September 12, 2023

The swift lesson I learned post Covid (in the midst of pivoting - and more pivoting) is not to take my eye off the ball. Believing that I had dropped the ball, I later realized that I was not the only one pivoting.

If you were branching into a new business sector, you were in the midst of seasoned pioneers navigating, as well. This was a time when it was almost impossible to know what to do. However, it became clear that there is no such thing as remaining steady in business. Our sole existence is based on movement. No movement equates to no growth; no growth equates to stagnation; and stagnation equates to the ultimate death of our businesses. We must bear this in mind and make this a part of our best practices.

This was new territory for all of us. 

Interest rates were raised to stabilize the economy. This was necessary. However, it also meant a loss of revenue for many mobile Notary businesses, since most of us made the bulk of our living solely on refinances and HELOCS (home equity lines of credit). This is the near unemployment rate that no one dares to speak about. People assume that since you have your own business that you are doing better than most. I dare say that that is not the case, as 50% of Black-owned businesses alone closed as a result of the pandemic.

Since there is no point in crying over spilt milk (and trust me, spilt milk in business can reach upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, so I do not take our Notary losses lightly), what can we do now? How can we grow our businesses in an environment that is steadily changing? Here are five tips to help get you started:

1. Continue to Make Calls -- Both warm and cold calls are beneficial to keeping our businesses on others' minds and keeping ourselves and employees disciplined;
2. Reassess your Business Plan -- reviewing/updating your business plan could help spark an area that you could tap into that you may not have noticed before;
3. Volunteer -- Most of us are already doing amazing volunteer work. However, maybe expand or broaden your volunteer efforts. Consider starting a 501(c)3. Remember, if we are not growing our businesses, our business is dying;
4. Create a Bucket List -- Start a bucket list, then choose one thing you envision doing with your business on that list;
5. Take a Vacation (or a Staycation) -- Expand your outlook/views about how you can expand your business. Since we take vacations, why not use it to spark new ideas. Rest and rejuvenation are key ingredients for success.

The great thing about being a Notary is knowing that one is always needed. So, with the one constant being change, the one thing you need to focus on is being constant. This is how you continue to grow your Notary business, no matter the economic climate.

Happy Growing!

Deborah Bell is the Founder/Owner of Impeccable Notary Services, LLC