We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful TABETHA RUSSELL. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with TABETHA below.
TABETHA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
In planning for my phase 2, after 30+ years in the insurance industry, I was asking God what’s next. My husband Teddy attended a webinar speaking to how to become a mobile notary loan signing agent and all it offered along with the responsibilities. He determined it was not for him but thought I would be great at it. As I looked into it further, found others who were mobile notaries and inquired further and decided this was an avenue I could make a living at. In 2020, I was commissioned. The timing was perfect as I initially started my business part-time, giving me time to build my business up before leaving corporate. My pop took ill, I needed to be his caregiver and took a leave of absence for my own sanity. When I was ready to return, I needed flexible hours to remain my pop’s caregiver. My request did not meet the business need and I was forced to choose between returning to corporate or caring for my pop. Family comes first and it really wasn’t a decision to be made. After learning corporate’s position, I shared it with my husband and he supported my option to remain the caregiver for my pop and turn my part time business into a full time business. This allowed me the flexibility necessary to take care of my family. Being a mobile notary afforded clients and customers the convenience of having a notary come to them whether that was their home or their business or a neutral location to assist them.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As I mentioned, my husband introduced me to the notary industry. Having customer service, management, training and development skills and experience, provided me exactly what I needed to create the structure and discipline necessary to start my business, gain clients through great customer service, quality work and excellent communication between all parties. Growing up where your parents taught you to do what they did, get a good job, work hard there and retire from there….Well, I did that and found my newfound freedom in being a business owner. I am proud that I have maintained a successful notary business, assisted others along the way to do the same and realized there was a need to provide a way for others to do exactly what I did. That allowed me to become the founder of The S.E.A.L. Academy and author of Sealed for Success. I am also extremely proud not just to be a National Notary Association member, but a National Notary Association Ambassador and speaker at the 2026 National Notary Association conference. I am a wife, mother and GiGi to two beautiful little girls.
I am passionate about helping people. I look at every opportunity I have to assist clients, customer and students with whatever they may need.
Have you ever had to pivot?
As a mobile notary, you have niches you can specialize in. I chose to specialize in real estate transactions. At the time, real estate transactions were booming. If I could go back, I would have also focused on community engagement with my business. That would help you business receive opportunities when real estate business slows down. Pivoting back to engaging with my community definitely was a plus. It allowed other local businesses to refer customers as well as increased my google reviews that aided in also growing my services in local cities and counties.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
So you already know from my previous response why I turned my part time to my full time. I would like to add to that, the mindset shift that needed to occur. I was an employee for 30+ years and when I started my business, I still thought like an employee. It wasn’t until I found a community of notary support on clubhouse that my mindset started to shift. I worked harder and put in longer hours because I was building something of my own, something that would be a legacy to my family. Once I understood I was the CEO and I got to determine how I would run my business, I made CEO decisions for the betterment of my business. Not falling in line with other industry businesses and adopting employee mindset practices. That shift started earning my business more money, direct clients and repeat business. Game changer. When you provide an excellent experience and quality work, you should receive higher pay.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tabetharussellnotary.com | yoursealacademy.com
- Instagram: @tabetharussellnotary
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087310682620
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabetha-russell-bb70a38/
