Meet Manna Ko of Manna For Life

Today we’d like to introduce you to Manna Ko.

Manna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Everything and I mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g has prepared me “… for such a time as this.”

My heart, soul, mind, spirit, strength, and life revolves around the audience of One. I began my career as an entrepreneur in the 1980’s in Canada and soon found my passion in the real estate industry, where for a period of time I was not only a top agent and broker in my home city but across the country.

In the late 1990s, my son and I moved to the United States, where I used my giftings and expertise to help others in the marketplace, providing progressive marketing concepts, effective office systems, integrative team building curricula, a personal and professional leadership consulting, and strategic partnerships to businesses around the country.

After a life-altering event in the early 2000s, I went back to school. With myself as living proof of miracles happening to everyday people, I earned an MA in Psychology, a Ph.D. in Philosophy, and graduate certificates as a Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP), a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN), a Certified Clinical Herbalist (CCH), among many others. Upon completion of my studies, I opened up my own wellness center to help others.

As an International Speaker, Author, Leader, Visionary, Media Producer, CEO and Founder of several companies, and Strategic Partner to others, I partner with extraordinary businesses and individuals who have inherent values, intentions, and alliances congruent with socially responsible, sustainable and impactful missions and causes.

I am passionate about helping people step into their calling, live extraordinary lives, prosper through chaos, be a forerunner with unseen opportunities, lead under pressure, and deliver results. My calling is to teach, challenge, stretch and equip others to live out their gifts in a world hungry for authentic, honorable, and meaningful leadership and relationships.

Conventional models teach us to seek more information; I teach others to seek wisdom. This way, not only will the individual prosper, but the entire community will prosper. Now with over thirty years of entrepreneurial experience, I have spoken to well over 40,000 people, worked with hundreds of different businesses and organizations, and guided even more individuals seeking personal excellence.

I have clients in more than 10 countries, have contributed to numerous educational, disciplinary and advisory boards, and am an appointed leader in several organizations. I am also a marathon runner, a health and exercise enthusiast, an avid reader, am conversant in four languages, plays tennis, the piano (and am learning to play drums), studies martial arts, love dogs and animals, and am active in my community. I also love to write… a lot! ☺

Returning from an extended sabbatical from work in 2013 where I felt called to serve on mission trips, I dove into my writing again. While I had already written numerous books, articles, curricula, manuals and programs in the past, in 2015, I published my autobiographical novel, Made For More ™, now in at least 13 countries.

In 2016, I released Made For More The Movie™ book trailer, the Made For More™ “audio-movie” (much more than an audio “book” because it’s filled with hundreds of sound effects, over 2 dozen actors playing 120+ roles, music, and so much more), and 6 other books.

To date, I have written almost 20 books, including a precious and fun children’s book series, the first 5 of which will be released November 2018. There are still drafts of other books in my computer which I hope to refine, edit and publish in 2019. Now you know why I say, I like to “write… a lot!” I share this with you, not to boast, but to remind you that everything is possible no matter where you came from, or “what” you’ve come from.

You are Made For More ™ and it is time you know it, own it, and live it! I know this because if I can do it, then you can too – and probably better and go farther. My background is all at once unusual, unimaginable, and yet rich – rich with hope, possibility and joy. I’ve had to overcome great and inexplicable adversities, and am living proof that living happily ever is possible—even against all odds. So, once again, if I can do it, you can too.

And if I can be the shoulders for you to stand on to do so, then it would be my privilege to do so. If you are interested in creating an even more magnificent life while contributing to others, whether you are re-defining a new chapter in your life, or just want to excel to an extraordinary level, please contact us atwww.mannaforlife.com.

Be prepared to be challenged, stretched and to think differently so the fullness of who you are created to be can become a reality. It is time.

“My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in a maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up.” ~ Robert Moorehead

Has it been a smooth road?
No. Definitely not. My life has been an “interesting” great adventure one after another.

In fact, there were many times I wondered if I was cursed. It was impossible that so many horrible things would happen to one person, and so many of them as a child. My life seemed inexplicable. People have said that I alone have lived the lives of a dozen people because so much has happened to me.

As I share in my autobiographical novel, Made For More (TM), there has been childhood physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, abandonment and more. These traumatic childhood experiences seemed to mark me, so not surprisingly, I found myself in many painful adult crises, including adult domestic violence, threats upon my life and the like.

Without understanding what boundaries, self-esteem, self-respect, authentic love and honor looked like, I suffered from anxiety, eating disorders, depression, painful betrayals, codependency, and losses of all kinds. It wasn’t pretty, but it was fascinating. The following is an excerpt from the Preface of my autobiographical novel, Made For More. It may be of interest to you and in this publication.

“…People have asked me to document my life experiences in a book for decades. CEOs and business owners in three different countries even offered to help me fund the endeavor.

However, each time I was asked to share my story, two emotions arrested me, one more than the other: fear, and ironically, gratitude. Fear because so much ugliness had surrounded my life, and it was frightening to consider disclosing both the secrets that I hid to protect others and those I hid to protect myself. But while fear had me restrained for a time, the second emotion eventually grew stronger and fueled my courage to overcome the first.

Gratitude:
I was grateful, because. each time someone asked me to write my story, it affirmed that there was something good and useful about me that could be of help to someone else.

While I had spent most of my life trying to survive, this recurring attention about my life encouraged me to persevere beyond mere survival. Maybe one day my life could be a bridge to help hungry hearts cross to the other side where hope, purpose, joy and love await…

That thought bolstered me, but I had to wait for the right time. Even the best of ideas is a bad idea if the timing isn’t right. “Everything is beautiful in its own time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV) When I turned fifty years old, something deep and undeniable stirred inside of me, and I knew. The time had finally come.

It was time to tell my story.

Still, I was not exactly rejoicing over this “opportunity.” The thought of diving back into my past and reliving so much pain after I had finally come to such a sweet place of peace in my life was distressing. Where would I even begin?! How was I going to tell about such painful things coherently, and dare I say, even elegantly? And how could I bring a reader into (and out of) the depths of it all, responsibly? Did I even have the skillset to do such a thing? I had done a lot of writing in my life, but I had not done any creative writing since Grade Eleven in Mrs. O’Brien’s Creative Writing Class (now over thirty-six years ago).

But more than all of this, did I have the courage to do it… and to finish it?

I thought of hiring a ghost writer, but those closest to me kept telling me that I had to be the one to do this. So, while it was the last thing that I wanted to do, in August of 2013, I surrendered to the inevitable. I cocooned myself and began writing. I prayed for wisdom and insight and asked God to tell me what to write—and He did, one line at a time.

My hope is that by reading about my journey, you won’t feel so alone. And for those of you who have always felt like an outcast – that you have never belonged, or for those of you who have felt unworthy of life, may you not only come to understand and resolve some of the events that have shaped you, but may your purpose, your calling, and the fire and passion of your heart be ignited again. No matter how heart-wrenching your past may have been, I want you to know you were made for more than all of that.

There are a few more things I want to say before you begin.

First, this is an honest book. What I mean by that is that I pull no punches. I’ve tastefully reworked and softened certain stories, but I did not want to minimize the severity, truth, and the weightiness of specific topics. I believe society has whitewashed Truth, and over time we have adopted a backwards approach to many life issues. In the desire to maintain our comfort zones, as we seek to live an unbothered life, we have unwittingly agreed to be “tolerant” and to be “accepting” of things that are intolerable and unacceptable.

“Evil” becomes “good” (tolerable and acceptable), and “good” (speaking up, taking a stand, being a voice that speaks Truth) seems “evil” because we’re disrupting the status quo, which threatens our addiction to comfort. But the only way we can make a positive difference and effectively remedy difficult and even offensive issues is by speaking them plainly—with love, patience, self-control, and wisdom, of course, but speaking them nevertheless.

Plus, we are living in an age and amongst a generation of truth seekers who will not settle for anything less than what’s “real.” Unless we are bold enough to be “real,” the innocent and the vulnerable will continue to be unseen, unheard and unloved, or worse—marginalized, abused and used. They will continue to feel shame upon themselves and their families if they speak up. This does nothing to further their healing, and even less to propel them to the fullness of their calling and the manifestation of their dreams. And when one dream dies, all of humanity suffers.

Think about all the unrealized books, inventions, scientific discoveries, cures, music, technology, art and so on that could have been a blessing to the world, but are lost—along with the souls who never believed in themselves enough to bring them to life.

As I write this, the media is paying a great deal of attention to domestic violence, bullying, the sex trade, and the effects of pornography. But these issues have been going on for a very long time. We’ve simply dismissed them, or “tolerated” them for a long list of rationalized reasons (excuses).

Abuse in all its forms is not an issue to be hidden behind closed doors. Today, there are many organizations that can provide the support and advocacy you (or someone you know) may need. A small list of resources is provided for your review at the end of the book.

No, this isn’t a new message. I’m just a new messenger.

So, in this book, I speak honestly, respectfully, and lovingly. I won’t patronize you and hide behind flowery words. Yes, there will be some challenging stories, and reading them may cause some uneasiness, but as you continue reading, I believe you will find comfort, relief, and hopefully even answers for some of the adversities that you (or a loved one) may have also endured.

Secondly, I did not write this book for some strange kind of egocentric self-promotion, nor did I write this book in retaliation to anyone, or to vilify anyone. I am simply telling my story as I lived it, and I am telling it because I believe that my story will help others. For a variety of reasons, almost everyone’s names, professions, locations, and in some cases, even their gender has been changed or purposely omitted.

My life isn’t about these people per se or their names. They were simply fellow travelers of life who joined me in a great adventure. And while I wish I never had to experience some of the things I did, each situation taught me powerful lessons that were vital to my growth. I would never be who I am today, were it not for every soul who played their part in my life. And for that, I am thankful.

Lastly, I want you to know there is a happy ending. ☺ That said, I want to add that our goal ought not to be a “happy ending,” but a happy life as we’re living it. In the midst of our storms, we have to keep remembering, “This too shall pass.” Storms don’t last forever. Winter turns to spring. Night turns to day, and every morning we can start again. Indeed, in every moment we can make a choice to begin anew. If I can do it, you can too. As my sweet friend, Filomena, said to me, “Manna, when you win, the world wins.”

And so it is with you.

When you win, the whole world will win. So don’t give up. There is always hope. You were created for great and mighty things. You may not believe it because of what you’ve lived through, but make no mistake, you have a great purpose in life. All these trials were to strengthen, prepare, and equip you to step into the bigness of that calling—not just for yourself, but for others. God never sets you up for failure, only for greatness… and in between, there is the preparation.

Even if you didn’t have huge ups and downs in life, there is still more for you! We weren’t created to be machines living unremarkable lives, doing nothing but attending to our basic needs and our simple desires. We were Made For More! So please don’t compare yourself with anyone else. It doesn’t matter if you work at Walmart, or work on Wall Street. You make a difference to everyone who knows you. We are all teachers teaching someone something.

Sociologists report that even the most solitary of people can influence up to ten thousand people in their lifetime. So, think about it… somewhere, right now, you are making a big difference to some very special individuals, who have been watching you, witnessing you, and learning from you. Because of you, they could be the next winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, the next President of The United States of America, or the parent of the next Mother Theresa.

Likewise, there is someone from whom you have been learning. Take those lessons and use them to fight that great fight of faith and go after your dreams. Who knows where that one dream can take you and who else you can inspire? Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” We can all contribute, one small act of faith and one act of kindness at a time for a greater good.

You make a difference, my friend. You’re not too young and you’re not too old to do something amazing for yourself—and for others. You are more than what happened to you. You are more than what others have said. You are more than what others have done to you. You are more than what you have done to others. And you are more than what you have done to yourself.

You are more than all of this. You are Beautiful. And it is the time you know this.” (Made For More (TM), an excerpt of the Preface).

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Manna For Life – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As an international speaker, trainer, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist, I’m known for delivering powerful messages that impact audiences and breaks off lies and misunderstandings so they can step into the fullness of who they really are.

People say I carry great discernment, intuition and words of wisdom. I love working with leaders or emerging leaders who are hungry to Know, Own, and Live their MORE ™ and are teachable, eager and willing to do what it takes to step into their true design – and thrive in it.

I’m most proud of the fact that I have consistently and faithfully given and provided excellence to all those who seek my help. I am not a people-pleaser, so there are times when I have to deliver challenging messages, but I always do so with a heart of love and a pure intention for their breakthrough.

I don’t talk a lot about this because I don’t want this to come out the wrong way, but the thing I am most proud of is that I give more than I take. I also donate a great deal of my time and resources generously to special organizations close to my heart. What you will discover about me is that I am the same on stage as I am sitting with you in my family room. How I live outside my home is the same as I do inside my home.

You can go through every cupboard and closet and know that I am organized, clean, efficient, effective, and productive. And that is how I am outside as well. There is no hidden agenda with me. My intent is the same as my content. I mean it when I say I care about you. I mean it when I ask, “how are you?” I genuinely care about the person, and not their pocketbook or how they can benefit me.

Yes, there is a mutual understanding of reciprocity and working opportunities, but I am not an opportunist. I’ve had the very unpleasant experience of having friends and associates who are like this, and I will have nothing to do with it. I’m also totally in love with dogs and adore laughing snorts.

Manna for Life is a vibrant community of women who embrace the truth that they are Made for More™ – and aren’t afraid to live it:
-We’re a gathering place that is the flint to your dreams becoming a reality.
-We’re story-makers and storytellers.
-We believe that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.
-We believe that your past is your platform.
-We inspire and equip others to share their creativity, brilliance and beauty with the world.
-We’re bold in our uniqueness and courageous in owning it and living it.
-We’re fun and believe laughing-snorts are mandatory, like amazing coffee, warm bread, and 70% dark chocolate.
-We are a movement of love, hope, and possibility.
-We celebrate your matchless design.
-We know that I am…you are… we are… Made for More™

The Made for More™ Community is a fun place for you to connect, interact, inspire and be inspired. It’s a place to express yourself, share your gifts, and be encouraged and supported by like-minded women to go after your “more.”

As a part of our community, you’ll also be the first to know about our upcoming Membership opportunity, upcoming events, pre-released products and gain early access to exclusive content.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love both the simple ease of our culture and the depths and richness of it, and the location and the weather is matchless, of course ☺ I love that it’s possible to have a multitude of fruit trees in my backyard, that avocados are bountiful everywhere in San Diego, that this is both a spiritual faith hub and a medical and scientific hub. And I love the colleagues and friends who are now family to me here.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2683 Via De La Valle, Suite G523, Del Mar, Ca, 92014
• Website: www.mannaforlife.com
• Email: info@mannaforlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannaforlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manna.ko
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mannaforlife

Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.