We have all heard the story about the carrot and the stick. But, I decided to add complexity to the story by adding in the notary and the bag which are both relevant in their own way.
The Carrot
Most notaries are lured in by the benefit of getting paid for signing agent work. They are desperate to get work. They believe all of the lies they are fed by companies that string them along without paying them what they really deserve — or perhaps without paying them at all. Notaries keep chasing these bad companies around in desperations because these companies have a carrot — or at least a perceived carrot. (money would be the carrot in this case)
Notaries should NOT hover around bad companies like little puppy dogs jump around their master. Have some dignity! You need to market yourself to hundreds of signing companies. Get on their lists. And keep in touch with them. You need to see yourself as a carrot rather than chasing other people’s carrots. The notary’s carrot is that they can provide seamless service. Imagine a notary who is always on time, always well dressed, always polite, rock solid in reliability, doesn’t make mistakes, knows the documents inside out, and knows how much to explain and what to refer to the lender. If you can be that perfect flawless notary — you are valuable — and you would be more than just a perceived carrot to the signing / title companies. You would be a stick.
The Stick
Many notaries try waving their stick around without the carrot. They brag about themselves and try to convince others that they are great, and they are above the childish requirements for fax backs. Companies who use inexperienced notaries require fax backs since those notaries make a lot of mistakes. If you are “all that”, then why are you working for these chop shops in the first place? Don’t wave your stick around talking and whining — become a carrot on a stick instead.
The Notary
Notaries whine about not being offered much money for undesireable jobs with fax backs. The fact is that if you have experience and are 100% reliable and offer 100% quality service — such a notary is NOT REPLACEABLE… Then you develop a tremendous value. Those are the notaries that companies will wait for. They will say, “Okay, we will reschedule the signing for Wednesday if that is when you are free — we will wait for you”. If you are an average notary, nobody will wait for you.
The Bag
If you don’t make yourself into a super desireable notary, you will be left out by the more desireable companies who can pick and choose. And you will be left holding the bag.
An ending quote…
“If life gives you carrots, make carrot juice” — 123notary.com
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Thank You! I’ve been accepting all the work i could get and it’s been a nightmare!!!I’ve gone 58+ miles with my 120 pages for peanuts.Seems like one hand never knows what the others doing!Wish i could find out how others have done with certain companies before i waste my valuable time. I did run my tail off thinking i would be able to let my reputation for prompt, professional, courteous and INEXPENSIVE service make me an asset to these companies but all it got me was giving great service and nothing in return….
Comment by susan long — June 20, 2013 @ 10:27 pm
How do you convince a “new” Company that you are the one they want to hire? It usually takes working for a Company several times before they know if they like your work and want to use you on a regular basis.
From your end you have to be very specific about what the job entails. Asking the right questions lets the company know that you are an experienced professional.
Comment by Ina — June 20, 2013 @ 11:54 pm