Business can be brutal.

I’ve had days where the phone didn’t ring, the bills stacked up, and I caught myself wondering if I should dust off my résumé and beg for a “real job.” I’ve failed more times than I care to admit (twenty-six businesses before this one, if you’re counting). And I’ve had more than one day where the only thing that kept me from quitting was a little something called a nectar list.

What’s a nectar list? Glad you asked.

What is a Nectar List?

At its core, a nectar list is a collection of your sweetest memories, the moments that remind you life is worth savoring, even when business feels sour. They can be funny, tender, or even bittersweet.

For me, the nectar list was originally a lifeline out of burnout. Now it’s a business tool, too. Because when you run a notary business, you will face rejection, dry spells, and days when you wonder if you’re making a difference. A nectar list reminds you that you are.

Nectar in the Notary World

When I reflect on my career a...

If there was ever a time to sharpen your online visibility skills, it’s right now.

Mortgage rates just dipped again, and refinance applications jumped 23% in a week. Every time rates wiggle, phones start ringing.

We’re also at the very beginning of the Great Wealth Transfer, where tens of trillions of dollars changing hands as baby boomers pass on assets. Trust and estate law is one of the fastest-growing legal practices in the country right now. Firms can’t keep up with the demand.

Meanwhile, apostille work is still surging. Some states are up 20% year-over-year. Pennsylvania is on track for nearly 200,000 in 2025. California anticipates nearly half a million. 

And, every spike in international documents brings more fingerprinting appointments and FBI background checks too.

Opportunity is everywhere.

The only question is: who will get hired for all this work?

From SEO to Search EVERYWHERE Optimization

Search engine optimization isn’t just for Google anymore. AI-driven search i...

We’d like to believe that because we’re good at what we do, we’ll get hired more than those who aren’t. 

But that’s not how this business works. 

There are notaries less talented, less skilled, less trained, less compassionate than you, killing it in this industry because they found the right clients and opportunities at the right time.

So, how can you get them too?

Get in the room.

Not the comfortable rooms full of other notaries (those are great, too, but for different reasons). 

I’m talking about the rooms where your clients gather.

That’s the difference between peer networking and client-getting. One builds camaraderie. The other builds your business.

If you want more consistent work, better clients, and real momentum, you’ve got to put yourself in the orbit of the people who can hire you, refer you, and trust you to serve their customers.

What is a Client-Getting Event?

A client-getting event is any semi-structured gathering where your ideal customers are already spendin...

Ever feel like you’re showing up online, doing “all the right things,” but still being totally ignored?

You’re liking posts, even sharing articles here and there. But somehow… crickets.

That might be because you’re not really engaging.

Think about this for a minute:

Most of the people in your life (friends, family, colleagues, clients, prospects) are creating content because they care about something. 

Maybe it’s their business. 

Maybe it’s a cause. 

Maybe it’s their grandkid’s science fair volcano.

They’re putting themselves out there, and when you engage thoughtfully, you show up for them.

This kind of support and engagement helps you build deeper relationships, stay top of mind with people who matter, and become someone people actually remember. But it’s not just about being nice (though that’s a bonus). Thoughtful engagement is a strategic visibility habit that can grow your business.

In fact, sometimes engaging with other people's content is even more effective than crea...

Networking.

Did your stomach just turn a little?

Yeah, mine too.

Even after all these years in business, I still get that internal flinch when I hear the word. Rooms full of strangers, awkward conversations, name tags... not exactly my ideal Tuesday.

I’m an introvert by nature. One who thrives in deep one-on-one conversations, not small talk marathons. 

And as someone who’s built multiple businesses that rely heavily on connection, that presented a challenge: how do you grow a strong network without draining your soul?

The answer came from an unlikely source, a book about communication.

Michael Maher’s “The Seven Levels of Communication” introduced a concept that changed everything for me: Stacked Networking.

They’re not “events” at all.

Not the all-day conferences or breakfast clubs, no elevator speeches necessary.

It’s something much more intentional, and dare I say, fun.

Here’s how I adapted it.

I Turned Wednesdays into Networking Days…My Way

I picked a place that I wan...

I used to disappear after the handshake or the hugs.

You know what I mean? I’d give great service, have a solid connection, swap a few heartfelt stories across the table, and then…nothing. 

These amazing connections with signers would fizzle out. 

And it didn’t stop there. It even happened with friends and family too.

Maybe you can relate. 

Life got busy.

Appointments piled up.

Emails flooded in.

And before I knew it, six months had passed, and someone I genuinely liked became a stranger again.

That used to be my pattern.

Until I learned to tickle.

What The Heck is a “Tickle”?

It’s my word for what others call a “ping, but come on… tickle is way more fun. And frankly, it’s what it feels like. Just a little light touch:

“Hey, I’m here. I care about you and how you’re doing.”

This isn’t marketing.

It’s not prospecting.

And if you do it right, it never feels forced.

It’s just… being human.

The kind of human most of us wish we were better at being, you know the one who re...

Quick recap from last week. I introduced you to two main types of email marketing-automated drip campaigns and broadcasts (often called blasts). I went into detail on the automated drip campaign and you can read it here. 

Now we move on to the power of the broadcast email.

This is the moment you step into your authority, your personality, and your visibility as a local service provider that people not only remember, but recommend.

It’s part of what we call the Get Known Strategy. We’ve sold this training for years through Notary Coach, and now it’s available free to High Performance Notary members.

But here’s the short version:

1. Create content (Like a blog or vlog). 

2. Email it to your database. 

3. Post to socials.

4. Repeat.

Why This Works (Even if You're Not a “Marketing Person”)

You already know people do business with those they know, like, and trust. The broadcast email allows you to cultivate that relationship over time without cold calling, awkward networki...

You nailed the appointment. You were warm, professional, and efficient. Maybe you even got a little laugh out of them before they slid their ID across the table.

You left with a solid handshake (or maybe even a hug), and if you followed the S.M.I.L.E. Method, you asked the most important question of all:

“Would it be okay if I stayed in touch?”

And they said yes.

But now what?

This is where most notaries drop the ball. You get busy. You move on to the next appointment. Maybe you followed up once with a thank-you message or asked for a review, but then… crickets.

The connection you worked so hard to build fades into memory. And that’s a shame because your past signers are sitting on a goldmine of future business.

They are:

• People who will need a notary again.

• People who know other people who will need a notary.

• People who already like and trust you.

But only if you stay top of mind. This is where an email drip campaign can help.

What Is An Email Drip Campaign...

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Notary-Partner Program Now Available as Monthly Subscription — Only $299

New plan includes full HPN membership, business-in-a-box perks, and unlimited earning potential

June 2025 — For notaries who are tired of chasing low-fee signings and wondering where their next appointment is coming from, there’s now a powerful and accessible solution. The Professional-Partner Program from My Life & Wishes, previously reserved for elite professionals like estate planning attorneys and financial advisors, is now available to every serious notary entrepreneur at just $299/month.

This new monthly Notary-Partner option includes:

• Full Program Access

• Membership to the High Performance Notary (HPN) Community

• Ability to Sell the Lifetime Legacy Vault Direct to Consumers

• Total Pricing Freedom & 100% Revenue Retention

• Ongoing Training, Marketing Materials, and Partner Support

The Legacy Vault is More Than a Product, It’s a Purpose

At the ...

One of the biggest misses of most notaries is that they treat each appointment like it’s a one-night stand.

You show up. You notarize. You disappear.

Boom. Done. Transaction complete.

And that’s fine if you’re cool with chasing new clients every single day for the rest of your notary life.

But if you’re looking to build a real business, one that brings in consistent, predictable income and earns you a reputation as the go-to notary in your market, then we need to talk about the “L” in the S.M.I.L.E. Method:

Leverage Long-Term Connection Strategies

This is the part where we turn that one-and-done appointment into a lifetime client (and hopefully, their friends, family, neighbors, boss, hair stylist, and Pilates instructor, too).

But first, a quick reminder: Back in the “M” of S.M.I.L.E. (Masterfully Deliver Your Services), you asked for permission to stay in touch. (If you skipped that part, congrats, you just made the rest of this harder than it needs to be.)

Assuming you did a...