Notary Makes $130,000 After Lupus Diagnosis | Florida Signing Agent

How much money are you on track to make in 2024?

130,000. I feel full of life right now. I just. Great. Life is great. I. I don't know what else to say, you know, if I can do it, anyone can.

Welcome to another episode of on the Road. This time we find ourselves in Florida with a great notary public loan signing agent. Darrell, how you doing, man?

Doing well, man. How you doing, Mark?

So good. Thank you for being here. I mean, look, every single one of these stories are inspirational. Yours is crazy inspirational. Speaking of inspiration, that's inspired. Out of the gate, how much money are you on track to make in 2024?

130, 000.

When you say that out loud, what emotions go through your body, man?

I just. Am I in a dream life, man? I just, I feel full of life right now. I just. Great. Life is great. I. I don't know what else to say.

I mean, you're a six figure notary public loan signing agent, right? I mean, last year you made $90,000 in 2023, you're going to break six figures this year. So let's just get into your story. Your story is as inspiring as anybody else. I mean, you are 39. You did a career change at 35, you had a great corporate job as far as money, steady income, consistent paycheck. That all changed. So take us back to why we got here. Why are we a notary public loan signing agent? Take us back, man.

Where I started my journey. Before I started as a notary public loan signing agent, I was working corporate as a business analyst was my title. Long hours, extremely stressed out, unhappy, did not enjoy what I did at all. I also 10 years ago, was diagnosed with a autoimmune disease, lupus. So anyone that knows about lupus, it's. It's a terrible disease. You have flare ups, fatigue, low energy, just. It's a ton of things. Skin rashes and stress does not help. So stress and having lupus at the same time. I had a ton of bad days, more bad days. Good. I didn't feel like I had a place in life. I was not happy with my career at the moment. So I was slowly just looking at side gigs and entrepreneur things to do, such as wholesaling. I tried that, that didn't work too well. And then I came across the loan signing system, man.

So it must have been a pretty dark place towards the end of your corporate career. I mean, how bad was bad and if someone's in a bad spot, well, you, what would you say to help them get out of it right now.

That I would say that was the lowest point in my life. Especially when you have a family and the bills are due every month and you having to take all your strength just to get up and go work those eight hours so you can receive a paycheck. And that paycheck, you know, it's not enough, but it's still something. So I was just really pulling all the strength I had just to go work those eight hours or more in a week to make that paycheck, just to pay my mortgage. And this is not covering every bill, so the bills are still piling up again. I have two kids and a wife as well. So it's like I, I just felt I should be doing something more in life. There has to be more to life than what I'm experiencing at the moment. So just in a very dark place. And like I said with that having health issues, that just did not help me at all. Yeah, so.

So, I mean, thank you for being vulnerable and share, Share this. And my bet is, you know, just life in general took a toll on the relationship, you as a dad. But four years later, man, everything's turned around. I mean, how does your wife look at you now? How do your kids look at you now? I see the smile on your face as I say that and. Because that is better than the money you're making, you know, and so tell me about that part. Right, Because I think a lot of people see this business as a way to make money versus a way to like, get your relationships better, being a better parent, etc. So, so how does your wife look at you now, man?

Oh, they just, I mean, health wise, the stress level is almost at a zero. So health wise, I'm doing great. I wake up in a happy mood. Like, my wife is like, just looks at me some days of like, you just. You love what you do. I. I do. I love it. Kids. I'm able to spend time with kids. I just feel free. I, I felt like I finally found my place in life, so I, I couldn't ask for nothing more. Like, this business is great. It's just, I, I don't know what more to say. It's just, it's. It's life changing. So to be where I'm at today, I'm. I'm extremely grateful. I'm grateful for you. I just found I, you know, I prayed and prayed and, and I just felt like God has answered my prayers and, you know, to be a business owner. And I still have to take a moment every now and then and just think about it like, is this really true? Am I really sitting here four years later making the money? I make extremely happy and love what I do. And that I really couldn't.

Thank you for sharing that. And. And again, you know, we. I always talk about the money because I feel like that's. Everybody wants to hear, but it's not about the money, right? It's about. About what the money allows you to do. And that you said, be with your family, you know, and have a better marriage and have a better Being a better parent. And that's really what makes this business worth it. I mean, you had every reason to roll over, that no one would blame you. You're diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. You gotta have a paycheck to support the two children and the wife and contribute. So you had every reason, like, not to take the jump, not to take the risk and kind of build something for your own, but you did it, man. What would your advice be or your motivation to someone who's in that place right now just to keep going, man. What would you say to them?

I just say, just go for it. Tough times never last. I was taught that you just gotta have willpower. And like I said, being fatigued, just, you know, not feeling like myself. No energy at all, and to still try. So I woke up and just as long as I gave it my all in anything I do, that's what I. I just go by. Give it your all, go for it. Things will get better. This business is great. You may not start off as everyone else. I've watched the videos from the very beginning. There's agents out the gate like Calvin that, you know, they do great. I started almost, I believe, almost around the same time he did. But I. I just went at my own pace and I, you know, like you said, the money will come. So I didn't even focus on the money to begin with. It was just, what am I in a better place than I am than I was four years ago or when I was working with that job that I did not like in that career? And that's it. I could. I can make the same amount I did working when I was working with corporate, and I'm still much happier, still worth it be. Why? Because I don't work for anybody. I'm much happier again. I have the time now. I can spend my kids. The family notices it. We're all in the same household. So, you know, me being affected, I'm sure is affecting my Kids and my wife as well. So just seeing now on their face, that's all I need. It's not even about the money. At the end of the day, it's just being happy. We only have one life. I'm happy. So that's all worth it to me, man.

I'm so proud of you. And this is like the perfect segue to your income journey, because I want to talk about that. I'm looking at my notes on the other screen here. You know you started in the middle of COVID right? Middle Covid was great. Interest rates were 3%. You know, how much did you make your first year in the business?

20,000.

What'd you make in your second year of the business?

70.

What'd you make in your third year in the business?

70.

And then what'd you make last year?

Last year? 90.

And then what are you on track to make this year in your estimation?

Around 130,000.

I mean, what an incredible journey. You just said something I thought that was super awesome. And that is, am I better off now than I was four years ago? That's the comparison point, not other people. And I said, you can be inspired by others, but because they're succeeding, it doesn't mean you're failing. So I want to talk about your journey. Last year, interest rates touched 8% and you made $90,000. So my questions are this, man, is, how come you didn't panic, fold up, go back to your corporate job in 2022?

What kept me going is one again, just, I love what I do. Understand this real estate, there's ups and downs. And I tell my wife this all the time. I think Mark's in my head, because anytime I get discouraged or need some motivation, there's you release the right video. And it was, I believe, a Q and a video. And it was, you know, some lady asked a question. Sorry, I can't remember her name. But that was one of her questions to you, was, you know, mark, what do we do in these times? But Covid's around, interest rates are high, and your response was, is there real estate? As long as there's real estate around, there's always work. And right there, put the battery in my back. So that very next day, I went out with all title companies I work with currently followed up with them just to let them know, hey, I'm still here through this, developed new relationships and just kept building. So I didn't stop what I was doing. I just kept going. And my focus was to build relationships. And that kept me Going, I mean.

Well, let's unpack that for a second because I think there's so many vulnerable and honest things said there. And I think there's this idea that, like, successful agents, signing agents, don't get down. They don't get discouraged. No, they get discouraged and down, but they just don't stay down.

Right.

They find something to be inspired by. I love that you stay close to any of the information I put out. And I think that's the difference. I think sometimes people get on the island, stay on their island, and they let the thoughts in their head control everything versus, like, you know, let me go out and try to find information that will get me inspired. But what I really, what I love is you said, like, I got back to work and, you know, interest rates doubled from 2021 to 2022. Everyone was like, oh, my gosh, there's no business for notaries. You ignored that and just went back to work. And walk me through that. What did that look like? What did getting back to work mean for you?

What I noticed with the interest rate jumping when I would visit these title companies, they were empty. And a lot of, whether it was attorneys, they're notaries, they either stopped doing what they were doing, they stopped and went to, you know, went back to what their previous job was, or they just was taking the time off because they were. To them, there was no work. So again, being. There's always work. So that left it wide open for me.

Okay, okay, I gotta stop you, because I've asked this question to, I don't know, 25 notary public loan signing agents I've interviewed, and you've said the best people don't understand that there's money to be made in contraction. See, a lot of people get into businesses on the upswing, but it's arguably better to get into businesses on the downswing because when people leave, you actually end up getting more opportunity because you're sticking with it. And they're like, real estate transactions are still closing. And so thank you for saying it like that. Because there's money be made in contractions. And people on the outside think, should I be a signing agent? Yes. Because there's not that many notary public loan signing agents in the industry right now because they all left during the contraction. So you're on pace to do your best year ever. And we're at 7% interest rates as we speak. And like last year. Let's talk about last year. I'm looking at my notes again. You made $90,000 and interest rates touched 8%. What do you attribute last year's success to? And talk through that.

Last year's success I would say adding to my business. That was Ron. I had my certification in 2022 but I didn't do anything with it. I was still marketing out in the field taking signings from signing services. So this year I took a step back and I just said how can I add value to my business? Ron was one. Being that Ron's here is nowhere to go and I see that it's only going to grow as the years go on. That's what I, I implemented that and started marketing.

Ron, any good business owner is like how do I create more streams of revenue within my current business line? Ron, it could be deals, it could be wedding official. You chose Ron. So I want everybody to hear that right. There is a very, it was a very instinctive, intentional business move. I need to add another revenue opportunity. I'm going to lean into Ron. What I hope everyone else heard is it's still going out and marketing your business by foot. But now instead of saying I'm going to be your in person signing agent, I now have another opportunity to offer you for, for your services. But don't think because you're on certified business is going to come to you. You still got to go market and you market just the way that I teach in the loan signing system. But now instead of saying I can be a traditional signing agent, you're saying I have Ron and I can service that part of your business too. And now Ron has single handedly taken a 90,000. And my guess is Ron is also why you're going to break six figures this year. How much your business is direct business where you keep all the money and then how much of that is with signing services? Just a percentage, more or less.

60% of signing service.

You're hearing from a six figure notary public loan signing agent who's telling you 60% of his business is with SS. And so there's this thing that you could only make six figures and be all direct is just not true. Like he made $90,000 last year, 60% that was signing services. 40% that direct. You're inspiring people that you could be, you know, a part time direct notary public loan signing agent, a part time signing service signing agent and still make $90,000 and this year ideally over 6. So thank you for saying that. What is the number one piece of advice? Someone's like, yo D, give me the best piece of fights you can give me to Help me build my business. Someone watching right now. What would that be?

To create relationships. Client title by a lender, the signing service owner, the signing service scheduler. Anyone you come in contact with, build relationships with.

What does creating a relationship mean to Darrell?

Before I even start the signing, I have a little sidebar conversation. Not long. But, hey, what do you do, you know, nice home. I'll find something that I can relate to. Them feel more at ease. This is a stranger in their home. As if someone's coming to my home. Just put them at ease, you know? And a lot of times my tactic is when I find out what they do, they're happy to talk about what they're doing, especially if it's a career they love, so they're happy to talk about it. For example, I had one the other day was a guy who was opening a restaurant. Come to find out is right down the street from me. So guess what? I went to his grand opening. He was happy to see me, like, you just did my clothing for this restaurant. So. And he gave me, you know, let me get a discount on the food. So. And now anytime I go in there, it's like, hey, we're buddies now. So it's like that. You just never know who you run into or who they are. And they run in the long run, how you can help them or how they can help.

Okay, okay. First off, let me. Did you drop so much fire, bro? It's such a good episode. So I love the intentionality of, like, commonalities. But what I've never heard before in one of these episodes is like trying to dig to find out what they do. Because you're right. People love to talk about themselves. And there's nothing better than getting that conversation. So walk someone through kind of your secret sauce of getting them to talk about themselves.

Themselves, just in general conversation. Just, you know, a downer of conversation. And a lot of times they will ask me before I ask them because they're always curious, how did I get into it, how long I've been doing it? Is it a great business? So, one being that I love what I look, you know, I love what I'm doing. I'm happy to talk about what I do. So in return, they'll open up and I'll ask the same question. And then they're talking about their career and what they do or how long they've been in Florida and so forth. So I'm not in and out. Just sign this paperwork. Let's go. I'm sitting there. I'm building relationships again. I want them to feel comfortable that the stranger's in their home and that I have their best interest. So that's, you know, most of feedback that I received from clients is, you know, he's very nice. We have a great conversation. I would love for him to do my signing again. And that has led to more signings, especially with investors. So that's why I'm always curious as to what they do. Cause you never know. And then I've learned, you know, they have multiple homes or they have a family member that's signing next month, so they're going to tell the family member to refer me. So it's, you know, in the end, that brings more business, just having a general conversation and being open with which I love.

What I love is how intentional you are. Like, you want to steer the conversation to what they do. You sometimes look at the loan application, and so you're really coming in there. Like, I got to make a good moment out of this. And, and what I really heard, Darrell, and I want everyone to hear what I hear is you're someone who cares. And by the way, that's the common theme of every successful notary public loan signing agent on one of these episodes. It's, I care about the signer, I care about the lender. It's not just, I'm not here to make money. I'm here to, like, really empathize. Like, I'd be weird out if someone came into my house. So because of that, I want to make sure that I, I, I acknowledge that and I try to get to know them. It's very intentional. I love how you look at the 1003. You have a very systematic. I want them to talk about themselves. Easy way to create a relations. You get them talking about selves. I mean, I hope everyone re watches this episode. You've dropped so much fire. So how much of your signings for business is repeat business?

I work with a handful of signing services, and I'm a preferred notary to every one of them. So.

And that's the point I'm trying to make is like, by creating the relationships, you get that. Repeat business.

Oh, yeah.

And that's what's important here. So I think people go, well, how come my phone's not ringing even though they've done 20 closings? And I'm like, have you created relationships with those 20 signing service owners? Because you know they could give you repeat business? So speak about how you do that so someone can learn from you.

The goal is, I mean, when you introduce yourself to these signing services, especially starting out, just introduce yourself, let them know, get, get yourself out there and put it. If it's your first signing or every signing with that signing service that you take, do your best. You know, we're all representing this client, so we all are in this together. So I don't just think of it as, hey, I'm in it to get my paycheck from this signing service and get the document back. I don't care. So be, be mindful that, you know, this is funding. You know, if you do make a mistake, be willing to correct that. You know, whether I'm talking to them verbally on the phone or through email, I'm just providing them with updates. So for example, as soon as I'm done with the signing, I'm scanning in the documents. I don't just scanning a document to move on. I'm going to follow up with them to make sure that they have those documents. Especially if I see in the portal that it has not been downloaded and some time has went by.

Okay, I'm a stop you. That is so good. I hope everyone heard what he just said. You are what I love about you D is like you're so intentional. You will go back to the portal to see if they've downloaded them because if they haven't, you want to remind them. A, I uploaded docs for two reasons. A, you want to make sure they know that you're doing a good job. Right. You're on time, you're efficient, but also like a friendly reminder. A, they're up there. Do you want me to drop docs yet? And so.