Memoir: 1,000 Signings Later

Reaching the milestone of one thousand notary signings is a journey filled with lessons and stories. Eddie Montes Travis and Marylyn Lee Trotter explore the highs and lows of this career path to show you what it really looks like to build a steady business over time. • Starting Out: The first few appointments are often the most stressful but they build the foundation for everything that follows. • Problem Solving: Handling difficult documents and unexpected situations becomes second nature after hundreds of repetitions. • Building Relationships: Success in the long run depends on how you treat clients and the professional networks you create along the way. • Efficiency Secrets: Managing your schedule and paperwork gets much easier once you have a proven system in place. Reflecting on this many signings provides a roadmap for anyone looking to grow their professional footprint. Please make sure to subscribe and like the podcast to stay updated on our latest episodes.

Show Notes:
• Reflections on reaching a major career milestone.
• Tips for handling common challenges in the field.
• The importance of consistency and repetition.
• Ways to improve your workflow for higher volume.

Buy Becoming a Notary on Amazon

Notary Knowledge Reference Guide and Notary Bible on Amazon

Your Sunday Notary Reading:
Notary Public Foundation: Essential Guide to Core Duties, Ethics, and Commissioning on Amazon

Your Monday Notary Reading:
Notary Operational Excellence: Mastering Certificates, Journals, Ink, and Copy Certification on Amazon

Your Tuesday Notary Reading:
Notary Fraud Shield: Real-World Tactics, Red Flags, and Refusal Strategies on Amazon

Your Wednesday Notary Reading:
The Mobile Notary Blueprint: Launching and Managing Your On-Demand Business on Amazon

Your Thursday Notary Reading:
Notary Niche Navigator: Your Guide to Loan Signings, Apostilles, I-9s, and More on Amazon

Your Friday Notary Reading:
Notary Law & Liability: Understanding State Regulations, Insurance, and Avoiding UPL on Amazon

Your Saturday Notary Reading:
The Future Notary: Mastering RON, eNotary, and Complex Scenarios on Amazon

Quick & Easy Solutions: How to Increase Mobile Notary Business for More Success & Profit: with 37 Professional Tips on Amazon 

Executive Producer Derrick Spruill
Writers Marylyn Lee Trotter and Eddie Montes Travis
Graphics & Illustrations by Eddie Montes Travis
Music by Thomas Bynum
This Show is Produced by Magnificent Workz
Business Solutions

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Are you a notary ready to move beyond the basics? Don't get caught unprepared with legal risks and climb pitfalls. You need a blueprint for success. Introducing notary knowledge reference guide in notary bible. This is your essential playbook. Learn to master your duties, build a thriving mobile business, and protect yourself from costly mistakes with expert advice. Find notary knowledge reference guide in notary bible by Derek's Pool from Amazon.com. Learn to Noble Hook to Million. Bookstep.org Mobile Notary by Derek's Pool.com or download from Kindle today.

SPEAKER_01 0:41

Imagine you've successfully completed um 999 notary signings. You've navigated the fake IDs, the high stakes, hospital room drama, millions of dollars in real estate closing. But what happens on signing number 1000? Well, you stop being a freelancer and you become an empire. Welcome to Notary Knowledge. I am Marilyn.

SPEAKER_02 1:02

And I am Eddie.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

We are jumping straight into a very high-level strategy session today. And uh, if you've been tracking the industry, you've definitely already noticed the massive visual transformation we underwent in 2026.

SPEAKER_02 1:16

Oh, yeah. That robust new monogram, the deep navy background.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Right, with that really vibrant red bar cutting through it. And that visual shift comes with this powerful official slogan, integrity in action.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Which is, I mean, it's so much more than a logo. It signals a complete evolution from a local service to a national knowledge enterprise.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

It really establishes an instant anchor for trust. And that transition kind of creates the perfect framework for what we're analyzing today.

SPEAKER_02 1:42

Definitely. We're exploring the professional evolution of notarial practice, looking specifically at Derek Sproul's reflections on hitting that 1,000 signing milestone.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Because reaching 1,000 successful signings, um, it isn't just a numerical achievement.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

No, not at all. It's a fundamental qualitative leap. You stop viewing this work as just a series of procedural gigs, and you start mastering it as a corporate enterprise.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Yeah, and today we're going to look at how you survive in this space, explore the digital frontier, and uh tackle some pretty intense field scenarios in our segment. Good question. What would you do?

SPEAKER_02 2:20

But before we unpack all of that, we do want to ask you a really quick favor.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Yes, please. If you find value in these strategies, please rate the show, subscribe, and share this strategy session with others in your network.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

And um, to truly elevate your own practice, you need the right tools. Grab Derek Sproul's notary knowledge books.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

We're talking about the reference guide, the notary bible, and that incredible day-by-week foundational series.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Right, where you start your Sunday reading with the Notary Public Foundation, move to Monday with Notary Operational Excellence all the way to Saturday's The Future Notary.

SPEAKER_01 2:55

They're all on Amazon. You study them, apply the frameworks, and well, you transform your business.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

Speaking of business, let's take a quick pause for a commercial break, and then we'll get into the mechanics of that transformation.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_02 3:07

Pause for commercial break.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

All right, let's get into it. When you first start out, the learning curve is, well, it's steep. You're hyper focused on basic compliance.

SPEAKER_02 3:16

Yeah, where to place the stamp, verifying the date, you know, managing your physical journal.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Exactly. But as Derek Sproul's memoir points out, once you cross that 1,000 signing mark, the entire paradigm shifts.

SPEAKER_02 3:29

It has to. The daily hustle of chasing individual leads, um, it has to be replaced by strategic business management.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Aaron Powell And the catalyst for that is applying a corporate framework to what is essentially a mobile operation.

SPEAKER_02 3:41

Aaron Powell Right, because Derek Sproul holds an MBA in human resources. And injecting those corporate principles into a notarial practice, it completely changes how you view client acquisition.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

Aaron Powell Let's consider a scenario we see all the time. Um let's call it the Sam from South Dakota situation.

SPEAKER_02 3:59

Oh, I know this one all too well.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Right. Sam spends hours every single day glued to paper lead sites.

SPEAKER_02 4:05

Just competing with dozens of other notaries for one-off, low-paying assignments.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

It's exhausting and it's a massive recipe for burnout.

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Well, the MBA approach looks at Sam's situation and immediately identifies a structural flaw. He's relying on unpredictable low-margin transactions.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

So the solution is moving toward a corporate subscription model. But okay, I have to play devil's advocate here for a second.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

Go for it.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

If you're listening to this, you might be a solo mobile professional operating out of your SUV. Implementing a corporate subscription model, um, it sounds like overkill.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

I can see how it sounds that way.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

It feels like you're telling the listener to treat their notary bag like a mobile Fortune 100 headquarters.

SPEAKER_02 4:45

Well, the scale might be different, but the economic principles are identical. Relying purely on individual real estate closings, um, it's like a farmer planting only one highly sensitive crop.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

Oh, right. The moment the interest rate weather changes, your entire harvest dies.

SPEAKER_02 5:01

Exactly. A corporate subscription model creates predictable, monthly recurring revenue. You offer tiered pricing to law firms, HR departments, or even international corporations.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

So instead of chasing a dozen leads a day on a web portal, you're building actual long-term partnerships.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Yes. That makes the revenue predictable.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

But what about the competition? I'm thinking of uh, let's call it the Caleb from Colorado scenario.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

Okay, let's hear it.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Caleb builds a relationship with a local title company, but then another notary comes into town and undercuts his price by$5 a signing.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

The classic race to the bottom.

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Right. If you're operating transactionally, you're so tempted to just lower your prices to match.

SPEAKER_02 5:41

But a business operating on an MBA framework simply ignores that race to the bottom. When you secure a corporate retainer, you are no longer competing on price.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

You're competing on value and reliability.

SPEAKER_02 5:54

Exactly. An HR department that consistently hires remote workers, they need reliable onboarding compliance.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Oh, I see. By putting them on a monthly retainer, you guarantee your cash flow and they guarantee their compliance.

SPEAKER_02 6:06

Right. They are paying with the peace of mind that you'll hand over their volume flawlessly. They aren't looking for the cheapest stamp in town.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

Aaron Powell, which connects beautifully to a recent Moneymaking Monday segment we did where we talked about how automated subscription billing removes the headache of individual invoicing.

SPEAKER_02 6:22

Yes. Sending out and chasing down 50 individual invoices a month is just a massive drain on your time.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Automation integrates with your accounting software, bills the client on the first of the month, and lets you scale up without drowning in paperwork.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

You reclaim your administrative time so you can focus on high-value client acquisition. And um, having that corporate mindset also means recognizing when a client is actually costing you money.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Oh, like the Fred from Florida scenario.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

Exactly. Fred has a law firm client that consistently sends over disorganized documents, provides wrong addresses, and pays invoices 90 days late.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

And the novice notary keeps taking the work because they're terrified of losing any revenue at all.

SPEAKER_02 7:05

But the enterprise notary fires the client. You have to eliminate toxic, time-draining accounts to make room for high margin partnerships.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

But securing that corporate retainer isn't really possible if your only value add is like a standard$5 acknowledgement.

SPEAKER_02 7:22

No, absolutely not. A law firm or an HR department won't put you on a monthly subscription just for that.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

To justify a retainer, you have to solve complex high-stakes problems for them. You have to diversify and master specific niches.

SPEAKER_02 7:34

Which brings us to things like apostle services and I-9 employment verifications. They're prime examples of this niche mastery.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

Let's break down the mechanics of an apostle for a second, because I think it illustrates the immense value a skilled notary brings to international commerce.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

It really does. So if a corporation in Texas is opening an office in Spain, the Spanish government needs to know their corporate documents are legitimate.

SPEAKER_01 7:57

But the problem is, a bank in Madrid has absolutely no idea what a Texas notary seal means or if it's even valid.

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Right. It's an international trust deficit.

SPEAKER_01 8:07

Exactly. So the notary solves the first step by authenticating the executive signature. Then you facilitate the document's journey to the Secretary of State.

SPEAKER_02 8:16

Who then attaches the apostle, which is a specific international certificate created by the Haight Convention.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

And that apostle verifies your notarial signature and commission. It creates this unbroken, legally binding chain of authentication across international borders.

SPEAKER_02 8:33

You're not just stamping a piece of paper, you are navigating international law so your client doesn't have to.

SPEAKER_01 8:38

And that level of logistical problem solving is exactly what commands premium fees.

SPEAKER_02 8:43

The same logic applies to I-9 employment verifications. When a corporation hires a remote employee across the country, federal law still requires a physical inspection of their identity documents.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

Because HR departments obviously can't fly an executive out to physically inspect a passport every time they hire someone.

SPEAKER_02 9:00

Right. They rely on the notary to act as their authorized representative, managing that federal compliance securely.

SPEAKER_01 9:05

But that global reach brings up an entirely new challenge. How do you serve a corporate client who needs documents finalized when their executives are scattered across different time zones?

SPEAKER_02 9:15

Well, we discussed this extensively in our exploration of global RN remote online notarization.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

Yeah, the traditional nine to five physical storefront is totally obsolete now. The decentralized office means your secure digital signing room is open 24-7.

SPEAKER_02 9:30

You might have expats living abroad who need to close on a property back home, or international corporations finalizing mergers at, you know, three in the morning local time.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

And the digital landscape is shifting so rapidly. The technology driving it is advancing right into biometric notarization.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

It's incredible. The traditional ink thumbprint in the physical journal is being replaced by highly sophisticated biological authentication.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

We're seeing platforms integrate live fingerprint scanning, facial recognition software, and even iris recognition.

SPEAKER_02 10:02

Yeah. And when a camera scans an iris, it isn't just taking a picture. The software converts the unique biological pattern of that human eye into a cryptographic hash.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Which is um like a highly complex string of numbers, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Exactly. And that hash is permanently locked into the digital audit trail of the notarized document.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Wait, I'm piecing this together. If the software is taking an iris scan, matching it instantly to a government database, it's definitively authenticating the biological identity.

SPEAKER_02 10:32

Right. It guarantees the person in front of the lens is exactly who they claim to be.

SPEAKER_01 10:36

But the software is only evaluating the data. It can't read the room. When an iris scam is authenticating a signer, what happens to the notary's traditional role? Does the technology replace the human public trust?

SPEAKER_02 10:48

See, that is the critical vulnerability in a purely automated system. And it's the exact reason the human notary can never be replaced.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Because a machine has no way to verify intent.

SPEAKER_02 10:57

Exactly. An iris scan cannot evaluate if someone just off camera is holding a weapon or threatening the signer.

SPEAKER_01 11:03

Right. Facial recognition can't determine if an elderly signer is like heavily medicated and completely misunderstands the financial power of attorney they're signing.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

The technology verifies the data, but the human notary verifies the intent. You remain the ultimate indispensable shield against coercion and fraud.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

The tools change, but the core duty of impartial human vigilance remains exactly the same. Let's take another quick break, and when we come back, we'll put that human vigilance to the test.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Pause for a commercial break.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

Welcome back. It's time to bridge the gap between textbook theory and the messy reality of human behavior. It is time for a good question, what would you do?

SPEAKER_02 11:44

I love this segment. And these scenarios draw directly from the field experiences detailed in those 1,000 signing reflections.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Let's start with a subtle ethical test. The Greta from Georgia scenario.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

Oh, this one is tricky for beginners.

SPEAKER_01 11:57

You arrive at a signing and the client slips you a$50 bill, calling it a quote unquote gift to skip a few steps in the ID verification process because they're in a huge rush.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

It seems small, but accepting that money destroys your impartiality entirely. It transforms a neutral public official into a paid accomplice.

SPEAKER_01 12:16

The ethical bedrock has to be absolute because the pressure only gets more intense from there. Let's set the main scenario for you to ponder. We'll call this the Mark from Missouri situation.

SPEAKER_02 12:27

This is a heavy one.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

It is. You get a call for an urgent signing and arrive at a high-risk environment, a busy, chaotic hospital room. The signer is a patient in the bed.

SPEAKER_02 12:38

And as soon as you start conversing with the patient, it becomes really obvious that their cognitive capacity is highly questionable.

SPEAKER_01 12:43

Right. They're drifting in and out of consciousness. They're clearly heavily medicated.

SPEAKER_02 12:47

And to make matters worse, there are extremely anxious family members in the room, a son or daughter who desperately needs this power of attorney signed immediately.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

Medical staff are hovering, checking monitors, wanting to clear the room. The family is applying intense psychological pressure on you, practically begging you to just stamp the paper and get it over with. What would you do?

SPEAKER_02 13:08

The psychological dynamic in that room is just overwhelming. As humans, our natural inclination is to alleviate suffering.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Your empathy kicks in immediately. You see a family in deep distress, a vulnerable person in a hospital bed, and you think, if I just sign this, I can relieve their immense stress.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

Plus, the environment is deeply intimidating. You're an outsider in a medical setting, doctors are rushing around, the family is desperate.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

The path of least resistance is to use your stamp, pack your bag, and leave the room.

SPEAKER_02 13:36

But taking that path of least resistance leads directly to a violation of the law, and it invites a massive career-ending lawsuit.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

In that hospital room, your primary legal duty is to protect the signer's autonomy. You are the impartial witness, and you have to identify the red flags.

SPEAKER_02 13:53

And the most glaring red flag in the Mark from Missouri scenario is the lack of capacity. You have to understand the fundamental mechanics of the notarial acts you're being asked to perform.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

Let's break those mechanics down. If the document requires an acknowledgement, the signer is formally acknowledging that they signed it voluntarily, of their own free will, for the purposes stated within it.

SPEAKER_02 14:15

Right. And if it's a jurat, the signer is actively swearing or affirming that the contents of the document are truthful.

SPEAKER_01 14:22

But neither of those acts can be performed legally if the signer lacks the cognitive capacity to understand what is happening.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

Exactly. If a patient doesn't know what a power of attorney is because they're under the influence of heavy painkillers, they cannot voluntarily agree to grant someone else financial control.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

They certainly cannot swear to a document's truthfulness. You cannot verify intent if intent cannot be legally formed.

SPEAKER_02 14:47

In this situation, you have to stand your ground against the emotional pressure of the family. You must politely but firmly refuse the notarization.

SPEAKER_01 14:55

But refusing the notarization is only the first half of the solution. The second half involves the most important tool you have when you walk out of that hospital room.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

The notary journal.

SPEAKER_01 15:05

Exactly. Your journal is not a regulatory chore.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

No, in a high liability environment like a hospital signing, it's your primary defense against litigation. Think about the long-term timeline here.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

Six months down the road, the family might find a less scrupulous notary to sign the document, or they might try to sue you for delaying their ability to manage the patient's finances.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

And if your actions in that hospital room are ever questioned in a courtroom, your memory of the event is totally useless. Opposing counsel will tear your memory apart.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Your journal is the definitive chronological proof of your professionalism. But you can't just write refused and leave it at that.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

Right. You have to log the specific details the date, the time, the location, the specific type of document the family requested.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

And your detailed observations regarding the signer's lack of capacity. You document the heavy medication, the drifting consciousness, the coercive pressure from the family members.

SPEAKER_02 16:00

That secure logbook proves to a judge that you acted with rigorous ethical standards to protect a vulnerable citizen.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

It's taking the abstract concept of the public trust and applying it when it is most difficult to do so. That is what operating with integrity in action actually looks like on the ground.

SPEAKER_02 16:17

It really is the ultimate shield against fraud.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

It is. Now, to leave you with a final provocative thought today. We've spent this time discussing the heavy realities of the work, the corporate strategy, the biometric technology, the legal liability.

SPEAKER_02 16:32

But there's a surprising way this profession is evolving beyond the signing table, and it's centered entirely on brand expansion and legacy.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

Think about Derek Sproul's Little Notary Derek Children's Book series. We are talking about titles like The Permission Slip Debacle and Dog Gone Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:49

At first glance, you know, a professional corporate enterprise creating children's activity books seems unexpected, but it's actually a brilliant mechanism for humanizing the business.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

It plants the seeds of integrity, personal responsibility, and trust for the next generation.

SPEAKER_02 17:03

It transforms the notary from a faceless procedural hurdle into a foundational, relatable pillar of the community.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

It's a phenomenal way to build a legacy. So the question to leave you with is how are you humanizing your own business?

SPEAKER_02 17:18

How are you building a legacy that connects with your community on a deeper level than just a transaction?

SPEAKER_01 17:23

It's something to seriously mull over as you build your own empire. We absolutely love hearing your thoughts on these topics and how you are navigating the industry. Email your questions to Derek at Derricksproul.com. We will try to answer as soon as possible at the end of our shows.

SPEAKER_02 17:38

Executive producer Derek Sproul, lead writer Marilyn Lee Trotter, Graphics Eddie Montez Travis, Music Thomas Bynum, produced by Magnificent Work Business Solutions.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Don't just be listeners of the knowledge, be doers of the knowledge. This is notary knowledge. Until next time.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

To obtain more notary knowledge, explore the full collection of books by Derek Spruel and find the perfect book for your notary business. Visit any online bookstore, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble Bookstore, BooksOfmillion.com, Bookshop.org, Mobile Notary by DerekSproul.com, or download from Kindle to obtain your essential notary book to help with all your notarizations starting today.