We've come a long way from the days when you could buy an appliance, bring it home, plug it in, and you were ready to use it.  Nowadays it seems you have to have computer programming skills to get anything to work.

Several months ago I switched my high speed internet connection from DSL to cable.  Installing the DSL modem was a relatively simple process that I was able to do myself.  But a technician had to come to install the cable because a lot more was involved.  I was amazed at the array of tools and gadgets he brought with him.  He even had a laptop computer and various meters for testing signal strength and other things.  I almost felt sorry for him because of all the things he had to haul around in order to do his job.

But that's part of the job.

Notary Signing Agents are finding that their job requirements are changing, and the list of tools required to do our job is growing.  Things that were once considered novelties are now necessities.  I was reminded of that when I recently did an eClosing here in Colorado Springs.  Instead of going into the closing with just my briefcase, I also had to have my laptop, smartphone that I use as a modem, cords, and a few other things.  I was reminded of that cable technician.

I bought a laptop computer for my mobile office so that I could retrieve loan documents for closing assignments when I was away from the office.  It has also come in handy as a backup computer for when I'm very busy and need to do several tasks at once.  It was nice to have, but not a necessity.  The same with my Palm Treo 700p smartphone.  I got along just fine with my Motorola cell phone.  But I needed a way to access the internet with my laptop computer when Wi-Fi hotspots were not available.  These things are now necessities in order to do eSignings.

And I'm sure I haven't seen the end of it.  Using technology isn't just a nicer, faster, more convenient way of doing things.  It is a necessity.  And we are seeing that we have to be not only Notary Signing Agents.  We also have to be technicians.

Good luck.