Dear friend,
It can be so difficult to find people who will actually be there. It took me almost 31 years before I found people who are always there for me, no matter what. But the road to reaching that point was more difficult that I could have ever imagined. The reason was simple.
I Was The Only One Who Was Always There
In the past, I was the one who would send that first message or start the conversation. It doesn’t matter how close I was to that person, if I would stop reaching out and being there, I would never hear from them ever again.
This pattern kept repeating itself to the point where I started losing hope that something will ever change for the better. But this wasn’t just about mere presence. The lack of response triggered deep traumas from my past.
Even though I had what you call a regular childhood, that was only a mirage. The reality was that I felt lonely for most of my life. Imagine writing something that’s important to you to someone close only to never receive a response, or get one after a few days with only a nonchalant: “Oh I forgot to respond back.”
Understand, this was something that was happening for years to me. I almost decided one day few years back that I don’t need anyone, and that I’m okay on my own. Luckily, I was wrong regarding that. But I still felt like I’m a merely option to everyone back then.
Because I don’t want you to go through what I did, here’s a small letter to You who are always there.
My Letter To Everyone Who Are always There
I just returned from a small weekend getaway where I took some time to recharge, and hear my own thoughts for the first time in a long time. I’m a firm believer that we sometimes need to silence the external world in order to hear our own clearer.
However, even though I was mostly offline, I kept communicating with only one person on a regular basis. Apart from this amazing human, I made a conscious decision not to message with almost anyone else, as like I said, I needed time to re-align myself.
I had so many incredibly meaningful conversations with this amazing human during my weekend getaway from social media. The surefire way you can know when these talks are impactful is when you completely lose the track of time.
It’s when you forget about the fact you ordered food half an hour ago and you’re perfectly okay with it because you received and are listening a lovely new song, or laughing at a wonderful meme they sent you. It’s when you need help choosing the right sweater (Yes, I’m terrible at shopping for myself lol), and you get complete support in choosing the right one after just one message. š
Because of this, and so many other reasons that would need at least a thousand more pages for me to write to explain it, I’m there for this wonderful person no matter what happens. And I want to tell you something. Be there for those incredible souls like the one I just described, always.
You know why?
Because you’re going to forget all about those who left. You won’t think twice about those who hurt you, or even blink at the mention of the ones who told you you were too much. You will simply be too busy being there for those who are there for you too.
Please trust that you will find the people who will grace you with their full presence and attention. I know it might not look like that right now, but I promise you this.
There will come a day when you will be tired, overwhelmed, exhausted, and upset, but then you’ll look at your phone and see:
“I’m here.”
And everything you went through will be worth it just by seeing these two words. š
Love,
Marko
Do you have people in your life who are there for you as much as you are for them? What’s your experience with this? I would love to hear from you in the comments below! š
It’s Okay To Be Emotional
Dear friend,
Iāll be honest and say that this weekend wasnāt the best for me. From time to time, my mind has to release everything that has been gathered through a certain period of time. Those thoughts have to go out somewhere. This weekend was that time. Confusion came, and tears couldnāt stop pouring down my cheeks. I needed to free my emotions from the prison of my own mind.
Itās Okay To Be Emotional
You must understand, there arenāt many people who will understand how to properly express emotions in a health way. Humans are emotional, walking paradoxes. You may find us perfectly calm and calculated from the outside, while on the inside we are like a tsunami ready to storm the shore. I cannot hide my emotions and only couple of people ever saw me broken to the point where I couldnāt focus at all.
Iāll give you an example. Iām rarely upset when something happens to me personally. Of course I get anxious about it, but Iām usually pretty calm. As I mentioned, only a couple of people saw me completely broken. But when something bad is happening to the ones I love the most, now this is a whole other story.
It doesnāt matter if Iāve met you yesterday, but if you are going through something difficult, Iāll forget about my sleep, pour a big cup of coffee, and Iāll listen to whatever you want to tell me. Maybe I donāt know you that well, but I know what pain is. And everyone earned the right to be heard.
I lost sleep for the ones I care for the most so many times I lost count. And I donāt regret a single night spent awake if that meant a minute of peace for that one human thatās important to me. Due to the nature of what I do, hearing storied of tragedy, abandonment, and rejection, I had to teach myself one more thing besides that itās okay to be emotionalā¦ Ā
Listen And Be Vulnerable
Open up and be vulnerable. Wear your heart on a sleeve. You will be hurt, make no mistake about it. But life is hard enough, you will learn that lesson eventually! So before you, do, show your emotional, vulnerable side as something youāre proud of, not something you want to constantly hide.
Just a few years back I didnāt have anyone who would acknowledge, and even tell me that everything is going to be okay, or just hold my hand in silence and understanding. I was alone, with only myself to encourage. My mind and heart were the only ones holding the fort against loneliness and sadness.
The situation is different now, but what I want to tell you is, donāt hold back how you feel. Itās okay to be emotional. Maybe that moment will catch you in a park, bus, while hiking, at home, anywhere, but when it does, donāt swallow up how you feel.
This weekend was the time when I needed to bring some clarity to my confused mind. I talked and messaged with a couple of people that I deeply care for, to reassure myself Iām not completely alone in this.
Not many know this about me, but working as a journalist in the past, I had a chance to meet some pretty amazing people. J
So when I met Nick Vujicic, the author of āLife without Limbsā, and a famous motivational speaker, he told me something that Iāll never forget. He explained to me why tears matter, and why we should let out our emotions, why you need to be vulnerable:
āRemember this every time when you are sad or lonely. Tears clean the windows of our soul. Your emotions are what makes you unique and wonderful.ā ā Nick Vujicic
Let your amazing emotions surface my friends, because I promise that you will feel better, and see things much clearer. š
Love,
Marko
How often do you open up to people? How does being vulnerable and emotional impact your daily life? We would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comment section below!
3 Simple Ways To Overcome A Social Hangover
Dear friend,
Many I had the chance to speak with face this problem. The infamous social hangover that renders our energy and focus to a bare minimum is something many people experienced, including me. It goes without saying that itās in direct connection with when we are engaged in multiple social activities for days at a time. But thereās a catch. We can only endure so much of it before we become overwhelmed and drained.
Social hangover is real
Since holidays are closing in, you only need to imagine the following scenario. You are surrounded by dozens of people, and are forced to engage in dreaded small talk over and over again. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, it wonāt take long before your energy levels drop to zero.
You start feeling as if youāre suffocating, and in need of fresh air. Itās the kinda feeling we all felt at some point in our life. It’s as if the room isnāt big enough, and you get that claustrophobic sensation to desperately breathe in some fresh air.
This is all too real. Donāt get me wrong, we love our people and want to spend time with them. Humans are social creatures, and spending time with those we cherish the most is amazing! But we also need time with our own thoughts, and the holiday season renders that time almost impossible to get.
No wonder so many of us feel anxious, nervous, and under huge stress realizing, social hangover is real. Ā Ā
Having said that, Iāll get straight into sharing with you the three most effective ways to overcome social hangover, and to prepare for it before it happens.
3 ways to overcome a social hangover
1. Plan your exit strategy in advance. Itās vital that you plan how you will leave the event before you reach a social hangover moment. Determine how many hours you can stay before approaching that limit. Remember, you are not being selfish, you are protecting yourself, and by doing so, you will also give more focused attention to everyone around you before you decide to leave. Carefully plan how much you can endure before you need to recharge.
2. Expand small talk to a genuine conversation. You will inevitably experience small talk when you’re in a large crowd which is extremely draining. So when you find yourself in a situation like this, try to shift the topic youāre covering to something more meaningful. This will help reduce the social hangover dramatically. For example, if you speak with someone about a book, ask them about the main character, their actions in that specific book, or their thoughts about the message the book brings. Small talk may happen, but that doesnāt mean that you have to stay in that realm.
3. Embrace solitude as a must. I cannot stress how important this is. In order for you to recharge your batteries, you must spend a little bit of time alone, because you have to look after yourself, too. And that means lots of solitude after exhausting events, too much small talk, and being surrounded by people for large quantities of time. You donāt have to surround yourself with complete silence. Put some silent music in the background, be in nature, meditate, journal, play with your furry friend, or simply take a replenishing nap. Anything that will nurture your mind and body will do the trick.
Remember that sometimes social hangovers will happen no matter how much we try to avoid them. But by applying these three simple, but effective techniques, you will be able to conquer social hangover and give that much needed care to yourself. š
Love,
Marko
Whatās your experience with social hangovers? Do you have a specific technique how you approach them? We would love to hear from you in the comments below! š
I’m Sorry, I Don’t Want To Bother You
Dear friend,
Iām sorry, I donāt want to bother you.
Does this sound familiar? I honestly donāt know how many times Iāve said this sentence myself. In a strange way, itās imprinted in my mind, and Iām always on the alert when it comes out to the surface. If you are an empath, or even a HSP (highly sensitive person), you can see how the words mentioned above trigger a lot of unpleasant emotions. Ā
Iām sorry, I donāt want to bother you
So, to get straight to the point, there are two main reasons that are the cause and root of why we think we actually bother people.
1. We think they will abandon us. Many of us faced abandonment at some point in their life. And Iām no different. So when we meet someone and start to open up more and more, fear of abandonment comes into the fray. We constantly analyze what we say, how we say it, is this enough or not, is my message okay, and the list goes on. Our overthinking mind tirelessly monitors our actions, and the pressure can be incredibly overwhelming.
2. We donāt want to burden anyone. So many of us know all too well how it feels to be misunderstood and overwhelmed. To avoid this, we become so careful not to do something like that to the person we care about. That causes self-sabotage, since our brain will sometimes rather sabotage a potential friendship or a relationship, than to feel guilty about overwhelming anyone in any way. Itās like an enchanted circle that hurts, and closes our heart to the point where few people are ever able to open it again.
That’s why we’re here to remind youā¦
Youāre not too much!
You must allow this thought to enter your mind. You are not bothering anyone! It took me years to figure this out, because the thing is, your care and concern is what people need. Many are so used to be treated badly, that when they come across someone who is so caring and understanding as you are, they get scared by it.
But thatās not your fault. Itās not your job to save everyone. What you can do is, continue to care with all your heart. Of course you will get hurt and of course some people will leave, but your life is not tied to the ones who do. Let them go. Let them exit at the next train station, and focus on the ones who are with you on this train to the end.
Donāt stop caring because someone was unable to appreciate it. If thereās something I learned, itās that you will be too much for some people. They are not your people. As certain as the dawn, I can promise you, you will find those who will return that feedback, and give you that beautiful care and love you so earned. š
One more timeā¦
Thereās nothing wrong with you, there never was. No matter how many people left, they only did that to free the space for the right ones to enter your life. These souls will stay for the ride, because they will see what I see in you while Iām writing this.
I see a kind, caring, and an understanding human being that you are. You are not bothering anyone. <3
Love,
Marko
Is the topic of this article something you can relate with? I would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below!
5 Surprising Facts About Marko You Probably Didn’t Know
Dear friend,
I think itās time I share with you some details about myself that I never shared before. It dawned to me yesterday while I was daydreaming on a pleasant Saturday afternoon that here at Dauntless I always ask from you to be vulnerable, but in many instances, I donāt do the same. So itās time to change that.
Without further delay, here are five interesting facts about me that might surprise you.
1. My INFJ discovery. When I found out that I was an INFJ (the rarest personality type), of course I was happy like all INFJs probably are when discovering this. I finally confirmed to myself that thereās nothing wrong with me. But unlike most, it did not bring me clarity. Quite the contrary. It took me some time to accept it, because I wore the extroverted mask for so long, that I believed I was one. My INFJ discovery wasnāt a pleasant beginning.
Small bonus: Couple of my close people are extroverts, so a big shout-out to them for accepting my innie nature. š
2. The bullying. I was bullied most of my life. Starting from childhood, all the way to high school when it got even worse, even physical. I was the quiet kid who was always picked on, never really given a chance to be who I am. I never raised my voice and I never sought revenge. Instead, I chose my books and solitude as two best friends at the time when I had none. Not many know this, but the reason why I donāt sleep much at night is because I have nightmares on a regular basis due to the bullying I went through as a teenager.
3. Public appearance careers. Know any job where youāre in the spotlight? Well, I did most of them in the past. I was a journalist, event-organizer, announcer, human resources manager, public speaker, customer support agentā¦ Before what I do now at Dauntless Inspiration alongside my dear friend Giselle, I did all those jobs that asked me to always be in the center of attention. For an introvert, thatās not a good combination as we rather want to stay behind the scenes.
4. New Beginning. I never left the borders of my home country for 29 years, (Serbia) before moving to Canada back in March 2018. Iām 31 now. It took me more than five years of preparation to reach the point where I am currently. Only a couple of people know the full extent of what I was going through. It wasnāt easy, but I somehow managed to pull it off. But in order to do that, I left my 9/5 job, moved to a smaller city to save money, had to fully let go the former version of myself, and lost all my friends while preparing to make that leap of faith. You must understand, not everyone agreed with me on what I wanted to do. Well, almost no one did.
5. My bigger why in life. When someone asks me what is my purpose, I only tell them: People. When you grow up lonely and without friends (I donāt have that close of a bond with my family, never did), you do your best to find your people, those who understand and accept you for who you are. My purpose in life is to be there for those I love the most. Itās to never allow the grip of loneliness to embrace them. They are few in numbers, but they are my anchors.
And now, hereās one fact I was really scared to share.
The big surpriseā¦
As much as I want to make a global difference with Dauntless Inspiration, and I know I will do that alongside my amazing friend Giselle, thereās one thing I kept too long to myself. So itās time for me to let it out.
The goal that pushes me forward, the reason why I travel so much, the wind behind my back, that bigger why in life I talked about to me is to sit next to someone I care for the most. Just to sit next to them. To listen and talk about something meaningful, or just simple things.
Years of isolation and focusing only on career taught me that no amount of money, influence, or power will hold your hand when you need to let it all out. It wonāt hug you when you land on that airport, and it wonāt tell you: āI enjoy you.ā
So if life ever presents me a choice, to choose between my career I sacrificed so much for, or the people I love more than myself? Well, I will not blink twice if I ever have to make that choice. š
I want you to knowā¦
You will accomplish a lot in life on your own. As in, hella lot. But be vulnerable when you can, and trust the ones you cherish the most. Not because you will give your heart on a sleeve, and thus maybe allow someone to hurt you, but because this is how youāll find the people who are meant to enter your life, and stay.
These people, the ones who stay no matter how difficult to love you believe you are (and youāre not), they will be your courage, your strength, and your light when all other lights go out.
If you havenāt found them yet, please keep searching, and know that thereās one soul writing this article who is there to listen and cheer for you, no matter what. š
Love,
Marko
I literally poured my heart in this article, so I would love to hear what you think. What are your thoughts on the choices life gives us? How much are you willing to sacrifice to reach the place where you wanna be, and be with those you love?
How To Know When Enough Is Enough
Dear friend,
Nothing is more powerful than a clear, conscious determination. When we want to reach a goal, few things can deter us from it. As long as weāre not hurting anyone in any way, we shouldnāt give up, because itās in our DNA to make a difference and go that extra mile. But you need to know when to stop if what you want to accomplish is overwhelming you. Sometimes, knowing enough is enough can be difficult to see. Ā
Knowing when enough is enough
Donāt confuse knowing when to stop with surrendering. Stopping is not the same as giving up. When you give up on something or someone, thatās something truly unimaginable for the majority of us. Itās in human nature to stay connected and do what we can to fix the situation. But withdrawing from a person or a career that is toxic and is overwhelming us is something else entirely.
Learning how to stop can be a lifelong challenge, no mistake about it. I know so many people who are hardcore idealists, but this is how problems with knowing when itsā enough tend to appear. That persistence can blind us from seeing when enough is enough.
When you tell yourself that you had enough of that toxic treatment from someone, or moments when you are humiliated by your boss or coworkers, thatās called courage. Youāre not giving up, you are actually protecting yourself in the bravest way possible.
When you decide to withdraw in peace instead of getting into a heated argument, thatās called strength. So the question needs to be askedā¦
When is a good time to stop?
It depends from person to person. For example, I found out I have the rarest personality type (INFJ) when I was 25 years old. Before my INFJ finding, I played the extroverted role for so long, that I actually didnāt believe when my MBTI result showed that Iām an INFJ.
A small side-note here, many people I admire in life are extroverts, so this is in no way me saying thatās a bad thing. Actually, the INFJ personality is called the extroverted introvert. š
So for me, the crucial moment was when I stopped wearing masks and fully accepted myself instead. Of course I have moments when I doubt myself. But when I decided that I had enough of pretending I’m someone else, and stopped chasing something that might look good on the surface, but could harm me in the future, everything changed.
It all looks easy when itās written like this, does it? But let me assure you, in order for you to blossom, you need to let some people go, at least those who are toxic. I learned that I need to follow my heart and believe what my mind tells me, even if Iām alone in it. So I stopped following the crowd and started listening myself.
How will we know?
Thereās no such a thing as a good time to know when enough is enough. You create that moment yourself. Itās similar when someone tells you: āIāll do this when Iām readyā. The truth is that if you wait for the perfect moment, it will never come. Thereās no such thing. Itās always a good time to do what is right, and in our case, to choose ourselves.
Youāre not giving up on anyone. Some people will be against you no matter what you do, and you will be judged regardless of what you do. Itās up to you to decide will you continue that pointless pursuit, or say to yourself: āStop, thatās enough.ā
I hope you choose yourself my dear friend, because you are enough, even if thereās no one there to acknowledge it. <3
Much love,
Marko
P.S When time allows you, please feel free to join our official and privateĀ Facebook GroupĀ (now over 250 members, yay!) where youāll be fully accepted and supported, just the way you are. We would love to see you there! š
What are your thoughts on knowing when to stop and letting go? How do you handle this? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
Difficult Truth About Making Friends
Dear friend,
It’s not easy making friends. It’s difficult meeting someone new. Going through the entire process all over again when you know how many times you’ve been hurt in the past causes a lot of anxiety. Whoever told you time heals everything was wrong. It helps, but some scars remain. I should know.
Always The Outsider
As long as I can remember, I was always the outsider. Being alone is something I embrace as an introvert, but humans are social creatures. We need the presence of those we love the most in our life. But that wasn’t the case in my childhood, especially teen years.
What I’m about to share is something I never talked about publicly. So please forgive me if the words you see seem a little disjointed. It’s taking me everything I got to focus, and not burst into tears (yes, I’m that emotional).
Throughout my life, rarely did I have understanding from those closest to me. That changed couple of years back, but we’re talking about the time when my only friend was, a video game.
The validation and acceptance I desperately wanted never came. So I had to find another way to find lift myself when no else was there. I started playing video games to escape the real world and that seemed to worked, at least for a while.
I had to leave my room sometimes though. The moment that happened I faced mockery, judgment, rejection, and continuous lack of support. The worst part was that I couldn’t talk to anyone, because the society where I grew up in casts aside everyone who is different in any way.
This entire chapter of my life I described above shaped me into the person I am today, and showed me one difficult, but in a way, liberating truth.
It’s Not Easy To Make Friends
It took me almost 30 years to finally reach a point where I have a healthy support system in place. People walk out of our lives for various reasons. Some make sense, some not. So most of us have a difficult time making new friends.
This is not because there’s something wrong with you, or because you’re difficult to love. You’re not too much, and you’re not worthless. None of this is true, and I absolutely refuse to believe it.
The truth is, it’s difficult to connect with other human beings. I’m not talking about small talk or temporary business encounters. I’m talking about that genuine, deep, meaningful connection we want to have with someone.
I’ll be completely honest, there are only three people in my life with whom I managed to create that authentic bond. Even though I deeply respect those from my past that could be on this list, by their own choice they are not longer in my life so they’re not applicable to be included.
It’s not easy to make friends because we’re tired of fake relationships, temporary connections, and people who just want to use us.
However, despite the fact that meeting someone who might just be that friend we were looking for is ridiculously hard, it’s possible. š
So the question is, how will we know?
You’ll Know It When It Happens
There’s no scientific method or a course that will show you how this happens. It just does. So how will you know?
You’ll just know. In you heart, you’ll feel you found this person who will be someone who’ll listen, support, love, understand, and accept you just the way you are. Unconditionally.
Deep within, down to the very core of your soul, you’ll know you found a friend. <3
Xo,
Marko
I’ve put a lot of emotions into this article, so I would love to hear your experiences with making friends in the comment section. Is this difficult for you, too?
P.S When time allows you, check out our privateĀ Facebook GroupĀ where youāll be accepted, encouraged, supported, and listened, just the way you are.Ā š
Why People Abandon Us
Dear friend,
This will be one of the most difficult articles Iāve written so far. I will try not going into too much detail, and get right on point, as abandonment is something not many of us want to analyze. We just want it to stop. This incredibly difficult moment is something almost everyone I had the chance to speak with went through, including myself.
Why people abandon us?
There are a lot of scientific explanations on how abandonment impacts the person’s mind, and how you can reduce its devastating effects. But I will not cover that. Instead, Iāll take a different approach.
Recently, a friend of mine for whom I thought would be there through thick and thin simply abandoned me. Just like that. Naturally, I tried analyzing every single scenario in the book, searching for why, how, and what did I say wrong. I must have went through a thousand different scenarios, looking for what actually happened. When I finally asked her why, all I got (taking a deep breath):
āYou were too much.ā
No coaching certificate, years of working with world-famous speakers and entrepreneurs, dozens of coaching clients, or hundreds of personality type written articles in the past could have prepared me for these words.
I felt as if they hurt they very core of my soul, the essence of who I am. And to this day, this and events like these are among the most painful ones I ever had to go through. If Iām honest with you, I often have nightmares because of it.
However, in a brief moment of clarity during all that confusion and sadness, I found something that instantly made me feel, well I donāt want to say better, but more focused.
None of it was your fault
Iām gonna be as clear as I possibly can here. Nothing you did or said contributed for that person to abandon you. It wasnāt your fault, none of it. It was their decision, and their decision alone, period. You did everything you could to preserve that relationship.
Itās impossible for me to say: āMove onā or āForget about itā. We both know thatās not going to happen today. But what I will say is, when one door close, another opens. I know, sounds so clichĆ©, right? Well itās true. Never will you see a closed path without the universe opening another one for you. Call it however you want, but this is how life works.
Make no mistake, abandonment will hurt like hell, worse than any other nightmare you ever dreamed of. But it happened because it had to happen. Did you deserve it? Of course not! Are you a good person? Of course you are! Stop there, please my friend. Donāt dig deeper. I searched for closure in my most recent abandonment event. Yet the further I looked, the sadder I became.
When someone leaves you, grieve it, be sad about it, cry it out, but thatās not the end. I realized even as the wound was still fresh, that there will always be someone who will stay. Thereās always going to be that one soul who will accept you just the way you are, and simply refuse to leave.
If you’re going through abandonment right now, or if memories of it returned, remember one thing. Don’t abandon yourself. I know how you feel, Iāve been there. But I assure you, it will hurt more if you start digging deeper and search for a closure.
You got it already. That person left without giving you the decency of a simple explanation. Let that be your closing moment. If thereās one thing our mind and heart agree with (thatās a miracle by itself), itās that some people will choose to exit our life no matter what we say or do.
Why people abandon us? Because they’re making room for those who wonāt be a mere chapter in your book of life. They will write that novel alongside with you, right to the very end. š
Please remember something I already mentioned. Your value is not determined by someone inability to see it. Donāt abandon who you are and be your own greatest hero. You already are one in my book. <3
Love
Marko
Have you ever experienced abandonment? What did you do to overcome it? We would deeply appreciate to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Why You Need To Believe In Others
Dear friend,
The inner strength we as humans have knows no bounds. Itās almost limitless. However, we canāt do everything alone. Believe me, I tried. Five years ago I thought that I could do everything by myself, but the only thing I succeeded is overwhelming my mind and heart. Thatās why you need to put a little faith and trust in others, too.
Why itās important to believe in others
I know that people hurt you in the past, and that youāre probably feeling hurt even now. Iām also fully aware that you might hold some reservations towards certain ones who made you cry, and made you feel as if you are not worthy. But this article is not about them.
This is about me telling you that thereās still some good left in this world. There is still kindness to be found in others. Through the dozens of emails Giselle and I receive every week, we see and feel your pain. Every sentence I read brings me back to my past when I was hurt too. I was abandoned, rejected, humiliated, and mocked more times than I can count. But I never lost faith in people.
This is an important article for me because it symbolizes that life will lead you to the right people. But this is not about me. Itās about one person who has seen something in me when I couldnāt. Itās about a person who saw that strength of my heart when it was just beating without direction. She is my inspiration, my friend, she is my hero. When I thought I couldnāt do something and when I saw gray skies above, she was and is there to remind me what matters.
All my gratitude goes to Giselle Loayza, one of the Founders of Dauntless Inspiration and one of my dearest friends. š
You need to believe in people
You need to believe in people my dear friend. No matter how many times you got hurt.Ā This is coming from someone who perfectly understands you, and who went through a lot of painful events that left their mark. There will always be those who will never understand you, but thatās okay. Please donāt lose hope in others because of these negative experiences. They happened so that they could show you exactly who you donāt want to be.
Heroes exist. Iāve met mine, and I refuse to believe that humanity is a lost cause. Forgive them, give someone a second chance, and let go of the past, but donāt forget to protect yourself too. Believe in others, not because you want to please everyone, but because this is how you will change the world. You will change your life when you put a little faith in that someone who you see as your friend and an inspiration.
You donāt have to do this alone
Believe in others and I promise you, that kindness and belief will find its way back to you. I am an introvert, but few things recharge me more than having a meaningful talk with someone who is close to my heart.
Wear your heart on a sleeve and be vulnerable. You might get hurt and rejected, but there are far worse things than that. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, is nothing.
See, thatās why believing in others might be risky, but you only need it to happen once for you to see what amazing difference it will make. <3
Love,
Marko
How often are you vulnerable in front of those close to you? Whatās your experience with opening up to others? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! š
Katherine’s Story: How To Reach Your Dream In Less Than 12 Months
How Katherine Pomerantz Went From Freelance Actress To Successful Business Owner And Financial Expert In Less Than 12 Months With No Previous Experience
Katherine had always been what you would call a free spirit.Ā She grew up near Denver Colorado and enjoyed all the outdoor activities you can imagine doing in that area of the country and after college she decided to travel the world for 15 months before settling down in Norman, Oklahoma with her husband.
She found herself settling in well in Oklahoma right after getting married however she could not find work as an artist.Ā Getting married changed her perspective and she had two defining events happen in her life that got her to the point where she’s at now.
She started working many different jobs and was working 60 to 80 hour weeks at one point, just to make ends meet. One day at one of her jobs as a line cook she had the realization that it would be IMPOSSIBLE to buy a house on her salary plus she just couldn’t work any more hours and she became fully aware that she was in fact struggling with money.
She ended up leaving that job and took on a summer job at a theatre festival.Ā She needed a break, something fun to do to take her mind off things.Ā And that’s when the breakthrough came, as she was taking her break at work she was sitting down on the tile floor just EXHAUSTED & started looking at her phone and she came across an ad on launching your her bookkeeping business, the light bulb went on and the rest is history, as they say.
Now her accounting firm called The Bookkeeping Artist has hundreds of clients around the globe and her content reaches thousands.Ā Her financial expertise has been featured in Buzzfeed, Penny Hoarder and The Stacking Benjamins podcast.
Some advice on starting your own business from Katherine
Thereās a big difference between education and implementation.Ā At some point you just have to try it and take action.Ā Just say YES and give it a shot.
Build out a business/life plan: get clear on what your plan is! Keep the numbers out & make it about people! What does your future look like?Ā What is your mission?Ā What are your values ?Ā Why are you in business? Why are you in that career or job?Ā Who are you helping?Ā What do you want to be known for?
Take your time and write all this out, it will not be enough to do this in your head. And learn to push through money blocks as a business owner.
One of the secrets to her success was overcoming her money blocks. As a business owner you can’t afford a money block taking you out of the business.Ā It may take you years to get over a money block however you have to keep moving despite those blocks.Ā Recognize when you have one, don’t let it stop you, deal with it, work on it and just bring it along with you, push through it to keep your business coming along.
The one thing you can do right now to get you on the right financial path
If youāre struggling financially, if youāre having problems with your money mindset or have any money blocks this is what you do.
You create a money story and become the Hero in it.Ā This is what the richest and best investors and business people in the world do when looking at their money.Ā They create a new relationship between them and their money.
Look at your financial reports (personal budget or bank statement), take all of the information on there and tell a story about it. If you like the story then get on board with the story.Ā Make sure you put money in a good light in your story.Ā Money will either be the hero or the villain (money blocks) in your story.
Do you struggle with fear of failure or fear of success?
Katherine recommends you learn to recognize when you are avoiding to deal with your fears or procrastination, which can be a coping mechanism.Ā In other words, recognize and be more self aware of when you are afraid & do it anyway.
She remembers back from her acting training that stage fright is a very real thing.Ā Back when she was performing in a movie or on stage sometimes in front of thousands of people it’s not that she was not afraid because stage fright it’s NEVER not present, however all her mentors and trainers always told her that if she ever was about to go on stage and she didn’t have stage fright, to quit.Ā This would have been proof that she didn’t care anymore.
This was the best piece of advice she ever received because she realized that she was okay with being afraid and could still act in spite of it, and you can too.
Love,
Giselle
What is your biggest takeaway from this article? Has Katherine’s story inspired you, and how? We would love to hear from you in the comments below! š