LET'S CONNECT! I'm @HustleinFaith on all social networks.
[00:00:01] is dedicated to helping women who want to analyze, apply and amplify their God-given gifts.
[00:00:21] We accomplish this by discussing topics such as business, self-improvement, health and beauty
[00:00:27] and my random thoughts about life from a Christian perspective.
[00:00:30] I'm your host, Latasha Johnson.
[00:00:34] Are you tired of feeling less than enough just because you're single?
[00:00:38] Then you'll love my new book, How to Live an Extraordinary Life, With or Without, Mr. Right,
[00:00:44] A Christian Woman's Guide on How to Survive and Thrive on Single Avenue.
[00:00:50] It's time to acknowledge, address and dismantle the harmful limited mindset many single Christian
[00:00:56] women have internalized.
[00:00:58] Take the first step to discover and embrace the plans God has in store for you.
[00:01:02] If you want to be notified when the book is released, please check out the Hustle in Faith
[00:01:06] website.
[00:01:07] I cannot wait to share this with all my single ladies.
[00:01:10] You have everything you need to live an extraordinary life, with or without Mr. Right.
[00:01:22] In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Deborah Whitaker.
[00:01:26] Deborah is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience as a non-attorney
[00:01:29] legal services provider and real estate salesperson.
[00:01:33] She holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and an American Bar Association Paralegal
[00:01:38] Certification.
[00:01:39] Deborah is a state commission notary and is the owner of Notarize LLC, a notarization
[00:01:45] and virtual assistant company.
[00:01:48] As a notary business owner, Deborah offers loan signing services, mobile notary services
[00:01:53] and other non-attorney legal services.
[00:01:56] Deborah is passionate about people, process and productivity, providing active support
[00:02:01] and guidance to her team, clients and community.
[00:02:05] Welcome to the show Deborah.
[00:02:06] Thank you.
[00:02:07] It's good to be here with you.
[00:02:09] Yes, yes.
[00:02:10] I am so happy that you came on to this show.
[00:02:13] I really appreciate it.
[00:02:15] Why don't you tell the audience about yourself?
[00:02:17] Well, just a little about me.
[00:02:19] I'm a small town girl from South Jersey.
[00:02:23] After high school, I entered into the Air Force and I was honorably discharged
[00:02:30] and got my service for four years.
[00:02:35] I relocated to Atlanta, Georgia.
[00:02:38] And then I've been rolling ever since.
[00:02:43] Out of high school though, I always wanted to be a lawyer.
[00:02:45] So over the years, I've enrolled in college and disenrolled in college.
[00:02:51] It was just a long time before I actually completed my bachelor's degree, but I did
[00:02:55] so in 2018.
[00:02:57] So I'm a bachelor's in legal studies with the American Bar Association certification
[00:03:04] and paralegal certified to be a paralegal.
[00:03:09] My career spans over 20 years in real estate.
[00:03:12] So the reason I did that is because I wanted to be a real estate lawyer and I figured
[00:03:18] if I get in real estate before I get my law degree, then they can't say, well, you
[00:03:24] don't have experience, right?
[00:03:26] Oh, good point.
[00:03:27] Good point.
[00:03:28] Right.
[00:03:29] But I got caught up in money and the excitement of real estate and helping buyers.
[00:03:36] And I just kind of veered from the attorney law school thing.
[00:03:43] But I'm back on track with that now and I'm studying for the LSAT.
[00:03:48] So you mentioned that you kind of pivoted, right?
[00:03:51] So I know that you ended up pivoting into doing notarizing, right?
[00:03:58] So what does a notary do and then who would use this type of service?
[00:04:03] Well, a notary is essentially someone that is judicially commissioned to deter fraud,
[00:04:13] right?
[00:04:14] And to witness the signing of certain documents.
[00:04:20] So like your wills, powers of attorney, different other like deeds.
[00:04:27] So these legalized documents are then sent to courts for filing.
[00:04:36] And so it really legitimizes the document is true and authentic.
[00:04:42] So there are other requirements but that's essentially it.
[00:04:46] Okay.
[00:04:47] Okay.
[00:04:48] So again, I know you have your own notary service business.
[00:04:52] So what inspired you to create Notarize?
[00:04:55] Which by the way, I absolutely love your name and the logo.
[00:05:00] Like the whole thing is just adorable.
[00:05:02] So what inspired you to create Notarize?
[00:05:05] And yeah, like what inspired you to create it?
[00:05:08] Because again, I love take a look at the logo in the name guys.
[00:05:12] It'll be in the description but I love it.
[00:05:14] Thank you so much, Tasha.
[00:05:16] You know, it's near and dear to my heart too.
[00:05:18] I kind of created it with a logo designer.
[00:05:23] And you know, just was giving my ideas and seeing tweak this and make this smaller, make
[00:05:28] this a little bigger.
[00:05:29] But of course, I wanted an owl because of the wise, the grudge.
[00:05:37] I got that too, yeah.
[00:05:39] Right?
[00:05:40] So and then the spin on Notarize as well, the correct spelling of the name was already
[00:05:45] taken.
[00:05:46] So I just thought, well, just change it to EYES especially because you have it ties right
[00:05:54] into attestation, right?
[00:05:56] Yeah.
[00:05:57] And being an eyewitness, right?
[00:05:59] So that's really how it came about is just I had to choose a name different from the
[00:06:07] correct spelling and that's why I chose it.
[00:06:11] And also just going deeper into Notarize when you, my background is in real estate dealing
[00:06:19] with contract management and you know, real estate sales contracts.
[00:06:24] And there are other addendums and amendments that go along with those contracts that you
[00:06:30] really have to have a keen eye for, you know, the correctness of those documents
[00:06:34] because when you bind someone to a contract, you want to know is their representative
[00:06:39] that it's all proper, right?
[00:06:42] Yeah.
[00:06:43] So you just have to have a keen eye on everything and even in just general life, details and
[00:06:52] attention to detail is really key no matter what you do.
[00:06:57] Yeah.
[00:06:58] Yeah.
[00:06:59] I like that the attention to detail.
[00:07:01] So what makes Notarize unique and then who is your ideal client?
[00:07:07] So what makes us or the company unique pretty much really it's just me, right?
[00:07:12] It's my background.
[00:07:13] It's my skill set, but it's also the heart to help people.
[00:07:19] Like if you are just doing something to do it when it gets hard to do it, be it a customer
[00:07:29] or a situation or a circumstance or a document that you don't understand if it frustrates
[00:07:36] you or causes you ill content, then you'll abandon it.
[00:07:43] Yeah, that's true.
[00:07:45] So yeah, I think that's what makes me unique is that it's something that I want to
[00:07:49] do with something that I love to do and just my background really merges with it
[00:07:56] so well with real estate, being a paralegal.
[00:08:01] It's kind of compounding onto what I'm doing already.
[00:08:06] And also when you offer a service like this, it kind of keeps your customer coming back
[00:08:12] to you for a reason or having a reason for your customer to refer business to you.
[00:08:17] True, true, true.
[00:08:20] So who would be an ideal client for Notarize?
[00:08:24] Yeah.
[00:08:25] So clients, first and foremost that come to mind are lawyers.
[00:08:29] Right?
[00:08:30] And that's a full gamut of law representation, be it probate law, family law, immigration
[00:08:38] law, just IP, meaning intellectual property.
[00:08:46] It's so many different areas of law that, well, every area of law you're going to
[00:08:51] need documents authenticated.
[00:08:53] Yeah.
[00:08:54] The documents filed in the court, criminal law.
[00:08:58] So that's a real body of business there alone.
[00:09:06] And then construction too because in construction, it just involves so many aspects with
[00:09:12] engineering like when plans are drawn by engineers or even architects, those
[00:09:20] documents have to be authenticated and filed in the court system.
[00:09:24] So say if a builder wants to buy a plot of land and build 100 homes, there are so many
[00:09:32] steps before they can even drive one nail or one piece of wood in the ground.
[00:09:40] It's just so many different things that have to go on that involve authenticating
[00:09:45] and legalizing documents.
[00:09:47] So every area that you can think of in industry is affected by notarization.
[00:09:55] Wow, I didn't realize all of that.
[00:09:59] Like I just, I knew the lawyer part but the construction, that, I never really thought
[00:10:04] about that so that's a good point.
[00:10:05] Thank you for sharing that.
[00:10:06] Yeah, fantastic, fantastic.
[00:10:08] So what characteristics or skill sets does someone need to have if they wanted to
[00:10:15] become a notary?
[00:10:18] The attention to detail very simply as we said, right?
[00:10:21] Because what you're saying is that I know that the person that sat before me and signed
[00:10:27] this document is who they say they are.
[00:10:30] So if you have certain documents that a person can prove to you their identity,
[00:10:39] so you're making sure that that document or that instrument that they provide has
[00:10:45] not expired, has their full name, they signed the name the way that document
[00:10:51] that proves who they are is signed the same way.
[00:10:55] Yeah, so that's interesting.
[00:10:58] I OK, I just I want to play devil's advocate on this.
[00:11:02] I always wondered this like if you get a feeling that that person isn't who
[00:11:07] they say they are, what are the next steps?
[00:11:10] Just I just out of curiosity.
[00:11:12] I'm curious.
[00:11:14] You have to end the representation.
[00:11:17] Like you have the right to do that because I personally would feel uncomfortable,
[00:11:23] right? Yeah.
[00:11:25] But my discomfort would allow me to use my gut feeling and you and I will
[00:11:34] probably call it discernment.
[00:11:37] To find the words that would not embarrass someone or, you know,
[00:11:45] be accusatory.
[00:11:47] But in that situation, I believe that I would find the way to end the appointment
[00:11:54] and say, let's try this if you can bring me a different document or something like that.
[00:12:00] Yeah, I've often wondered that because, you know, there are all these kind of.
[00:12:06] There's some some places that offer these services.
[00:12:09] And then you kind of look at the folks that are doing it and you're like,
[00:12:13] really? I feel like.
[00:12:16] Like sometimes I'm like, I look at them and I'm not to be mean,
[00:12:19] but I feel like they just rubber stamp whatever's in front of them.
[00:12:22] If that makes sense, you know what I mean?
[00:12:24] And sometimes it happens, right?
[00:12:26] And so that is another reason why I got into notarization too is because
[00:12:34] on a different aspect, I want to teach.
[00:12:37] I want to mentor coach and train.
[00:12:39] And because the barrier is so low to become notary
[00:12:45] it's easy to offer this service for someone who isn't higher educated.
[00:12:52] Or, you know, OK, maybe you want to go to college.
[00:12:57] But how how easy is it?
[00:12:59] Is it to become a notary?
[00:13:00] I did what is the process?
[00:13:02] So the real process that varies from state to state, right?
[00:13:06] And even in Puerto Rico, you have to be an attorney.
[00:13:10] So they have the highest requirement to become a notary, right?
[00:13:15] But in the contiguous United States,
[00:13:19] some states may say you have to be bonded and insured.
[00:13:25] But for let's say for Georgia, you have to be 18 years old.
[00:13:28] You have to read and write English.
[00:13:30] You have to have a working telephone number.
[00:13:33] And you have to live in the county
[00:13:39] where you will be no commission to be a notary.
[00:13:42] Oh, OK.
[00:13:44] So you don't have to have a degree.
[00:13:46] You don't have to have it.
[00:13:48] Doesn't say anything about a high school diploma.
[00:13:50] It doesn't say any of that.
[00:13:53] Oh, wow. Right.
[00:13:54] I didn't realize that in my mind,
[00:13:56] I'm thinking you had to go through some sort of certification.
[00:13:59] So but again, I know you you you did mention that every state is different.
[00:14:03] So every state is different, like, but a lot of the states,
[00:14:07] you don't have to be tested.
[00:14:10] Like you will get a handbook.
[00:14:13] And let me say this, because the barrier is so low,
[00:14:19] the requirements are exponentially higher for you to be compliant
[00:14:24] because it is based on it is based on law.
[00:14:27] These are laws, right?
[00:14:29] So that's where the attention to detail comes in.
[00:14:33] If you are being taught and mentored
[00:14:38] about the laws that are around
[00:14:42] notarization, you'll be fine.
[00:14:45] Yeah, you know, it's all about wanting to do the right thing,
[00:14:48] wanting to do it the right way because there is case law, right?
[00:14:53] About notary who've done the bad a bad thing.
[00:14:57] But they were higher educated.
[00:14:59] They were a student business.
[00:15:02] People make mistakes. Wow.
[00:15:05] Yeah. So, you know, I love that you have
[00:15:10] a foundation, if you will. Tell us about entrepreneur.
[00:15:14] OK, well, thank you very much for asking.
[00:15:17] That's another little witty idea that came up because
[00:15:22] being a notary, you are a business owner.
[00:15:26] Yeah, right?
[00:15:27] Because the stamp that is given to you,
[00:15:30] you can't even purchase a stamp, you know, that stamp that goes.
[00:15:34] Yes, yeah.
[00:15:36] You can't even purchase one of those without having the commission
[00:15:41] from the state or whatever jurisdiction issues your commission.
[00:15:45] Your commission has to go to the people
[00:15:48] who will make your stamp and send it to you.
[00:15:52] You own that stamp and you are required to keep it under lock and key
[00:15:56] and in your possession at all times.
[00:16:00] Wow, I didn't know that.
[00:16:02] Is anyone that could get your right?
[00:16:05] Yeah, like you got to keep it in the bank vault.
[00:16:08] Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Wow.
[00:16:11] Yeah. So entrepreneur came about is because
[00:16:15] you're an entrepreneur if you're a notary.
[00:16:18] A notary, I'm sorry. Yeah.
[00:16:21] Business owner, you're an entrepreneur.
[00:16:23] And I wanted to create a magazine or some method to broadcast,
[00:16:29] you know, my passion about becoming a notary
[00:16:33] as a way to earn income and a way to build on your skill set.
[00:16:39] And so I just merged Notar, the root word from ancient Greece
[00:16:45] with entrepreneur and changed the ending.
[00:16:50] I love that.
[00:16:51] Business that's all around offering notarial services
[00:16:58] and then really non-attorney legal services
[00:17:01] because everything kind of branches off from there.
[00:17:05] Awesome. Good for you.
[00:17:06] I love that so much. Oh, my goodness.
[00:17:10] Oh, my goodness. So, you know, it's kind of funny.
[00:17:13] We are so close to approaching
[00:17:17] the mid-year mark for 2024.
[00:17:20] I'll know about you, but like time is flying by right.
[00:17:22] So fine. It is flying.
[00:17:25] I ask every one of my guests this question.
[00:17:29] If you had to choose one word to represent your goals for this year,
[00:17:34] what would it be in white? Oh, that's a great question.
[00:17:41] Tasha. One word.
[00:17:45] OK. I would choose growth.
[00:17:49] I would. OK. Sure. Sure.
[00:17:52] And this year.
[00:17:56] I'm aiming to achieve personal growth and business growth.
[00:18:00] Being with you here on the podcast.
[00:18:03] This is growth for me and so many,
[00:18:06] both personally and business wise.
[00:18:09] It's it's stretching me.
[00:18:12] And so I would I would choose that word growth also
[00:18:18] by taking on new challenges.
[00:18:20] This is a challenge for me, right?
[00:18:22] So taking on new challenges,
[00:18:24] I created a or founded a nonprofit
[00:18:28] so that people who want to learn notarial skills
[00:18:32] can do so at no cost to them if they are underserved,
[00:18:35] 18 to 26 years old or military, former military.
[00:18:41] That's a population of people who really need help
[00:18:47] with military transitioning out into civilian life,
[00:18:50] no matter what their job was in the military.
[00:18:55] There's a whole psychology around how it's difficult
[00:18:59] for military people to transition into the civilian world
[00:19:04] and get a job or reposition themselves
[00:19:08] as a civilian in the job market.
[00:19:11] Sure. So, you know, being a notary
[00:19:13] is a great way to just like earn a little income here
[00:19:17] and maybe see if that segues you into something
[00:19:21] that you never even thought of, you know,
[00:19:24] starting at notary, maybe you'll be a process server.
[00:19:27] Maybe you'll be a title examiner.
[00:19:29] You know, maybe you'll be a paralegal.
[00:19:31] Like it's just so many things that branches off of that.
[00:19:36] And so that's where it all kind of came from.
[00:19:41] And so, you know, expanding my knowledge and expertise
[00:19:46] and other various areas as well as I stated,
[00:19:51] like I want to be a lawyer,
[00:19:52] I want to be an attorney.
[00:19:54] I'm studying for the L-SET now and that's stretching me too.
[00:19:58] I can only imagine.
[00:20:01] Yeah, so I will choose growth.
[00:20:03] I love that. I love that.
[00:20:05] And I don't believe you said the name of your foundation.
[00:20:08] What is the name of the foundation?
[00:20:09] You're not.
[00:20:10] Yeah, thank you. Notarized Foundation.
[00:20:13] OK, got it.
[00:20:14] Just want to make sure just in case folks
[00:20:15] are want to look into that a little bit more.
[00:20:17] So, well, I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.
[00:20:22] Last but not least, what is the best piece of advice
[00:20:26] that you have for folks who want to get into the notary business?
[00:20:29] I would say just do it.
[00:20:31] The Nike swoosh.
[00:20:34] Jump in and do it.
[00:20:35] It's just a great.
[00:20:38] Augment to whatever business you're in.
[00:20:42] Right, it's just a way to offer another service
[00:20:47] that's value added another revenue stream.
[00:20:51] Right, I would say, you know, at.
[00:20:54] See, see, just see, try it.
[00:20:57] You might like it.
[00:20:59] Nice, I love that.
[00:21:00] I love that.
[00:21:01] Well, Deborah, I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.
[00:21:05] So thank you so much for coming on to the show.
[00:21:08] If folks want to get in touch with you,
[00:21:10] how can they go about doing so?
[00:21:11] Well, I'm on Instagram at notar underscore eyes.
[00:21:17] So that would be the at sign in O.T.A.R.
[00:21:20] underscore E Y E S and my website is notarize dot com in O.T.A.R.
[00:21:28] E Y E S dot com.
[00:21:31] Love it, love it.
[00:21:32] And all of that information will be on the hustle and faith
[00:21:35] website as well as in the show notes.
[00:21:38] Once again, Deborah, thank you so much for coming on to the show.
[00:21:40] I really appreciate it.
[00:21:42] Thank pleasure.
[00:21:42] Thank you so much for having me.
[00:21:51] Thanks so much for listening to this episode.
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[00:21:57] please consider sharing it with your friends, rate or leave a review.
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[00:22:05] Remember, if you're everything to everyone, the risk being no one.
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[00:22:11] See you the next episode.