Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yahya Alshawi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Yahya, thanks for joining us today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.

There are many words of wisdom for young people starting their own firm. Jim Rohn said, “Learning is the beginning of wealth. Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning are where the miracle process all begins.” he followed with “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” I wholeheartedly agree however, that doesn’t imply there won’t be difficulties, roadblocks, and hiccups in pursuing those goals. In fact, I would add, don’t be scared to fail since, in reality, all that it means is that you attempted something, it didn’t turn out quite as you had hoped, and you learned from it, giving you a sharp perspective and insight.

My story begins when I first moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. I’ve always had a business mindset growing up as a kid. From having a lemonade stand to selling candy and snacks at school. I’ve always admired the idea of being self-sufficient and not relying on family or friends.

At a young age, I enjoyed watching architecture shows, homes being built and home improvement shows, such as HGTV, and This Old House. That piqued my interest, and I decided to major in architectural engineering. But, as a kid, I couldn’t wait to finish all of my classes in high school and college and finally become one after 15+ years. I made the decision to enter the sector early and, as a result, I chose real estate. In high school, I decided to start a T-shirt business to help fund my real estate career. I had all of the knowledge and resources I needed to invest in real estate and flip properties after high school.

As I was working in real estate and studying for my architectural major. I noticed that every time I needed a notary to close on homes, I saw how difficult it was to find one in my city that was both convenient and affordable. I also noticed that my fellow real estate investors and acquaintances were experiencing the same difficulties. I began gathering information from my immediate surroundings and college and discovered that there aren’t many notaries in town that are either affordable or willing to travel.

That’s when “Alshawi Notary” was born. I went through the process of becoming a notary public, which involved being elected by the Knox County board of commissioners, having my notary certificate signed by the Secretary of State and the governor, and taking an oath. The college campus near downtown was ideal for locating a location that suited the population that most needed a notary.

Knowing that there was a high demand for my services, I decided to enlist the assistance of “Zak’s Notary” and then hired signing agents, to work together as a team to assist the community and provide affordable, flexible services.

The most difficult aspect of the project was determining the location, which required lots of research. Marketing is also a bit challenging at first. However, with all of the social media outlets available, it undoubtedly aided in getting things started. It’s no secret that COVID-19 had a significant impact on us. However, we powered through.

We broke even for 6 months, but knowing that we helped out our community during those difficult times is a profit I gained in my heart. The most crucial factor in establishing a brand was knowledge. I knew going into this that quitting wasn’t an option since I had a goal. My mission was to assist the community.

Looking back, it wasn’t easy; there were a lot of roadblocks, but I always had the mentality of never giving up, and that’s what got me through.

Yahya, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Alshawi Notary gladly serves Knoxville and the neighboring areas of East Tennessee with fast and simple Notary services for loan signings and general notary work. Clients can make an appointment with us and we will gladly travel to your place during and after normal business hours, or they can simply drop by during our open hours.

Clients can sign important legal documents when and where they need them with our mobile notary services. We gladly take advantage of every possibility to make your notary experience as simple as possible by relying on technology and experience. Clients can contact us via phone, text, email, or by visiting our website. I decided to start a mobile notary service to assist our communities by removing the need for them to travel to our site.

We, on the other hand, come to them when it is convenient for the client. Alshawi Notary appreciates and values the everyday sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. we like demonstrating our gratitude by offering FREE notarizations to active military and veterans, as a Thank you for your services.

We are certified, insured, and bonded. we offer

– Loan signing
– Mortgage and refinance
– Deed and trust
– Power of attorney
– Affidavit
– I-9 employment
– Leases
– ETC.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

People, they’re the most important thing to me. It doesn’t matter if it’s a consumer, a team member, the community, or a vendor. Every person in my immediate vicinity has a special significance. In business, people are everything. Whether you like it or not, they are the lifeblood of any company.

There is no future without humans. Many small business entrepreneurs, I believe, forget or have forgotten that other people are the reason they are where they are and able to do what they do. Society has lost sight of the truth that money is merely a commodity with no worth unless people are present to assist in its utilization. Many small businesses are locked in this cycle of converting customers into revenue rather than revenue into customers. Your most valuable asset is your people! They are in charge of the customer’s experience. You win if it’s good; if it’s bad, you lose.

It’s as easy as that. When a customer calls with an issue, the customer service person, for example, becomes the customer’s primary service provider. That employee then becomes the Company for that customer. That consumer’s impression of the value of doing business with you will be shaped by their interactions with that customer service agent.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There is one quote that has a significant impact on me and is what keeps me driven. In fact, I want to leave each reader with this quote. “How big would you dream, if you knew you couldn’t fail.”

Contact Info:

• Website: alshawinotary.business.site
• Instagram: Alshawinotary
• Facebook: Alshawinotary
• Email: [email protected]
• Other: Phone number:  (865)-909-7217