Working with Leonard Kim: A Former Volunteer’s Perspective

For those curious about what it is like to work with or for Leonard Kim, I aim to provide a comprehensive perspective from a volunteer’s viewpoint, based on my experiences and interactions with him.

Initial Contact and Editing Efforts

My journey with Leonard began through a series of comments I left on his Quora posts, which I found inspiring. One day, Leonard reached out to me to offer editing assistance for his cover letter. Given our prior interactions on Quora, it’s safe to infer that I was considered a friend or someone he respected, albeit for a limited time.

Deeming my input valuable, Leonard decided I could contribute even more, proposing that I help him with his book. Motivated by the spirit of giving and sharing, I agreed to provide free formatting assistance. The size of the task didn’t faze me initially, as my original goal on Quora was to help others by sharing my expertise. As a result, one person's positive impact was paramount.

Challenges and Unmet Expectations

While I wanted to help Leonard, I quickly sensed that my time was being taken advantage of. He had a strict deadline and deluged me with daily messages requesting minor edits and formatting adjustments. Sometimes, by the time I completed one of his requests, another would arrive.

It’s worth noting that while I believed no professional editor would put in such effort, Leonard continued to engage me in such a manner. At one point, I even suggested consolidating his edits for more efficient work, but he insisted on piecemeal corrections, demanding immediate action without regard for the timing or my availability.

Moreover, Leonard would often place words in our mouths during our interactions. For instance, when I mentioned that I could assist him during my work hours, he later implied it was because of my availability during workdays, rather than my willingness.

Creating Boundaries

One weekend, distracted by errands, I failed to check my emails for an entire day. By Sunday night, I returned to an overwhelming flood of messages, totaling over 20 communications across various platforms. The sheer volume and the urgent tone were exhausting and demoralizing. Leonard’s demands didn’t account for my personal time or the weekends.

These pressures eventually led to a definitive boundary: I let him know that I could no longer continue in this manner. It became clear to me that Leonard valued efficiency and immediacy above all else, often at the expense of his volunteers' time and well-being.

Conclusion

While I am not here to denigrate Leonard as a person, my experience paints a picture of a challenging work environment. He showed little respect for my time or opinions, which ultimately affected my willingness to continue volunteering. This experience has left me with a more critical view of his management style, although it’s important to recognize that his intentions may have been noble for a different context.

For anyone considering working with or for Leonard Kim, this feedback offers a valuable insight into what to expect. Success stories often overshadow the realities of working with a demanding and emotionally taxing environment.