Meet Shaleen
My Story
I was born on December 1st, 1986, in Scarborough, Ontario. I have an older sister and my parents came to Canada from South Korea.
They divorced when I was 15 years old, which changed my life forever. My father was not in my life for the next five years. If he had stayed, a number of things – good and bad – likely would not have happened.
I started working at 16. As my mother was trying to get back on her feet from the divorce, my sister got married and started a family of her own.
I felt there was nothing left for me in Canada. So I moved to Hong Kong in 2007 to start a new life. Before long, I realized there is so much more that I could offer, so I moved back to Canada in 2010. With no higher education, no job, no plan for my future, and $100 in my wallet. So I hustled. I worked two jobs, 14 hours a day. I started to make more money and get back on my feet.
Once I started making money again, I made some friends and started to enjoy life. Life seemed great.
But things soon went downhill. I was having too much fun: going out, spending more than I earned, meeting people who were negative influences, making poor decisions, being in toxic relationships.
Eventually I hit rock bottom. I am going to tell you all about it on my blog. Worst of all was the look of disappointment on my mother’s face. I was lost, I didn’t know what to do, and I felt like things would never get better.
But in the past few years, I have met so many amazing people who helped me get back on my feet. They believed in me. They helped me realize my full potential, gain my confidence back and be the person I was meant to be.
I quit alcohol, got my financial house in order, rebuilt my relationship with my family, cut out all the negative influencers and worked hard by continuing my education, getting therapy and counselling, meditating and reading lots of books.
I have found that if I stay focused and consistent, inspiration will come.
I’m in a place in my life where I’m happy. I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud of who I am.
What does it all mean?
It means that my mission is to help people – right now. I live in the moment because, along with maintaining my independence, my reason for being is to experience the joy of living every day. It means that – along with being fun to be around – I’m very approachable and reliable. Ask me for help and you will get it or we will figure it out together. I deliver what I promise – so come to me for help and expect things solved, quickly.
Some people will think of me as quiet – and while it’s true that I can be shy, I’m also known as highly tenacious – as a very patient person who won’t just give up when the going gets tough. So: Approachable, Reliable, Tenacious. It’s this combination that makes me different. (I like to think of it as an “art”…)
I want to be in new and complex situations that terrify me – in a good way. I want to be an example of what hard work is. In fact, it’s my vision to make a positive, lasting and unique impact on the lives of others.
Working, for more than 15 years now, has made me who I am. It’s helped me realize what I’m capable of. It’s helped me realize that life is a lot simpler than we think it is.
Here’s the simplest part of all: The time is now.
- Why I do what I do
- Where I am going, and how I’ll know I’m there
- What I do every day to get there
The time is now.
Purpose
To have my independence and a joy for living every day.
Vision
To make a positive, lasting and unique impact on the lives of others.
Mission
To help people right now by living in the moment.