I am a couple days from my PTL. I’m taking the month of January off for paid time leave to bond with my baby and help my wife out. I’m looking forward to the time. I am taking advantage of that time by not just building my relationship with my daughter, but also try to build a future where I am able to make money and have a schedule that gives me the time to be there for her.
I am in the process of becoming certified as a notary signing agent. That’s the person at a loan signing that guides you through and shows where to sign or initial loan documents. I am already a notary public in NY, and this is the next step. It’s an interesting gig, and has me excited and scared at the same time.
If I were to go this route, I’m self-employed then and have to handle taxes and networking and do a lot of things employees of companies take for granted. I have to be laser focused and detailed oriented to a degree I’ve never been. I also have to hit the ground running and pound the pavement hard to get work.
I’m nervous and scared of the thoughts, but I am also trying a exercise I want to pass onto my daughter-something I wish I learned a long time go-that you should make that fear and nervous energy and make yourself excited for the challenge. As scared as I am, I am excited that I’m betting on myself to make something happen for me. I can’t just wait for others. I have to get something going now, and if it means going on my own and being a contractor, so be it. If I fail, I fail. But life goes on and something else will come.
My plan is to finish the certification class and pass the exam, get the supplies I’d need to get the job done, and try it at least part time to get myself into a groove as far as scheduling, the process, and see what I have to do to make this work full time.
That’s my plan. As we all know, everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face....