f you asked me a week ago the meaning of the word “ Development ,” I would have told you that the first thing that came to mind is hard hats , tall buildings , and construction . Today my answer is an entirely different one because I have indeed discovered a deeper meaning to the word . There are so many aspects to it , ranging from Business , Real Estate , and Personal Development .

I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with amazing people who inspire me and motivate me to become a better version of myself . I often hear Jennifer Yon motivate business owners , friends , and family . Each time I admire her passion , determination , and endless energy more and more . On one occasion , it made me wonder ; How does she do it ? And the answer was clear , she believes . She believes in herself ; she invests in herself without any hesitation .

It is an understatement to say that 2020 has been a total disaster . My family suffered the loss of my niece , Isabella , after a long battle with leukemia followed by Graft-versus-host disease . My mother was transferred to an Assisted Living Facility due to Alzheimers . I gave in to the idea of moving my kids 230 miles away , and I also decided that a drastic

haircut was a great idea without thinking of how it would impact my appearance & self-esteem .

For the first time ever , I reached a point in my life where I felt empty , worthless , depressed , and without any motivation . I lost my passion and drive to thrive , live and succeed . I realized that I was not living ; I was simply surviving in a routine that was not productive . Something resonated in my head , and those were the words of Albert Einstein , “ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results .”

After some major soul searching and with the help of my sister and cousin , I decided to take action and work my way towards becoming the most amazing version of myself because average is never an option . I was tired of playing the role of the victim . I decided to reset and restart my life by enrolling in a series of Life Training Programs in Miami that will help me figure out what is lacking in my life and what steps I need to take to make a definite come back ; The Kate 2.0 that I have always wanted .

I will never be able to fully explain how a series of 12-hour sessions have helped me break free from so many different

things . I would simply say that it is an experience that MUST be lived and enjoyed . I cried , I yelled , I had terrible migraines , and I experienced the greatness that can only come from selflove and acceptance .

Investing in yourself should definitely be mandatory and developing your greatness is absolutely necessary . This is the reason why you see so many people attending seminars , listening to inspirational podcasts , scheduling accountability calls . It is because it works ! Personal Development helps you stay on track ; it guides you and makes you see things from many different perspectives . Development is what grounds you to become more attuned to your surroundings , to nature . Personal Development is merely investing in you to create the BEST version of YOU ! n

Kate Shum

COURTESY OF JENNIFER YON

VOL 6 , Issue 3 n IBA Success Magazine 15