Inspiring Conversations with Darlena Dillard of D3 Notary Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darlena Dillard.

Hi Darlena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised right here in Ohio. Because my father was in the military, I lived all over the country. My first experience with the burning need to help others was during my childhood as a big sister to three siblings. I experienced this feeling again when I became a mother of two. I love my children dearly. They have inspired me to pursue my dream of having my own small business. I’ve always had the drive to have my own business and a passion for helping others. The key to finding my success was when the pandemic hit; I found a lucrative opportunity that matched up with my interests, experiences, and skillset. I have helped so many aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in my community plant and water the seeds for their business, and I knew that at that moment it was time for me to do the same for myself.

Pre-pandemic, I focused on helping my son and daughter foster their growth as entrepreneurs. That is when I realized how good I was at developing business plans. My children challenged me to start my own business, something that I had always talked about, but kept putting on hold. In 2009, I got the itch to start my own company, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I kept putting being a business owner on hold because of a fear of failure, lack of support, and being an introvert with social anxiety.

Fast forward to 2019, I started to find comfort in helping those who couldn’t help themselves. That’s when I decided to step out in faith and start my own notary business. When the pandemic hit, life as I knew it had changed. Everything was now uncertain. We were socially cut off from each other which led to depression, job security became an issue, and financial stability was becoming questionable. I took a needed service and skillset I was familiar with and decided to come up with a plan to change my life. I had a business vision that I felt would create a greater impact for me and others I would soon come in contact with.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This has not been the smoothest because of the number of obstacles and challenges that I have encountered during this journey. I work full time in addition to being a part-time college student studying to be a Paralegal. Not to mention the financial stress of launching a new startup. I had to learn about marketing, creating logos, and business cards. I had to learn what the term “knowing your target audience” meant. I didn’t realize how much extra training and courses I would need. I have always been a notary. Pre-pandemic, I was a notary for my employer, but it was simple; I only provided services to those at the office. I was not used to soliciting business, especially as an introvert. I now had to create a home office and find the right equipment, which became costly. I had to implement safety protocols because I was traveling across Ohio to people’s homes or places of business to provide my services. One of the most painful challenges was learning how to price my additional services and not lose money by not quoting a comparable price for the services. Although I continue to experience these challenges, I have learned how to work through them by pacing myself and utilizing the resources that have made me become successful.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart from most notaries is that I have a passion for helping others. Even if I can’t help them I am always eager to point them in the right direction. Being a businesswoman, also gives me the opportunity, as an introvert with anxiety, to practice daily how to rise above my fear and interact. In my role as a notary, I witness signatures on documents in order to deter fraud and ensure they are properly executed. It’s crucial that I be an impartial witness and as such make sure that all sides are of legal age and sane minds. I get excited when I help a borrower complete their documents to close a deal on buying or selling their home, In this line of work I get to meet interesting people, learn a little about a person’s life and leave some of mine behind with a simple conversation. Sometimes I have the full freedom and flexibility to set my own hours and territory and choose the assignments I want to do. It’s not all glamorous though, sometimes the income can be slow, sticking to a schedule can be a bit of a challenge, I have to find my own clients, and all client signings arent a happy ending. The absolute best thing about me having this notary business is not only the things I mentioned before, it’s the chance to think outside the box on how I want my day to go. I learn more with each assignment, and more importantly, I can create more promising business endeavors for myself through this one path; which for me are currently on the horizon.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that each road to entrepreneurship can be different. It was a difficult transition going from helping everyone else build their business to building my business. I learned that a lot of research is needed in any venture you choose, along with a good support system because there will be days you will want to give up. It is okay to have a plan or to just wing it, but always do what is best for you. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Make sure you do a lot of networking with like-minded business individuals. I was surprised at the additional support and resources that were available to me by just opening up about me and my business. A very tough lesson I learned was to not expect everyone to believe in you, and that’s alright. The biggest and most important lesson a person can learn when starting a business is failure is an inch of success in the right direction. Failure gives us the opportunity to bounce back, to learn from our mistakes, and helps us appreciate the success that follows.

Contact Info:

• Email: d3notaryservices@gmail.com
• Website: www.d3notaryservicesllc.com
• Instagram: @d3_notary_services
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/d3-notary-services-cleveland-2
• Google: https://g.page/r/Cf-8yAdcTa6PEBA