Today we’d like to introduce you to Venessa Estrada.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My start was not easy by any means — but I give **all glory to God**. I never would’ve believed I’d be where I am today, but God’s **grace and mercy** have carried me through every season of my life and shaped me into the woman I am.
I dropped out of school in the 9th grade, but I refused to give up. I earned my **GED**, determined to show my children that quitting was never an option. I’m blessed with **three amazing children** — **Joshua, Mariah, and Kindle** — and a **life partner who completely changed our lives**. But getting here wasn’t easy.
In **November 2016**, my world was turned upside down. I was married at the time, and my husband sold all our belongings, stole my car, and left me and my children with nothing. We were devastated — I had no relationship with my immediate family at that moment, and my children were scared, unsure what would come next. We were preparing to go to a shelter, but **God stepped in**. My aunt offered us her vacant home so we could have a roof over our heads until I could figure things out.
Even then, I reminded my kids — **giving up is never an option**. I worked a corporate job, but I knew I had to find another way. Since Texas is a community property state, I couldn’t even report my car stolen. So, I started from scratch. Every morning at **2 a.m.**, I made and sold **90 homemade breakfast burritos**, then went to my **9-to-5 job**, and afterward, I’d **donate plasma** to make ends meet.
Then, **God sent me Frederick Willis**. He saw my drive and wanted to help me create a new path. Fred introduced me to **real estate** and **notary work** as a way to build additional income. I was skeptical at first — hurt and angry from what I’d been through — but I agreed to meet him for lunch. That meeting changed everything.
Fred taught me that we can’t move from emotion; we have to move with **faith and strategy**. He reminded me that **God’s timing is perfect**, even when we don’t understand it. I got my **notary commission** and started **JMK Notary & Professional Services**, helping others handle the same legal and real estate processes that once overwhelmed me. From there, my passion for property and people grew — and **Changing Lives Investments LLC** was born, built on the mission to help others rebuild when life knocks them down.
Then came **2021**, the year that changed everything again — this time for the better. I was working under a manager whose stress nearly broke me. The pressure was so heavy that I suffered a **mini stroke** and had to go on medical leave. During that time, I cried out to God:
“Lord, please show me what to do. No job is worth this kind of stress.”
And just like that — **God showed up**. I received a call from my company saying they were reorganizing and would be issuing **severance packages** while helping employees transition. I knew right then — that was **God’s perfect timing**.
I took that severance check and used it to create my **LLC**. That day, I made a promise to myself: *I will never look back.*
People told me,
“Venessa, what if you don’t succeed? What if you fail? You need a guaranteed paycheck.”
But I told them,
“What if I do succeed? You’ll never know unless you try.”
Because **real estate and notary work changed my life**, I named my business **Changing Lives Investments** — a reflection of what God did for me — and **JMK Notary**, after my children: **Joshua, Mariah, and Kindle**, the reason behind everything I do.
Today, I stand not just as a business owner, but as living proof that **God can take your rock bottom and use it as the foundation for your breakthrough**. My story isn’t just about survival — it’s about **faith, perseverance, and purpose**. Every signature, every closing, every family I help is a reminder that with God, **nothing is wasted**, and everything can be redeemed.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not the road has been anything but smooth. My journey has been full of challenges, heartbreak, and moments that tested my faith to the core. But every obstacle became a stepping stone that shaped me into the woman and business owner I am today.
There were times when I didn’t know how I’d pay the next bill, how I’d keep a roof over my kids’ heads, or how I’d rebuild after losing everything. Being a single mother, starting over with nothing, and juggling multiple jobs while trying to stay strong for my children was not easy. I’ve cried in silence, prayed through exhaustion, and had to find strength I didn’t even know I had. My faith has always been strong because God showed me long ago he is a miracle working God. I was told i would never have children but I prayed and stood in faith and I have three children. So know the same God who healed my womb is the same God who will carry me through every struggle, every battle.
One of my biggest struggles was learning to trust God’s timing — especially when it didn’t align with my own plans. When I was working in corporate America, the stress nearly broke me down. I experienced health scares, anxiety, and doubt, but through it all, I held onto faith. When I suffered a mini stroke in 2021, that was my wake-up call. I realized no paycheck was worth losing my peace or my purpose.
Another major struggle was fighting fear — fear of failure, fear of not being enough, fear of starting over. People around me questioned my decisions, asking why I would risk a steady job for something uncertain. But deep down, I knew God didn’t bring me this far to leave me. Every “no” and every setback was a setup for something greater.
Starting two businesses from scratch — JMK Notary & Professional Services and Changing Lives Investments — meant countless sleepless nights, sacrifices, and lessons learned the hard way. I had to build my brand from the ground up, one client at a time, while still being a mom, a partner, and a woman rediscovering her own worth.
But I wouldn’t trade a single part of it. Those struggles gave me grit, purpose, and a testimony that touches lives. They taught me that smooth roads never make strong travelers. And now, I help others through their storms — whether it’s rebuilding after a foreclosure, navigating legal documents, or simply believing they can start over.
Because if God could do it for me, He can do it for anyone.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I wear many hats, but at the heart of everything I do is service with purpose. I’m the owner of JMK Notary & Professional Services and the founder of Changing Lives Investments LLC, both built from my passion to help others rebuild, protect, and prosper — no matter where they are in life.
Through JMK Notary & Professional Services, I provide mobile notary and document preparation services across Texas. My work includes everything from general notarizations to loan signings, affidavits, wills, power of attorney documents, and probate paperwork.
I also assist with eviction services for landlords, helping property owners navigate legal filings, notices, and court procedures properly and efficiently. Additionally, I perform research for missing heirs and probate matters, ensuring families can locate rightful heirs and move forward with title transfers and estate resolutions.
What truly sets JMK apart is the personal care and compassion behind every service. For many of my clients, these documents represent some of life’s biggest transitions — loss, legal challenges, or new beginnings. My goal is not just to stamp and sign, but to educate, guide, and comfort each person I work with.
I treat every client like family, making sure they leave with understanding, peace, and confidence.
Changing Lives Investments was born from my own journey of rebuilding after hardship. The company focuses on real estate solutions — helping homeowners facing distressed properties, foreclosures, probate homes, or inherited properties find a way forward.
We specialize in creative and compassionate solutions, including quick cash offers, title cleanups, and connecting families to local resources. Whether it’s helping someone avoid foreclosure or guiding them through selling an inherited home, my goal is always the same — to change lives one home at a time.
Every property tells a story, and I’m passionate about turning those stories of struggle into stories of restoration and hope.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just building successful businesses — it’s the impact they’ve made on real people. When a client calls crying tears of relief because their eviction was resolved fairly, or a family finally clears a title that’s been held up for years, I know I’m walking in my purpose.
I’m also proud that my three children — Joshua, Mariah, and Kindle — have watched this entire journey. JMK is named after them because they’re the reason I keep pushing forward. They saw me rise from rock bottom, and now they see the blessing that comes from staying faithful and never giving up.
What sets me apart is my faith, transparency, and genuine connection with people. I don’t just “do business” — I build relationships and restore hope. I’ve lived through hardship, so when I help others, I do it with empathy, understanding, and grace.
Every client I meet knows they’re more than a number or transaction — they’re a person with a story. And that’s why I go above and beyond to make sure every signature, every closing, and every deal reflects integrity, excellence, and heart.
For me, this isn’t just business — it’s ministry through service. Because when God changes your life, your mission becomes to help change others’.
How do you define success?
If there’s one message I want people to remember from my journey, it’s that success is not perfection — it’s persistence.
Success is showing up, even when you’re tired, scared, or unsure of what’s next.
Success is never giving up, no matter how many times life knocks you down.
You can fail a thousand times, but what truly matters is that you get back up.
You only fail when you choose to stay down.
To me, success isn’t defined by money or status — it’s defined by discipline, perseverance, and resilience. It’s about having the faith to keep moving when everything around you says stop.
Every challenge I’ve faced — from losing everything to rebuilding from the ground up — has taught me that God never wastes a struggle. Every setback was preparation for the blessing that came next.
So when people see me now — the business owner, the notary, the investor, the mother — I want them to know this didn’t happen overnight. It happened through tears, faith, hard work, and relentless belief in something greater than myself.
My story is living proof that no matter where you start, God can rewrite your ending.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jmknotaryservices.com/ and www.changinglivesinvestments.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmk_notary_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EHt3JZjJx/
Image Credits
Mimi Chisley of MMP Images
