Emergency Broadcasting System

When I was a little girl, growing up in Los Angeles, at least once a week, in the middle of cartoons, the tv channel I was watching would interrupt its programming to air this test.  It would show up on every channel at the same time (we only had four or five channels back then).  The Emergency Broadcasting System test was supposed to prepare everyone for the possible invasion of Communists or Aliens (I kid you not).  Fortunately, representatives from neither group never showed up and eventually, this test was replaced by something less annoying.

So what does this have to do with Notaries?  Well, the next few months will be a test of sorts for me and other Birmingham, Alabama Notaries.  As of today, thirty-one men and women have joined the ranks of Notaries4Alabama Networking Group.  Each member has indicated they are interested in forming a lasting group in support of notaries.  We will hold our third group meeting on Thursday, July 18th at the Homewood Public Library, in Homewood, Alabama.   Group leaders will be selected.  Tasks will be delegated.  Serious planning will start for our November Community Service Event (National Notary Public Day on November 7th).  There's a lot to accomplish.  This is definitely a test.

The members of Notaries4Alabama-Birmingham will find out first hand just how committed we are to this idea.  It sounds good, doesn't it?  What's not to like about notaries getting together once a month to obtain training, listen to professional speakers, meet mentors, and hear about new opportunities? It should work, right?

According to SmallBizTrends.com (http://smallbiztrends.com) small businesses in the services industry have a 47% failure rate within the first five years.  That's almost one out of every two companies.  Granted, this notary group isn't a formal business but there are similarities.  Enough similarities for me to be somewhat concerned.

Time will tell whether or not I'll be a successful leader of this group, and if the members are really up to the task at hand.  I sure hope so.  Just like most new ventures, including personal relationships, as time wears on the excitement starts to ebb just a bit.  It's easy to get distracted.  But instead of allowing these fears to overwhelm us, we should use them as motivation and inspiration. I think Dale Carnegie said it best:

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear.  Action breeds confidence and courage.  If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it.  Go out and get busy".