Today we’d like to introduce you to Kudarie (KD) Somaru
Hi KD, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
One of the teachings instilled in me by my parents as a child was to get good grades, graduate from a good college, and that will lead to a good job. My parents were right. I went to the University of Central Florida, graduated with a degree in Business Administration, and found myself at a job fair which led me to a decade in corporate management. That career came with a pension, allowed me to buy my 1st house, pay my student loans, save money, and have amazing travel experiences.
My office environment was comfortable. I had great working relationships with our agents and the leadership team. The one thing I never really considered was what comes next. Climbing the corporate ladder wasn’t for me because I didn’t want to move further from my friends & family, assume the roles of the people ahead of me, or continue to show up this desk for another 10, 15, 25 years until retirement. What began to bother me was that I felt I wasn’t growing my value in a way that would or could substantially impact the lives of others. My dad once said you have no idea how much people have prayed for you. With all the praise and positivity I’ve received, was this what they’d prayed for? I needed a next. I needed to make a bold move.
I decided to take a leave of absence from work for several weeks. Just as my time away was about to begin, I got a phone call by way of a friend I hadn’t spoken to in over 5 years. She wasn’t hesitant to reach out but felt that the opportunity would be something I’d excel at. The call couldn’t have come at a better time because I had no idea what I would be doing next and it was time for a change. I was invited to meet a phenomenal coach and mentor on a call, which after 30 minutes, I’d gained more perspective about money, finance, and entrepreneurship than I had in my entire career. My next had found me.
It’s rare that you find this industry. More often than not, this industry finds you. What resonated with me most was the opportunity to dream again and the questions it planted in my mind. How are you adding to the legacy of your last name? How are you leaving people better than you found them? What’s the size of the problems you’re solving? Who are you becoming where you’re at? Who’s helping you get from where you are to where you want to be? What value are you bringing to your community, family, and connections? How big are your dreams and how big is your vision?
No matter what, taking the next step into this field would be a win-win. On the low-end, I’d learn lessons about money and entrepreneurship that would benefit me the rest of my life, I’d help friends and family secure their financial home and legacy, and I’d earn some extra income along the way part-time. On the high-end, I would make my parents prouder than they could imagine, become one of the many millionaires in the industry that has created more millionaires than any other, play a significant role in educating thousands of people on financial literacy and open doors for financial inclusion, build phenomenal partnerships with industry leaders seeking to deliver greater value, and live up to the potential I envision for myself. The possibilities are limitless. Thanks to my coach, our founder, my business partners, and the belief of the people I’m fortunate enough to have in my life, I’m on my 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?
Every new undertaking requires friction; like a fallen seed that’s taken root, bursting out of it’s shell.
The process of growth involves consistently getting out of your own way. When I’m resistant to getting out of my comfort zone, I’m standing in the way of the opportunities that are waiting for me. My comfort zone might look like sticking to relationships I already have or ones that feel familiar, tending to business that comes easily, and being open to helping others but not proactively disrupt them for their own good. As convenient as that would be, the journey of success isn’t always convenient. The versions of my identity from who I was, to who I am, to who I will be are always grappling with each other to take the wheel. It can be hard to let go of the familiar when you’ve held it for so long, but the necessity of letting go allows you to receive so much more.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about PHP Agency?
One of the most important aspects of my organization is the emphasis on leadership development. As a financial services firm, we serve insurance products on an entrepreneurial platform, with the morals, values, and principles of leadership at its core. We don’t just sell insurance, we cultivate pioneers, flag carriers, gamechangers. What we do is extremely important to the well-being of families, entrepreneurs, and people who take their finances seriously, but the impact great leaders make could be immeasurable.
Nothing is more deeply satisfying than making my parents and the people who believe in me proud. One of the most common compliments I’ve received in business is having a reputation of looking to help others. If there’s a connection that could be made, a value exchange that could be offered, or a problem that could be solved with insights I could provide, I look to lead with that. I’m outside; sharing smiles, shaking hands, sowing seeds, and diving into dialogue. Quality conversations and connections help fuel my desire to make a difference. One of the best parts is that I’m not alone. There are tens of thousands of agents across the country changing lives, supporting systems, and pitching in to solve the financial crisis our country faces. My personal focus has been to carve out a niche partnering with entrepreneurs, attorneys, medical professionals, tax experts, and people in the real estate industry, while building a massive agency of agents looking for a chance to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. I’m proud to say that I recently became a member of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) to partner with these great individuals. I’ll continue to explore opportunities to collaborate with other incredible organizations and expand the reach of our helping hands.
What if your great, grandparents left an inheritance and a plan that cemented the legacy of your last name for generation after generation. Imagine having paychecks and playchecks guaranteed for the rest of your life. Envision the heartaches and worries that would be avoided once you have the tools, education, and inclusion to evade financial pitfalls. Picture you and your loved ones being financially independent so that they could make the choices they feel are best for their families. Imagine if every family you knew had a safety net to combat the #1 cause of bankruptcy, medical costs. Imagine the next best version of you and what you would be doing 5, 10, 15 years from now. What does life look like for you then? We are going through a massive expansion and we’re looking for great people to open doors for to what’s possible.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how Orlando has a big city, small town feel. There’s ample opportunity to carve out a name for yourself. If there’s someone you’re looking to make a connection with here, they’re only a couple of connections away. Having been here for nearly two decades, seeing the city grow as it has, the potential still seems to be far from tapped. The creative, business, cultural, philanthropic communities continue to evolve and provide a vibrant freshness that gives the present and future of the city so much appeal. Beyond having the most popular theme parks in the world, the professional sports teams and UCF Knights, international airport to get just about anywhere around the globe, and amazing dining experiences, the best has yet to come.
If I had to pick an area of improvement for the city it would be the traffic congestion. That feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you realize what time it is before you make a trip across town, knowing you have to get on I-4, is tough. The I-4 express lane has certainly made a difference and I’m certain that things will continue to improve.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ijs_kd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kudarie
Image Credits
Mandee Castellano
