How to Think Like a Business Owner Rather Than an Employee

by   Victoria Ring---Bio

I enjoy receiving emails from notary signing agents concerning questions they have about marketing. However, one area of building a business that I see a big problem with is the inability to understand the difference between running a business and being an employee.  For example, at least several times a day our office receives emails asking us for advice about various situations regarding the mortgage, title or signing company they are working for. I don't understand why these people are emailing 50 State Notary.  We are not their customer.  And up until now I didn't realize that some people misunderstood this concept -- so I decided to write this article to help those of you who are stuck in this mindset.

As a notary signing agent, you are an independent contractor.  This means that you own your own business. Although it is not a business with a storefront where customers can walk in and buy your products (this is called a retail business) you still assume the same type of responsibility to your customers (even more so) when you run a notary service business.  The companies that you complete signings for are YOUR customers. Your job as a business owner is to provide excellent customer service to them.  That means; if you have a question about the service you are performing, you need to be asking your customer what they want you to do.  Emailing someone else and seeking advice from a party that has no understanding of your customer/business relationship is thinking like an employee rather than a business owner.

Let me put it in a better light for you -- Let's say you needed to put a roof on your house. You hire an independent contractor to do the job and receive an estimate.  After approving the estimate the men start working.  At one point they need to purchase the roofing shingles and they do not know what type or color of shingles you want.  Instead of calling and asking you for the information, the roofers get on the internet and email other roofers -- asking them what they should buy for you.  Would you be insulted if this happened?  Wouldn't you ask yourself why they didn't just pick up and phone and ask you since the roof belongs to you and you are the customer?  Of course you would.

The same line of thinking should also apply to your notary signing agent business.  When a company calls you to do a signing, you negotiate your fee and agree to a price.  When the company sends you the documents, if you have any questions about them, you need to call the company and ask them.  But many people have the misconception that if they call the company and ask them a question, the company will think they are dumb and will not use them anymore.  If they call and say: I am dumb and don't know how to notarize a document, of course the company will think the person is dumb.  But if they call and say: There is a document titled (whatever) in the package. I would like to know (your question here) to ensure the job is done correctly,the company will be impressed with your desire to provide professional services.  Also, you will get the answer to your question immediately, rather than emailing a lot of different people and waiting on an answer that may or may not be correct.

Also, as an owner of a small business, you must understand the position you put others in when you email them questions about your customer's needs.  The person that you email and ask for advice has no way of knowing the entire situation.  It would take them a lot of time to analyze your problem, do research (if necessary) to find the answer for you and then call or email you back with the answer.  And when all is said and done, what did the person receive for all their time and help?  Nothing.  Now, if a person receives 50 or 100 emails per day asking for help and advice, how much do you think the person will get done of their own work?  None.

Your goal is to think like a business person and have compassion for other business people like yourself. If you have questions about how to do your job properly, you need to join a few notary associations and have access to their toll-free notary answer line.  This way, you can get the correct answers to your questions rather than relying on people who may or may not be qualified to answer.  And if you have never done a signing and have no experience in notarizing loan documents, you need to obtain that education before you start working for companies. How would your feel if the roofers you hired had never installed a roof?  Would you hire them to install yours?  Of course not.  So why would you expect companies to hire you to do signings if you have never done one?

Additionally, you can attend our weekly notary teleconferences which are held every Thursday evening. These teleconferences are hosted by Victoria Rivera and she will be more than happy to address any notary-related questions you have.  The education is out there folks, but you need to take the responsibility to reach out and obtain it.  Other people should not be expected to do your research and serve your customers.  This is the type of thinking that employees have when they are working for an employer.  They do the job and the employer does the thinking for them. If you are going to run your own business and be successful with it you need to break out of this mold and start thinking like a business owner rather than an employee. If you are unable to do that, then look for a job where you will be paid a weekly salary so you do not have to think on your own.