Today we’d like to introduce you to Elsha Kim.
Hi Elsha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am where I am today all by the grace and all to the glory of God. It was a million little miracles and some Red Sea parting ones. It was countless daily choices, some good and some really terrible. Most of all, it was a persistent belief that I was created for a purpose and my decision to relentlessly chase it until discovering it.
I am someone who did NOT have a plan. I graduated college in 5 years, changed majors a few times and careers even more. From telemarketing and loan officer-ing to working at a tech start-up in Ireland and a marketing agency in France… I was lost. Despite the lack of clarity, the distractions and the discouragements, I held a deep belief that I was meant for something more and so I kept taking the next step in front of me.
It starts there. Belief. The steps after are just habits and actions that help you get there.
1. I wrote everything down. I couldn’t articulate my vision and the desires inside of me in words so I searched images on Pinterest and created a Life Vision Board until I was inspired to write. I asked myself so many questions. “What is truest success?” I dissected what the word “success” actually meant to me. We often throw that word around without defining what it actually means to us individually. I wrote “Future me is…” until I started to say “I am…” It felt phony at first but today, I’m humbled by God’s grace to say that I have become and am still becoming who I once hoped to be.
2. I read every day. Specifically – I read my Bible and my “Success Journal” (the answers to the questions I asked myself in point 1) every day. I know, the Bible, blah! Ick. So boring. I get it. I thought it was a big book of rules and outdated too. But actually, it’s the book that set me free. (Plus, it’s not actually a book, but a library of 66 books). I cannot explain the change in my life outside of the daily quiet time I spent studying God’s word and meditating on scripture. John 12:24 is a verse from scripture that has shaped a lot of my life today. And I read my “Success Journal” intensely. Other books that also had a great impact on shaping my thinking: Psycho Cybernetics; Millionaire Fast Lane; Man’s Search For Meaning; How to not read the Bible.
3. “RRR” – “Rest, Reflect, Rejuvenate” Pretty straightforward. I have daily reminders, a weekly roadmap, quarterly benchmarks, yearly S.M.A.R.T. goals, and a 5-year vision written out. During my times of rest, I look over these documents to keep me on track and excited for the purpose and vision of my life. I make rest a priority even when it feels counterproductive, 2) Reflect on how I’m doing in relation to my vision and goals through reflection questions (which I write out and review the following year) and 3) Rejuvenate the vision for my life and the steps on how to get there. I love going back and looking at the visions and goals I’ve written out for myself because I get so excited about the future and can see just how far God has brought me!
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?
It has not been a smooth road but a road of full of pivots and adjustment. Challenges will never stop coming I’ve realized but we get better adept at dealing with them. We don’t always have the mentors we need in our lives, but thanks to technology, we can always find books about people who have done the things we want to do.
Looking back, it wasn’t a lack of money that held me back but fear and doubt. I will continuously fail and fall flat on my face and getting over the fear of that and doing it anyway saves a whole lot of time. (But please, be wise and take calculated risks. Don’t throw all your eggs into a basket that hasn’t shown any promise!)
The next would be lack of knowledge and wisdom. If I had better knowledge about certain things, I could have avoided expensive mistakes but experience tends to be a worthy teacher.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Actor, founder of BRONZEBUM, and lay-minister.
I am most proud of taking the skills I’ve learned and using them in ministry. Recently I started working with a school in Kyangwali Refugee settlement and have been helping a group of students develop their own honey small business. This summer 2023, we will create a short student film. I am also proud of the growth BRONZEBUM has made in a short year, ranking #29 on Amazon’s list of Antioxidant Supplements & #1 on Find This Best.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was painfully shy. I once peed my pants in pre-school because I was too afraid to ask the teacher to use the bathroom. Granted, I didn’t speak any English then. As I grew up, I became painfully disruptive and adventurous. Getting pulled out of classrooms and breaking or scraping something every other weekend. I was always very artistic and won the Congressional Art Competition in 10th grade for the state of California. My piece hung on Capitol Hill for a year and I got to meet our Congressman. My art teacher was not very happy that I showed up in spandex shorts.
Apart from that, my parents instilled a deep sense of faith and living for a greater purpose of serving one another in our family. It has certainly shaped much of my life and goals today. My dad called it “BBB” – Boundaries, Blessings, Be Wise to Serve. Set your boundaries so that you can be a blessing to many and be wise to serve one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/elshakim
- Instagram: @elsha.kim
