We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michelle Bennett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started sooner or later?

Yes! I was a single mother and worked for in government with the State of Ohio. It was a great opportunity and provided stability for me and my family as at the time I was a single mother. Eventually the bureaucracy of the agency became toxic and made it unbearable to work there. However, I was terrified of what my options were to take care of myself and my family. I was introduced to the idea of becoming a notary through an interaction with a coworker. She described her experience with a notary coming to her home and it seemed interesting to me. I looked into it and decided that I would be a great side hustle. So I moved forward with the process of getting my commission and the other steps that I would have to take to make it happen. What I have learned through my journey is that I love to work with the public and I appreciate how my career choice is necessary and useful to my community. Everyone needs a notary at some point and I love that I can provide this service. I wish that I had the ability to have these options sooner as it would have provided flexibility for me while I raised my children. Also, the mental health benefits of being able to create my own schedule is amazing. I am constantly meeting new people which is also a bonus.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Golden Ink Mobile Notary is a woman & minority-owned business. My business was established to assist people who may be homebound or in a nursing facility and need notary services. The mission of Golden Ink Mobile Notary is Golden Ink Mobile Notary Service is to exemplify ethical standards of conduct and sound notary practices while providing efficient service with convenience and flexibility for every client. I provide services to clients whose schedules are not 9 to 5 and require assistance outside of the traditional business hours. I offer in-person, online, and mobile services to my community. I started this business after working in corporate America, specifically state government for 15 years. I was undervalued in my employment as well as underpaid. I was a single mother, so it was important to me that I provide a stable home for my children, and the type of work that I performed provided stability for my family. However, after my children grew up, I finally had an opportunity to do the type of work that would fulfill me and allow me to take risks. As a result, my notary business was born.
It has been a blessing as it is a business that serves the community and allows me to still feel like a public servant while creating my own lane and being my own boss.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn “multitasking”. In my business as a mobile notary I have to prioritize tasks quickly, but not attempt to do so many things at once as it is impossible. You will be the quintessential “Jack(ie) of all trades and master of none.” As a mother who has started her own business while also taking care of her children and family responsibilities it is imperative that I also take care of myself. I learned that while keeping my business running, making sure that my family is whole and thriving, I would often forget about myself. Who can fill other cups if yours is empty? Not me. In fact, the lesson was learned as I fell apart from the stress of it all. I learned in that moment that it is ok to fail, but to not give up. I began to be strategic in the projects and assignments that I accepted. I prioritized time spent with family and it was a blessing that my business was doing well enough that I could. In the end my family was better for the balancing act and so was the business that I birthed. I felt better and every aspect of my life reflected those healthier choices. Mompreneurs often face unique challenges in balancing their business ventures alongside parenting duties, but they we are known for resilience and determination in pursuing our dreams.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

So far the best tool that I use is Google. It has been quite a tool for others to utilize my business. The customer reviews provide potential customers with useful information on what their experience with using my service will be. They are often real time and recent so customers feel a level of confidence in selecting me over other notaries in the area. I have 137 reviews and my business is 5 star rated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://goldeninkmobilenotary.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golden.ink.mobile.notary/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldenInkMobileNotary
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-bennett-34797024/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotaryGolden
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/lFWw3NJaUfg87fcNTgqhgg