Conversations with Elizabeth Gonzalez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Gonzalez.

Hi Elizabeth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started from very humble beginnings. My parents were immigrants who came to this country determined to give their children a better life. Growing up, our family experienced some very difficult times, and as kids, we learned to navigate the nuances of growing up between Mexican culture and life in California.

What my parents gave me, though, was something I carry with me every day: a strong work ethic. They taught me responsibility, honesty, the importance of keeping your word, and treating people with respect.

As I got older, I realized I wanted more out of life. I wanted to create something of my own and build a future that gave me more freedom and stability. That desire became even stronger as my mother got older and her health began declining. I knew I wanted to be in a position where I could be there for her and not have to choose between providing for myself and being there for my family.

That became a big part of my motivation to become an entrepreneur. My journey hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve continued to learn, evolve, and build. Today, I’m proud of the business I’ve created and, more importantly, of the person I’ve become along the way.

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?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. My family experienced things at a young age that shaped all of us. In 1990, we lost my little brother to a drive-by shooting. A few years later, my father left our family, and my mother experienced domestic violence and the challenges of raising us on her own. Some of my siblings also became involved in gangs, and it took them decades to find their way out of that lifestyle.

Then, around 2016 or 2017, my younger sister was kidnapped and thrown into the trunk of a car. Thankfully, she fought back and made enough noise to scare off her kidnapper, but she suffered a severe beating in the process. These are experiences that no family should have to endure, and they have stayed with me.

As I became an adult, I realized I couldn’t allow my past to dictate my future. I also began thinking deeply about the sacrifices my parents made when they came to this country. They left everything familiar behind because they wanted their children to have opportunities they didn’t have. For me, simply going through the motions of a 9-to-5 life eventually didn’t feel like enough. I wanted to make something of myself that reflected the sacrifices my parents made and create a different example for my daughter.

I had to change my mindset. I had to stop seeing myself only as someone who worked for someone else and start believing that I could build something of my own.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is forgiveness. As an adult, I forgave my father—not because what happened didn’t matter, but because I realized I couldn’t continue carrying that pain and expect to move forward. Letting go of that baggage gave me room to grow.

Life has continued to bring challenges, including watching loved ones fight serious illnesses, but through everything, I’ve learned resilience, gratitude, and the importance of creating your own path.

My struggles didn’t disappear. I simply learned how to stop letting them define me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Today, I’m an entrepreneur and mobile notary signing agent specializing in helping people navigate important documents and transactions with confidence and peace of mind. My work includes real estate and mortgage loan signings, estate planning and trust documents, powers of attorney, apostille facilitation, courier services, and trust and estate document delivery.

With years of experience in the industry, I’ve learned that what people often need most isn’t just someone to stamp a document—it’s someone they can trust to be professional, patient, thorough, and dependable during important moments in their lives. I’m bilingual in English and Spanish, which also allows me to serve a wider range of families and help make the process more comfortable and accessible.

What I’m most proud of is the trust I’ve built with my clients and professional partners. Many of the documents I handle involve someone’s home, family, finances, or future, and I never take that responsibility lightly.

What sets me apart is the personal connection I bring to my work. I don’t look at what I do as simply completing an appointment. I look at it as being part of someone’s journey during a moment that matters. I bring the same values my parents taught me—honesty, responsibility, hard work, and keeping my word—to every appointment.

For me, success isn’t just about how many appointments I complete. It’s about knowing that when someone calls me, they can count on me to show up, handle their documents professionally, and treat them with the respect they deserve.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about my city is the sense of community and how family-oriented it is. After living here for more than 10 years, I’ve really come to appreciate the people, the neighborhoods, and that feeling of being connected to a community. There’s something special about being able to build a life and a business in a place where family and community still matter.

Honestly, I don’t have much to say that I dislike about my city. I’ve been here long enough to see its growth and changes, and overall, I’ve had a very positive experience. If I had to choose one thing, I’d love to see even more opportunities, resources, and support for local small businesses and entrepreneurs. I believe there is so much talent and potential within our community, and investing in those local businesses only makes the city stronger.

Overall, I’m grateful to call Downey home. After more than a decade here, I can genuinely say that I’ve found a community where I feel comfortable to have raised my family, building my business, and continuing to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/elizabethmylsanotarypublic
• Instagram: @elizabethmylsa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethmylsa
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/elizabethmylsa

Image Credits
Elizabeth Gonzalez