Single Mom Made $80,000 in a Year as a Notary Public Signing Agent | From $200/week to $200/Hr!

We just had what people say is the worst year in real estate in 2022. Can you tell everybody how much money you made in a slow market?

The end of last year I grossed a little over $82,000. It just doesn't sound real. But I'm the one who put all the hard work in there, so I know for sure that it is doable and anybody can do it. Anybody can.

Another on the road with notary public loan signing agent Donna. Donna, let's just get right to the chase because your story is as inspiring as any of them. You're a single mom. It is the end of 2022. We're filming this in January 2023. We just had what people say is the worst year in real estate in 2022. Can you tell everybody how much money you made in a slow market?

The end of last year I grossed a little over $82,000.

$82,000 in 2022. Like when I say that out loud, what feelings go through, what thoughts go.

Through, it just doesn't sound real. But I'm the one who put all the hard work in there so I know for sure that it is doable. And I just starting my journey. I can't believe that it just turned around like so quickly.

So, you know, there's gonna be people, there'll be comments on YouTube saying, oh, there's no way you made $80,000 in 2022. You know, for someone who says the market is slow, what would you say to them?

I say, you know, everybody's always gonna be buying and selling. And now that I'm networking with realtors and brokers, there's always gonna be a need to buy and sell. Whether people move, get new jobs, divorce, marry. So it's not about it being slow, it's just about knowing where to find the work and not being closed minded to go look for it. I travel at least two hours outside of my own county, marketing and doing assignments all over the place throughout the Bay Area. So I didn't stick to my county. I said I'm going to go here, here, here, everywhere that nobody usually will go. I even go up to Mendocino in Humboldt because there's a big need for the, you know, really northern areas and that nobody's really able to service them. So I do what nobody will do.

That's the best quote. I will do what no one's willing to do. And so I just wanted to get that right out of the gate because I get too often markets a slow market. It's not slow your efforts. Slow.

Yes. Yeah. If you. If you're going to wait for other people to feed your family and come knocking on your door and say, hey, here's. Here's some food, here's some. Stuff like that doesn't happen. You have to be a hunter, gatherer. You have to get that mentality that, you know what? I'm going to go find it. I know it's out there. I just got to go find it and make sure it knows that I'm here so that we can work together. So I make sure I tell my clients in the marketing, I will go where most won't. I work the hours that most won't. I work weekends. I work evenings. My mom's a nurse, so I know how hard it is for her to find anything during her regular, like, hours because she works in the middle of the night. So a lot of times people start work at 10, they need somebody to come by the hospital or, you know what, whatever it may be. And I want to be that, you know, that point of contact for them. I want to be able to help.

Well, what I heard is, you know, no one's going to knock on your door and give you business.

No.

In 2021, that kind of happened. Let's be honest, right?

Yeah.

But 2022, it didn't. And what I love about your story, which we're going to share, is you're one of my students who came in during the pandemic, right? And so, look, the fact of the matter is that it was good for the entire real estate economy, but 2022 was the year of higher interest rates, and you're still making $80,000. I mean, let's go, man. I'm so excited to dive into your story, Donna, because, like, you know, your story is inspiring than any of these that we've told. I mean, you're a single mom, you're raising a daughter, you're raising a son, you're building a business from scratch. I mean, you're superwoman, basically. And so congratulations, by the way. I'm proud of you. But let's tell people through your story, because I know it wasn't always like this. Yeah, sure, you have an $80,000 your business now, but, you know, two and a half, three years ago wasn't like that. So, you know, just kind of share your story if you could, to inspire others that, you know, they're not alone in a struggle to get where you are.

So I was working in an office for the last 16, 17 years. I was working during COVID But then things just took a really sharp turn. I moved jobs. I started with another company that it was start. It started off really well. And then things got really slow. I was having a hard time paying rent. I was literally working paycheck to paycheck. I had to overdraft my account in order to pay rent some months. Our Christmas in 2021 was really, really scary for me because starting off the new year with a lot of uncertainty, it made me feel like I don't know where. Where things are going.

You're living paycheck to paycheck. I mean, you. You mentioned that you had a overdraft your. Your bank account to pay rent. I mean, how'd that make you feel? Like. I mean, talk to me about like. Because I don't think that should be looked over because it was such a powerful thing to share. But how did that make you feel? How'd that make you feel to me? Did your children know? I mean, talk to me about the entire thing because I think that's probably the most inspirational part of your story.

Being out in the Bay Area, it's pretty pricey to live. So I never really was at a point where I could save, you know, to actually get a house. I was always kind of scraping by. I really had no idea the impact that it had on my kids. My kids would be aware of our struggle, always offering up whatever they could. Like, it was hard because I didn't realize the impact that it really had on them until we started doing good. And then they started opening up to wow. Like, you know, I know there was times that it was like, kind of hard. I know that you were struggling, you know, and it's so good to see you doing good now. But at those times where we had to borrow money for gas, I was overdrafting my account. I had to go to paycheck places to, you know, get an advance because I needed, you know, gas money, grocery money. Like, that wasn't a good feeling. It made me feel vulnerable. But I'm really hard headed and I don't like asking for help. So I was always doing this kind of on my own, in secret. Like I never let anybody know what I was going through because I'm. I just didn't want my kids to worry. But little did I know they knew the struggle. So I was just kind of keeping it really deep down in. And when I finally gave myself an opportunity to succeed, I was like, wow, like, this can be something. I feel like this could be something. So I took a chance and I went for it. And I really scared, really vulnerable because I've gone to school before. I have a certification to be a pharmacy technician and I don't even like medication. So I said, that's not a good journey for me. And I kind of gave up on school because I've never really been, you know, academically, like just into it. It just never. I never really knew what I wanted to do. Nobody wakes up and say, oh, I want to be a notary public loan signing agent. Like, it's just something that you hear about and it's just like, really? Is that something? Like, is that really something? So I stayed on your site, I stayed on your, you know, your videos and all your Instagram on the road and just watching all these inspirational videos, I was like, there is people out there going through it. I'm not the only one. And I feel like this could be something. So I was like, I'm going to delve into this and just see what it takes. So some nights I was up after work and just sitting here doing my training, watching you and just getting inspired. Every evening I would put like 30 minutes into the course rewatching stuff I didn't understand, taking notes. Like, I was like, this is going to be something I have to focus because I don't know real estate. I don't want to embarrass myself. So getting over that hump, you know, just allowing myself to be vulnerable and just put the money in and invest in myself was like very eye opening. Because if you don't invest in yourself, who's going to want to invest in you? You know, if you allow yourself to, you know, go far, you're you, you're unstoppable. It just depends on how far you want to go. And I didn't know that.

You know, speaking of unstoppable, you know, when you're a mom, things just have to work out. There's just kind of no plan B. And thank you for being so vulnerable to share. I mean, going into a paychecks place and taking an advance on the paycheck to, to borrowing money for gas. I mean, at the end of the day it just such an incredible, inspiring story. I mean, how much money were you making a week before, before, you know, things were, were looking at up for you?

Well, my, my last job that I was, I was maybe grossing about $200 a week. And in the Bay Area, I mean that's, that's struggling to pay rent. That's not even including food bills. Like things for the kids, it's. That's scraping by. So it was a very straight, it was a very scary time for us.

I mean, 200, you can live in Omaha, Nebraska and $200 a week is not a lot of money, you know, let alone in the Bay Area. I mean, again, you know what I think story so inspirational. Inspirational. And we're going to get to kind of how you rose out of that. But 200 a week, how are you feeling? I mean, like, I don't even know how you put food on the table and pay for the gas. I mean, that's my. Talk to me through that part of your journey. Like, how did that feel? You know, like, where were you at mentally? Were you doubting yourself? I mean, talk, take people through that. And the reason I ask you that is because you're now the most uber confident lady I know. But it hasn't always been like that, definitely. So talk people through, you know, the self doubt and the sadness and mean living. $200 a week. I only know how you did that with two. With two children. Take people back through that.

If you're okay when you get paid and it's not even enough to make your car payment, or not even two weeks isn't enough to make even half of the rent scary. And especially when you're out with no family in this area and you feel really alone. I've had my kids, I'm a single mom, so I've had them by myself for the last couple years. I don't get any, you know, child support or anything like that. So it's really difficult when you're just kind of out there by yourself. It's scary, you know, you feel unsure. You don't know really like what's going to happen. You're really digging through the fridge trying to make everything stretch. Credit card debt, you know, having to supplement for Christmas when I didn't have the money to do Christmas, you know, didn't have a bonus anymore. So that was a real eye opener because I switched jobs. So that was just like, wow, like I don't want to be in this situation this time next year. I want to be 100% opposite of where I'm at. Explaining to the kids that, you know, I'm not going to be able to do a whole lot this year. And explaining to them why really felt like a slap in the face because I've been so devoted. I've always had a job. I've been working since I was 11 years old. So working this long and still not having anything, really? That's what pushed me to, like, okay, there's something better out there. We just got to figure it out.

When you were telling your kids, you know, we're not going to be able to. I'm not going to be able to give you much this Christmas, like, what did that feel like?

It was a weird conversation because my kids are so understanding, and they were just. My kids are just like, you know what, Mom? It's okay. Whatever. We're all. We're happy with whatever because they've always been very understanding because our situation's always been really, like, up and down. When we moved here, I was staying with family for a little bit, and then we had our own place, and it's just been a lot of, like, up and down. So I feel bad because it's always been, like, a roller coaster with them, but they've always been super strong and always my backbone. So they were the ones who really, like, you know, mom, it's okay. It's going to be okay. I know you're going to work it out. You're smart. We don't need anything. We have everything we need. We have a place. We have our car. Like, they put things in perspective for me a lot of the time, and I'm just like, wow, like, you're the kid and I'm the adult, but you just really know how to just really open my eyes. So I was like, all right, well, now that I have that under control, what are we going to do with this now? What are we going to do to start making sure that this is not going to happen again? So that's when I started just going in.

Now that you have a successful business, how do they look at Mom?

It's weird because at first they were kind of not poking fun, but just like, oh, are you doing your little class? Are you doing a little. I'm like, yes, I'm doing it. You know, give me a little time. But now they're just like, how much did you make today? My son's like, hey, you want to tally up what you made today? Like, it's such a different. Different feeling, different vibe. Both of them always excited to hear about, like, what I have for the day. How's your week looking? You know? Or where are you going this week? Or to know. To see that. That ease of stress come off and, like, see the. The. I don't know, the confidence being built in them because I'm getting more confident and because our situation is easing out to where we're Actually able to save for a house. Like, that's, that's huge. We've never, we've always been raping bias. Like that whole thing was just like, oh, that's. That would be a nice thought. But you need two people to buy a house, so I don't think that'll ever happen for me because I'm a single mom, so I'm just like, well, you know, that'd be nice maybe one day. But, yeah, just to see them grow with their security and our financial security, everything is just falling into place. And it's really weird to watch them blossom. And they're, they're teenagers, so it's just. They're very aware of what's going on and they're very, they're very thankful for everything that's happened and it's.

How do you feel about yourself now, Dee?

I feel. I feel amazing. And honestly, every time somebody asks me about it, I shout it to the world. I'm telling. I'm an advocate. If you need a side hustle, if you want to do something different, an advocate. So much of this program of being a notary, like, it's, it's truly just been such an eye opening experience. And I love helping people. So that's why I get so much fulfillment out of what I do now. Because it's not just like, oh, anybody could be a paper pusher. Like, I'm legitimately helping people. I've been called a superhero. Sometimes I'm like, that's kind of weird because our transactions very, very quick.

Yeah.

But I don't know, the, the clients that I meet, the repeat business that I get, like, everybody really reiterates that I'm in the right business. For me, this suits me. This feels good to me. I'm happy to wake up and do it every day. Even if it's not the best signing, it's still a great signing because I'm, I'm the one who's, you know, assisting. And even though, like, sometimes it's not always the best situation, I turn it around and they're just like, wow, thank you for, you know, making that like a good situation. So helping people has always been one of my favorite things to do. So now being able to guide people through such, like, a weird process, a daunting process, I like to be the one to come in and say, I got you covered. We're going to be okay.

People who have journeys like yours, it's beautiful because it really sets you up to be a great business owner. You know, what do I mean, by that is like, you know, this business had to succeed. You know, in the beginning of our conversation, you said you would do anything, you will go anywhere, you will help your clients. And now it's like that translated because that's kind of what you had to do for your family. Like you said, like, I just, I had to look in that fridge and I had to make whatever food in there work for dinner and. But that mentality carries over to your business and it's very apparent. And so it's funny how like, you know, life sets you up for these moments. You know what I mean?

Yeah.

Life sets you up for the. Because like, in order to be a good business owner, like, you kind of got to be tough, right? You, you gotta be able to take the lumps. And you know, the funny part is like $200 a week and trying to feed a family of three, like, there's no real estate agent or not signing. That's more scary than that. You know what I mean? And if you can get through that, you can get through marketing. And so I'm just so proud of you, man, because, you know, if you would have folded, no one would have blamed you.

I, Yeah, I was very close a couple times just because the self doubt was like, you don't belong doing this. You. You don't belong doing this. This isn't you. But I was just like, it will be me. This will be me. I'm going to make this be me. I'm going to keep working hard until I, I make it seem like I've been doing this for years. Like, that was my goal.

I'm so proud of you. Like, I knew your story on a snippet and now, you know, you open up and I mean, again, I mean, mom, you're a superhero. You are. Not just to your clients, but to your, to, to your, to your family. Because I can't relate to $200 a week and, But I can relate as a parent and I can relate on how that's just an incredible story of perseverance. So, dude, so proud of you and so inspiring, man.

Thank you. It's weird to say $200 a week when sometimes one has the potential to make that in. That's so incredible. Like, I just, I just, I tell everybody if they even, if they even inquire about what I do, I'm all, oh, hold on a second, let me tell you. Look up lss, look up Mark Wills, everything. Like, if you need help, here's my card. Call me if you need guidance. Like, I would be happy to, like, I just want to shout it from the rooftops because it really has been such, such a life changing experience and, and really pushing me to, like, I feel, grow up into another level, another, like, being of myself. It's weird because I never, I've always marketed for other companies and that's pretty easy because the product sells itself. But when you're, like, selling yourself, that's really weird. But, you know, you just got to go in there and be as confident as you can be and let them know, like, I want to do the best I can for you. And it's, it's worked. It really, really has. Being consistent and just not giving up has truly, truly worked.

Oh, you're amazing. Let's transition the next part of this inspirational story. And the inspiration, frankly, is, you know, you can read on every blog in America. Oh, the real estate is slow. Oh, signing agents aren't making any money. But yet in 2022, you made $80,000. $82,000. I mean, that's incredible. Let's talk about your first couple months in the business. So, you know, I got notes written down over here. You know, how much money did you make in your first month in the business?

So my first month in the business, I made about $170.

170 bucks. Your first month of the second month, your business, what you make second month.

Of business, I made a whopping $775. Signing service business.

And then in your third month in the business, what'd you make?

Four hundred and seventy. So we went down a tad bit.

You went down, okay, so we have students, you know, you've seen them in the Facebook group, who just think the world's falling apart because they haven't made $3,000 in a month. Right? You made 700 bucks, and then you actually went lower to 470 bucks. Why didn't you give up? Why did you see that as a failure? You saw other people making 10 grand a month, 15 grand a month, Right. So why didn't you see that as like, the end of the world? Oh, Mark's courses are working, right? Like, like, you know, because I get those emails. I'm like, you just started the business, man. 100 bucks is great. Your first month. So why didn't you have that mindset and quit talk through that?

I didn't quit because my second month, like, that just showed me right there. If I'm in it and I'm serious about it, and if I'm good, it's gonna work.

Why didn't you see another student making 10 grand a month? You know, students who made $10,000 in the middle of the boom in their second month. Right. You know, how come you didn't get discouraged that you weren't? And again, I'm trying to get in the mindset because we have students who will see this interview right now and, like, oh, my gosh, who makes $80,000? That's not me. Right. Why didn't you have that mindset?

Failure was not an option. $200 a week was not acceptable. And in one month, doing a side business, I made almost what I made in a month working. I was like, oh, hold on a second. We're onto something. So that was. That's why.

Oh, that's so powerful. I heard there, it's the power of perspective.

Yeah, right?

You had a struggling single mom making $200 a week at her W2. She made $200 in a month. She was like, dude, this is life changing. And I love that because it's perspective. Right? There's some people who think $200, and they look down on it. You looked up at it. And I think it's really important for people to hear that, because what was a failure to somebody else was a massive success to you, and you allowed that to create momentum. And that's what I want people to understand is. Is, you know, success is about creating momentum in any fashion you can. And you chose to use perspective as your motivation to get through. And I love it. And again, you know, like I said, you know, you're a single mom, and so the perspective of this had to work. It's a little bit different to somebody who's just doing this as a side hustle. Like, this side hustle, like, was more than a side hustle. This was putting food on the family's plate. Right? And so, again, perspective. And so I think someone else watching this right now who can't, you know, has made more than 200 bucks. 500 bucks is, you know, you were just like, dude, this is unbelievable. So let's keep going. So, you know, how many months until you started making, quote, unquote, real money? Like, you know, $54,000. That was like, you know, sustainable living for a family. How many months into the business?

It took me about six months to start making some substantial money. So. So after I started my journey as a notary public loan signing agent, I still kept my job. But when I got laid off, that was when my eyes opened. I was like, okay, now I see the potential of what I can make on this side business. I'm only doing signing service work. So what's the next step? I need to get out, and I need to go make sure that people know who I am. So, like you said, I gathered whatever I could. Cause still, I didn't have a whole lot of money. The signing services pay, you know, 30 days, so I'm out of pocketing a lot of this stuff. But I was still. I know I'm going to be paid. I know it's all going to work out.

Six months.

Yes.

Again, you didn't see this as a failure for, like, six months. You, like, you just saw this as something that every month I make you chugging along. I'm chugging along. But again, you know, like I keep saying, I'm going to say it to my face, but it was like, to me, it's really that single mom, I got to make it work mentality. Which, again, is what sets you up to being a business owner, in my opinion, because not a lot of people are cut from that tough cloth, and they kind of bow out early. But what I'm trying to coach people on is, like, don't bow out. Like, it might take you six months, and that's okay, but you've got to let your flowers blossom, and a lot of people don't. So, again, there's so many different parts of your story that I think are so inspiring, and that's just one of them, right? That it took you six to seven months to really get this thing off the ground. Okay, cool. So business is going great. Boom. 2022 hits, right? Interest rate spike. We're at 6, 7%. The chatter all over the Internet is like, oh, it's bad time to be a notary public loan signing agent. Oh, you shouldn't be a notary public loan signing agent. And what's your mindset? Because you had an unbelievable 2022 as a challenge.

Because if not signing services are going to be busy, that means that there's still work in title offices. So you just got to go find the work. So I did get a little disgruntled sometimes when I was on you know, hearing about how slow it was getting. But I was like, you know what? That's just gonna push me to go a little bit further. So now we're gonna go market to Napa. Now we're gonna go market to Contra Costa. Like, we're gonna go everywhere. I even go to Lake county, any surrounding area that probably is not the number one on somebody's list. Maybe a Little windy. I'm like, I'm for it. If there's a title office there, I'm going to go number one. Because if one office isn't busy, somebody else is going to have work. So what are you bringing to the table? So I'm just like, I'll do the ones that you don't want to do. If somebody needs service in their house, I'll be that backup for you. I just want you to know you have reliable backup. So that was what I was marketing myself as. I want to be your reliable backup. So even when you, you know, can't do it, you know somebody that probably can. So just making sure that I'm going as as far as I'm comfortable and getting my name out there, because I was not going to take no for an answer. I already invested this much time in it and I saw the potential and I know that it was possible. I saw what people were making and I'm like, I'm gonna be that. It's gonna happen for me and I'm not gonna stop until it does.

I hope everybody re watches that. I mean, she told you her script, but more importantly, she told you the mindset. Like, I'm gonna see it as a challenge. See again, I think your story has made you battle tested for a business owner. Right? No matter what business are you in America, there's gonna be ups and there's gonna be downs, but it's strong, surviving a down. And that's what LSS Nation does. That's what you did, right? It's like, look, there's gonna be a little bit less business for my current clients. I gotta start expanding outwards and I'm gonna get enough business outwards that it's gonna make me $80,000. And I mean, and what the best part about this is, by the way, and you're going to hear me call it right now in this interview, is it set you up for a signing service? Perfectly. Because when rates drop, you're not going to be able to service all those counties because your current people in your Bay Area are going to be so busy. But they're going to be like, donna, well, I need help. And you're like, boom, I'm going to open a signing service. And so, by the way, this is how I built my signing service. I was part of the 2006 Great Recession. I started marketing wider and all of a sudden when rates went lower and the housing market came back, I was so busy, I had no choice but to start a signing service. But this is why you're going to crush in this in the next refinance room, because we're going to have one. But again, I hope everybody heard this. The first thing you said, I saw it as a challenge. Most people wither when a challenge happens. You rose to the occasion. You know why? Because your mama bear, it's like with your family. You know what I mean? Like, it's like I have to rise to every occasion. Rising to occasion just what I do. And that's what's beautiful about your story, is the rates are going to dictate because we still have students making six figures. We have students making seven figures with their signing service. But they didn't let the market dictate their success. So many notary public loan signing agents right now are like, oh, it's the market. No, it's not. It's your effort.

Mm, yeah. It's out there. It's like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes. But stay diligent and keep going. Like, if you don't go out there, somebody else is gonna go out there. You know, if you decide to take a day off that one day, well, then that gives opportunity for somebody else to maybe hit up that office that you should have gone into. You know, it's very nerve wracking. I was sweating bullets. There was times I was having panic attacks in my car. I'm like, what am I even doing right now? Like, what. What am I even doing right now? I would sit, I would drive around. I would go to parks. I would. The minute I walked into an office, instance. And then we're wearing masks, too. So I'm just like, just a. Just a mess. But I'm just like, look, my name's Donna. I would like to be a preferred notary for you. Just whatever I remembered from your script, I would spew out. But now I've developed, like, relationships. I know people by name. They know me by name. Like, it feels good to go in somewhere and everybody be happy to see you because you're reliable.

You know what I thought was beautiful about them? Gather my thoughts because you had so much awesome fire there. You know, the first thing I want to say is, you know, I think there's this. This feeling that just because you're a successful notary public loan signing agent, that you're not nervous. You don't get scared. You don't sit in your car. And that's my point. And what I heard again is you did it scared, right? That was mama bear. Like, you cannot do it. And you cannot feed your family, or you can do it and you can feed your family. And I hope people hear that right, because you're somebody where you had to work. And it's amazing what happens when things have to work. The business just appears. It doesn't just appear. You do it scared. And so there's some people out there where this doesn't necessarily have to work. And so therefore, they just kind of say, oh, it's slow. It's not slow. Your effort, slow. It's a narrative that they can fall back on and they can blame it on the market instead of blaming it on themselves.

I kind of look at it as like weight loss. You know, you get what you put into it. You've said it before, and I'm like, God, that's so right. If you stay diligent, go every day, something's gonna happen. It will happen eventually. You keep going, marketing people are going to get to know you. Then, you know, everybody talks. Offices talk. Oh, I need somebody in this area. Well, this girl just came in here. Give her a call. It's weird how it works, but really, truly, the power of marketing and connections has been so eye opening because I'm a very introverted person. I don't like talking about myself. I don't like going in and starting random conversations with people I don't know. Like, that's weird. It was so weird to me, but now it feels almost natural because I'm going in there with, like, true intentions that I honestly, I do care. How are you? Like, how would you. How have you been? You know, how was your we. We chit chat? Because we're truly making connections and I've made some great friends, like amazing friends last year that, that were actually friends on a personal level now. And, and I didn't think that would ever happen because I'm like, why would anybody want to talk to me? You know? But you just be yourself and, and just give yourself a chance to be nervous and, and sweat bullets and cry a little. Like, it's okay. Everybody goes through it. It's the process.

It's the process. I. I think that's going to be a shirt, a conference. It's the process. I mean, part of the process is doing it scared. You know what I loved everything you just said is, like, what I coach that you're gonna do, you're gonna do. It's gonna be scared the first time, it's gonna be a little less scary the second time, a little less scary the third time, a little less scared the fourth Time. And then, oh my gosh, it no longer becomes scary, but it's getting it through. That scary part then becomes really authentic. It becomes less about you and more about trying to create a relationship and more about really trying to help somebody. Like you said, like, you really care and it comes off when you market. And so, gosh, what a great interview so far. I mean, I hope everyone's as inspired as I am because like I said, d, I know you, but like, I don't know the story, I don't know the journey. And that's what I love about these on the roads is like, you're meeting people of all different walks of life, you know. Let me ask you this question. I ask everybody, if Donna could build this business, do you think anybody can build this business?

Anybody can do it. Anybody can do it honest. They truly can. Just like, honestly, it sounds cheesy, but there's nothing wrong with believing yourself, giving yourself a chance to be humiliated and picking yourself back up. And you know what? That wasn't that bad. Let's try it again. You know, it didn't kill me. Let's try to make me stronger, you know, So I always took those situations and I always thought about them and I like, okay, tomorrow I'm not going to freak out. I'm going to take deep breaths. Maybe I'll take the elevator instead of the stairs so I'm not like freaking out and then I'm out of breath. Like little things like that just, you know, reflect on and then figure out how you're going to make yourself better tomorrow. I still get nervous marketing, even to offices that like me. I don't know why, I just feel like sometimes that I'm bugging, but I'm like, you know what? Two seconds out of, out of their day is not going to hurt anybody. And most the time they're happy. Especially when you're going in with gratitude. Fun stuff to make the day, like you know, just, just a little something to make somebody's day brighter. I used to get marketed too. So I got a lot of good ideas by the people that used to come market to our office. You know, like just cute treat ideas, things that make you memorable. And then it's like when people see you pull up, it's like, hey, it's you. You know, like, I'm happy to see you. You know, let's, let's chat. Let's. What do we got going on? And then when, when the need comes, you're the one they're thinking of. And that's what's been the most amazing thing about this whole process is like, it works. It really works. Like, I didn't believe it, but it works.

You know, my favorite line of the entire conversation so far is give yourself a chance to be humiliated. Like, that's part of the process. You're just saying it's the process. Part of the process is doing it kind of being awkward. Okay, that wasn't so hot. But why I love that sentence is because you can't get good until you're bad.

Yeah.

And you. Right. But you. The saying of like, give yourself a chance to be humility. Really what they're really saying is like, give yourself a chance to. To learn.

Yeah.

And a lot of people don't give themselves the chance to learn. The best way to learn is to do. And. But sometimes in order to do, you do have to humiliate yourself and you do have to maybe bumble through the words. You do have to be like, wow, I was terrible. But pick yourself back up like you said from that moment and then move to the next. I mean, what an amazing conversation so far. So let's move, let's move the next part because like I said, every part so inspirational. That's move to the next part of the conversation which is, you know, simple question of like, your best friend in the whole world is going to be a notary public loan signing agent. And they're like, yo, D, I know there's a million pieces of advice you can give me, but what's the one piece of advice you would give me? I'm your best friend on how to build this business. What would that one piece be?

It's kind of like a two parter. But just believe in yourself and stay consistent. Believe that you have the potential to like you. Okay, what's your goal? What is your real goal in this whole thing and mine? I just said when I started and I hit, you know, purchase on your thing, I was like, I want to make $100,000 in a year. That's my goal. Seems a little far fetched, but you know what? That's my goal. So every day I think about that goal and I don't veer from it. So I believe that I'm capable of making that much money, even though it's far fetching. I've never in my life made that much money ever, ever, ever. But I'm like, it's going to happen. So I believed in it.

Girl, you made $82,000 in a normalized cycle. When the market gets to normal you're going to make 120 grand in your sleep. Mark my words.

Okay.

But you know, what I want to say is, since that's your piece of advice, it sounds like there's a moment you didn't believe in yourself.

Yeah.

So talk about that, because in order to give the advice, there must have been a moment where you didn't believe in yourself and stuff wasn't working out. And when you chose to believe in yourself, it started working out. So. So take me through that. When did you not believe in yourself? Talk about that, because I think that you're right. It's like a lot of people don't believe in themselves. So relate to someone right now. When you said, you know, you didn't believe in yourself, what do you mean by that?

Seeing some of the agents make, you know, 10,000 in their second month, third month, fourth month, I was like, oh, you know, I don't. I'm just kind of wondering if that's even going to be a possibility for me, because, you know, getting the printer, getting the paper, ink, stuff like that, I'm just like, ooh, this kind of hurts a little bit, you know, like, this is kind of. I'm feeling like I'm spending a little bit more than I'm making, but still stay diligent and. And don't veer off. So coming out, out of pocket, before the. Everything started coming in, it was making me feel a little nervous because then again, I was still very. Not good financially.

Like, I was interesting. So what I'm hearing is, like, because there was so much money going out and nothing coming in.

Yeah.

You really still doubted, did I make the right decision?

Yeah, because it's one thing, you have to have the proper stuff to do a good job, you know, and when I first started, I bought the cheapest but, you know, pretty good laser printer. But I've had my trials and tribulations, and that thing stressed me out, and I was like, I don't know if I'm cut out for this. But then I saved my money, got myself a good machine, and I'm like, oh, this is not so bad.

Let me ask you this question, because I think I thought that was a powerful, vulnerable moment. You have all this money going out.

Yeah.

You didn't have a ton of money coming in. So you're doubting yourself. You're like, did I just throw away all this money? Is this the right decision? You know, how did you work through that? Because my guess is there's some people watching this video right now. Who, you know, bought the course, bought the printer, and they're out money, and they're making $50 in the first month. How did you work through that?

So it was when I got my first electronic check, my first bundle of electronic checks from that second month that I did, like, 775, because all those little $50 jobs and $75 jobs, like, they all came around the same time. So then I had a couple hundred dollars, and I'm like, oh, it's. I'm getting. It's working. Like, it's. Yeah, I had to put that money out, but, like, look at. I got more money, and now I have money for supplies, and I actually have extra money that I, you know, earned because of making that good purchase.

Like, so, again, what I keep hearing is almost the same theme, consistency, is that, you know, everything was in perspective. Like, $50 was a win, $100 was a win, $200 was when. So, like, I think it's because of your story that you're able to appreciate every moment where some people take these little moments of $50, and they don't really sit and they don't really appreciate it. You took a $200 check, and you're just so appreciative of that because there's a point in your life where you're making $200 a week. But I. But what I'm trying to say is, and what I love is I see somebody who really is celebrating every win. And if you really take the moment to celebrate the little wins, it's easy to stay intrinsically motivated. I don't think enough people celebrate little wins. I don't think people celebrate the 50 bucks. They don't celebrate the hundred dollars. Instead of you looking at it like, oh, I only made 50. You're like, I made $50. And I think it's a beautiful part of your story. I know people are inspired by that. Cool. Anyways, what a great conversation. D let's go to your consistency part, though, now. So, consistency. Why is that such a big piece of advice?

Well, because there's times that you're just not feeling like marketing. There's times you're not feeling very good about yourself. Like, there's times, things are happening in life where you're just, like, feeling really defeated, and you don't really feel like you have yourself to offer that day. I feel like those are the really important days that you do go out because something great might happen, and it will turn your whole day around. So as a single mom, I get engulfed A lot with feelings of feeling like I'm not doing enough or I'm not. I should be at a different part than I am now and that, you know, I'm cheating my kids out of, like, things that they should have. But honestly, like, I'm doing what I need to do. My family is good. And, you know, every day I wake up and I look at it as a new challenge. Look, I'm going to go out there and stay, stick to the script, go out there, market, let people know that you're there and. And everything falls into place. Sometimes it takes a month or two for marketing to even show the progress, you know, so even when it's slow, still go. I don't. I didn't mean for that to rhyme. But, like, seriously, you just gotta go. You just gotta go. The days that you feel a little crummy, just, you know what? Turn it around, leave it at home. Go make somebody's day. And making somebody's day sometimes will just turn your whole day around, you know?

You know, the definition of discipline is doing something when you don't want to do it. Right? What you just said was discipline. You just said, you know, when I don't want to market, you still got to market. That's the definition of discipline, is doing something you don't want to do, but you got to do it. And again, I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I think that's really, you know, the mama bear and the story coming through because you. There's moments where, like, you just have to do it because your family counts on it. There's no other person in the co parent in the picture. Right. You shared. You don't get money. And so you are disciplined because you have to be.

Yeah.

And I hope everyone hears that because maybe your story isn't like hers. Donna's. But you have to learn how to be disciplined, because discipline is doing something you don't have to do, but you still do it anyways. And I love that, you know, it's like, even if you don't want to market, you still got to market. Even when it's slow, you still got to market. These are moments where you don't want to do it, but you do it anyways. And that's what you're. I mean, again, Dean, so freaking proud of you. There is. I now know why you're so successful. I mean, you know, and then that's why I love these OTRs is because people see like, oh, I made $80,000. Oh, that's a lie. No, it's not. It's like, this is someone who markets when she doesn't want to market. This is someone who will travel two hours to make a client happy. This is someone who will market out an hour outside of her circumference during this time. Because when the market normalizes, you're going to be so freaking busy. Because now. And that's what people don't see is they just see an $80,000 person. Oh, you can't make $80,000 in this market. Like, stop that jazz, man. Yes.

Just like you said, you got to plant the seed. You don't get a redwood tree by just planting something and then it pops up the next day. Like, God, that would be nice. But no, like, you literally have to go out there and. And work for it and let people know. Nobody can hire you if they don't know who you are. Go out there, show your face, smile, you know, leave whatever you got going on in the car. It'll be back there for you when you go back. Like, just. Just show them who you are. Like, the best thing is letting people know who I am and them giving me the work because they feel like I'm a good fit for their client because they're like, you would get along great with them. Or, oh, you're a great fit for this client because you guys would get along great. Yeah, that's been. I think maybe one of the best things about it is, like, the word of mouth and all the wonderful compliments that people give you that really make your day, and that kind of makes it worth you getting up on that day. You didn't really want to like it just. Or when somebody leaves you a review. You know, like, I've been working on my Google page like crazy after conference, and for people to take the time to write a very lengthy review on such a quick process, like, I just. I'm blown away. I can't. I can't even.

You're full of amazing lines. There's one I wrote down. No one can hire you if they don't know who you are. Like, that's the essence of business, right? No one can buy your product or service if they don't know your product or service exists. We have. I. We get so many signing age, like, it's slow. Well, how many title companies know who you are? Three. Well, three out of 50. You're not going to make money. Three out of 50 title companies know your name. But, you know, I mean, this story has been unbelievable. You know, it's A story of discipline, a story of perseverance, A story of believing in yourself. A story of getting knocked down and getting right back up. You know, again, my hands down so far. We have one last question, but take a chance to be humiliated. Like, that is somebody who embraces the learning curve. And not enough people do that. And so the fact that you embrace the learning curve is why you are successful. So.

Thank you so much. Mark. I. You really, this program, everybody on your team, you really have put together such a great thing for someone to grow and blossom it themselves. Like, you give all the tools, you go through so many very detailed things that I thank you so much for because that's what really helped me. Being able to rewatch things and like, oh man, that pcor like, let's watch that again. Like what? You know, just little things that you make available and so easy to understand. Like, I wouldn't have been able to do this without you. So I love the LSS family. I love hearing everybody's stories and I'm so thankful that I get to share mine. I want to inspire any single mom out there that is stuck in the minimum wage shuffle. Don't know where to go. Believe in yourself. Take a chance on yourself. You know, you already do a great job raising kids. Like, you can do a great job doing a business. It takes time. But I mean, what doesn't, you know, what good thing doesn't take time, you.

Know, so there was a mic. I would drop it right now. Okay, so let's, let's kind of wrap this up with this last question, right? And this last question is really geared towards people who are, like you said, a single mom on that minimum wage train, right, who may be doubting herself a little bit. So, you know, there had to be a little self. You already talked about a little bit self doubt when you bought the product, when you bought. Became a signing agent. What I should say. Yeah, but was there any self doubt moments before you bought the course that now you're just like, dude, why, like, why was I even tripping? But what were those moments to let people know they're not alone if they share those same doubts?

Well, number one, I had no knowledge of the industry, so that was something that I was doubting myself. I thought you had to be, you know, real estate, you know, work in an escrow office, like have some type of knowledge or buy a house or, you know, even look at a set of loan docs. I've never even set my eyes on a set of loan docs until your program until I printed out the template and I studied it and I tapped everything, just allowing myself to just be like, okay, you don't know it, but guess what? You're going to learn it. That was the thing that I had to allow myself that, you know what? It's okay if you don't do great, it's okay if you don't do super, but you're going to stick with it. This is going to be something that I felt like I can stick with and that I could really make my own. So that's why I wasn't going to take no for an answer. And just seeing all the support that you provide too. Just everybody has been so helpful. Everybody that is involved with LSS has such a good, good hearted spirit about them. And everybody's always able to, you know, if you need something, you just reach out to your fam and they take care of it. Like, it's, it's such a good feeling to know that you're not alone. You may be alone, you maybe think you're alone in life, but like, honestly, when you join this, this whole thing, like, you just feel like you're really a part of something and people believing you, people want you to do good, you know, and when you do good, your kids are going to feel good, you feel good. And, and whoever thought about being a business owner? I never thought about that before 2022, and that's the year I started my business. I never ever thought, donna's gonna own a bit. That's weird. But it happened. And now I can't fathom anything besides this.

Well, you know what's funny is I heard something in there, which I honestly have said this 45 times. I'll say it one last time. I think it's your journey that's really made you a good business owner. Because I heard someone who gives themselves a lot of grace, right? And so you're like, look, I'm not. Mine may not be that good, but I'm going to keep studying. I'm going to be better, right? And I think part of being a business owner is giving yourself enough grace to make mistakes and not beat yourself up if you made the mistake, but just to get back up and keep going. And I can't help to think that part of your journey of being a single mom is the same thing. Sometimes I'm just doing the best I freaking can. And instead of getting upset at yourself, you're just giving yourself credit for, like, this is the cards that I was dealt and I'm going To do as best as I can with the cards and. Yeah, and that's bled into your business and. Because sometimes people don't give themselves grace and that's what prevents them from growing. Right. Because they beat themselves up so bad because they did this when sometimes that's just part of the journey. You know what I mean? I just picked up on that in that last conversation you had because like you said, it's like, you know, I learned the loan dogs, but I went back and studied and I didn't really get it and I studied again. So. But instead of getting out of yourself for not getting it, you just went back and attacked it.

I think what people see is like, they only see the end result. They only see, oh, you're at this much or, oh, you're doing this much a month. But nobody really stops to think about what steps it took to get there and how ups and downs and we learn from mistakes. And let me tell you, some of my. I made some pretty bad mistakes and doing some signings when I first started, and I got things mixed up. I missed signatures. But like, that time that I made those mistakes are the times that I had like a profound like, oh, my God, I'm never doing this again. And now I perfect how I keep track of things because of that one really, really, really bad time that I had on an evening signing with two sets alone. Docs, like, from that time, it showed me, you know, and now I joke about it. I'm like, oh, I've messed up pretty bad. So this is why I keep myself very organized and I'm in control. You know, I don't just pass the pack and just say, you know, good luck. Let's, you know, we have to take control. So it's like, even with a lot of things in life, you see the end result. You see, oh, they're so perfect and, oh, they did such a good job. But it's like, what did it really take to get there? It took a lot. And everybody has a journey, everybody has a starting point. And just give yourself the time and the flexibility to just learn it and not be perfect and know that you're going to get better. If you want to get better, if you just make a mistake and give up and you're just like, oh, well, I guess I suck and I'll never do that again, then you've kind of just didn't give yourself a chance to grow.

I love it. Give yourself a chance to grow. Another great donism. Well, that being said, D, thank you so much. For sharing your story. Keep going. And I cannot wait to see 2023 because we're going to enter a refi boom this year. Zero doubt, six figures. You heard it here first. And I will see you at conference this year. Bye.

Definitely. I've made some great friends, like, amazing friends last year that, that were actually friends on a personal level now. And, and I didn't think that would ever happen because I'm like, why would anybody want to talk to me? You know? But you just be yourself and, and just give yourself a chance to be nervous and, and sweat bullets and cry a little. Like, it's okay. Everybody goes through it. It's the process.

It's the process. I. I think that's going to be a shorter conference. It's the process. I mean, part of the process is doing it scared. And you know what? I loved everything you just said is like, what I coach that you're going to go, you're going to do. He's going to be scared the first time, it's going to be a little less scary the second time, little less scary the third time, little less scary the fourth time. And then, oh, my gosh, it no longer becomes scary, but it's getting it through that scary part then becomes really authentic. It becomes less about you and more about trying to create a relationship and more about really trying to help somebody. Like you said, like, you really care and, like, comes off when you market. And so, gosh, what a great interview so far. I mean, I hope everyone's as inspired as I am, because like I said, d, I know you, but, like, I don't know the story. I don't know the journey. And that's what I love about these on the roads is, like, you're meeting people of all different walks of life, you know? Let me ask you this question. I ask everybody, if Donna could build this business, do you think anybody can build this business?

Anybody can do it. Anybody can do it honestly. They truly can. Just like, honestly sounds cheesy, but there's nothing wrong with believing yourself, giving yourself a chance to be humiliated and picking yourself back up. And you know what? That wasn't that bad. Let's try it again. You know, it didn't kill me. Let's try to make me stronger, you know? So I always took those situations and I always thought about them, and I like, okay, tomorrow I'm not going to freak out. I'm going to take deep breaths. Maybe I'll take the elevator instead of the stairs so I'm not like, freaking out. And then I'm out of breath. Like, little things like that just, you know, reflect on and then figure out how you're going to make yourself better tomorrow. I still get nervous marketing, even to offices that like me. I don't know why. I just feel like sometimes that I'm bugging, but I'm like, you know what? Two seconds out of their day is not going to hurt anybody. And most the time they're happy. Especially when you're going in with gratitude. Fun stuff to make the day, like, you know, just. Just a little something.