Being a Notary Starts After the Commission

Steve Jobs once said it's a mistake to believe that 90% of the work is coming up with a great idea. The real work, he explained, comes afterward, turning that idea into a product or service that actually works.

That insight applies perfectly to the notary profession.

In today's notary world, ideas are plentiful. Become a Loan Signing Agent. Add Apostilles. Specialize in Trust Delivery. Offer hospital or jail notarizations. Social media is filled with new paths, new titles, and new income streams.

But ideas alone do not build a sustainable notary business.

The notaries who last, those who earn trust, referrals, and long-term success, are the ones who do the 90% of the work that follows the idea. And that work begins with one non-negotiable foundation: competence in notarization and an unwavering commitment to the law.

Minimum Training Does Not Mean Minimum Responsibility

Many states require little to no formal training t...

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.

Leadersh...

Have you ever taken your work home with you?

When people ask what I do for a living, I tell them I'm a public servant called a notary public, who serves the public and businesses properly execute their documents as a professional witness so they are accepted by a receiving agency and can be utilized for it's intended purpose. I specialize in trust delivery and estate planning work. What I don't always mention is how often this work takes me into hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice centers, places where people are facing some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Sometimes, being a compassionate notary means going beyond the notarization itself.

It might mean offering postage stamps when the facility doesn't have any and a document needs to be mailed. Or dropping something at the post office because the signer has no way to get there themselves.

Sometimes it means staying a little longer—just to sit and listen—especially when someone has no family or friends nearby t...

When the System Stalls, Preparation Steps In: What This Hospital Notary Review Teaches Us

There are moments when families don't just need a notary.

They need someone who knows how to move when everything else feels stuck.

Recently, a family contacted me for two separate hospital notarizations within just a few days—two different relatives, two medical emergencies, two urgent legal needs. Both hospitals were experiencing the same problem: delays getting documents to families who needed them immediately.

The family later wrote in a 5 star review that I had "gone above and beyond" by printing all the forms myself because they were "having a lot of issues and delays at the hospitals getting what we needed for some urgent matters."

But here's the thing: anticipating system breakdowns isn't going above and beyond.

It's understanding how medical environments function under strain.

Hospitals Are Focused on Care, Not Paperwork Logistics

Hospitals exist to treat patients. Documentation i...

When Business Slows Down, Repair Your Nets

There's an old saying: "When fishermen cannot go to sea, they repair nets."

The wisdom runs deep. When waters are too rough to fish, wise fishermen don't sit idly waiting for the storm to pass. They prepare. They fix what's worn, sharpen their tools, and strengthen what they'll need when the seas calm again.

For notaries, the same principle applies.

There will be seasons when business slows—when appointments aren't flooding your inbox, your phone stays quiet, and income dips. The temptation is to worry, freeze, or simply wait it out. But smart notaries know the pause isn't wasted time. It's preparation time. Your opportunity to mend the nets of your business.

Sharpen Your Technical Skills

When you're running from one signing to the next, there's little time to deepen your expertise. Slow seasons offer the perfect moment to focus on mastery.

Review your state's notary handbook and revisit sections you rarely use. Take a course on trusts,...

The Two Types of Knowledge: Why Real Expertise Matters in Notary Work

There are two kinds of knowledge in any profession, especially ours.

Surface Knowledge and Real Knowledge.

Surface knowledge is easy to come by. It's the kind of information you can memorize for an exam or recite at a cocktail party to sound impressive. It's built on definitions, jargon, checklists, and trivia. But when pressed with a real-world challenge—one that doesn't match the neat example in a training manual, surface knowledge buckles under pressure. It lacks depth, flexibility, and most importantly, application.

Real knowledge, on the other hand, is earned. It goes beyond information and moves into understanding. It's layered. It's dynamic. It can be adapted to new situations because it's built from experience, reflection, research, and repeated practice. Real knowledge is what we acquire not just by learning about our craft, but by doing it day in and day out.

Sounding Smart vs. Being Smart

There's a b...

In our industry—and many others—we're told we need to compete to survive.  We've been raised on stories of rivalries, winners and losers, and the idea that business is a dog-eat-dog world.  Whether it's the ugliest dog contest or the crying baby showdown, humans love a good competition.  But what if I told you the most powerful strategy isn't to beat your competition, it's to love them?

Sounds counterintuitive, right?  But when I stepped back from the idea of "competing," I began to see something radically different—and better—not just for my business, but for the clients I serve.

Why Competition Isn't Always Healthy

Let's talk about what happens when you make competition your business strategy.  You tend to look sideways instead of forward.  You match other providers' pricing, mirror their services, and try to edge them out by being slightly better—or marginally cheaper.

The result?  Clustering.

Everyone looks the same, offers the same, and charges the same.  And when that happen...

A Revised Reflection for Thanksgiving 2025

I originally wrote about this topic two years ago, but as Thanksgiving approaches again, I find myself returning to these ideas with fresh perspective and deeper understanding. This updated version reflects how my relationship with money has continued to evolve, and I'm excited to share these insights with both longtime readers and newcomers alike.

As we gather around tables this Thanksgiving season, conversations flow freely about gratitude, family, dreams, and blessings. Yet there's one topic that often remains conspicuously absent from these heartfelt exchanges: money. We've been taught that discussing finances is impolite, even vulgar. But what if this silence is costing us more than we realize? What if the reluctance to talk about money is actually blocking us from the abundance and freedom we desire?

The truth is, we hear so much about money when we are in business. The goal being get more money! And why is that? Because it will buy t...

Navigating Different Parties and Understanding Scope

In the world of notary work, successful negotiation is often the key to turning an assignment into a win-win. Whether you're dealing with third-party signing services, title or escrow companies, attorneys, or the signers themselves, each party may approach you with different expectations, fee structures, and priorities. Understanding these differences—and how to negotiate effectively—can make all the difference in building a sustainable business as a notary.

Understanding the Scope: The Key to Accurate Pricing

One of the most helpful strategies when negotiating fees and terms is to ask questions to understand what's required for each assignment fully. This can include simple details such as travel time and location. Still, it should also account for additional tasks, such as printing, collecting unnotarized signatures, scanning, or dropping off the package at a shipping depot like FedEx or UPS.

For example:

• Travel: Is the si

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