5 Surprising Facts About Marko You Probably Didn’t Know

Posted on by Marko Kircanski

Dear friend,

I think it’s 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 don’t do the same. So it’s 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 there’s 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 wasn’t a pleasant beginning.

Small bonus: Couple of my close people are extroverts, so a big shout-out to them for accepting my innie nature. 🙂

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 don’t 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 you’re 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 agent… 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, that’s 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. I’m 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 wasn’t 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 don’t 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. It’s to never allow the grip of loneliness to embrace them. They are few in numbers, but they are my anchors.

And now, here’s one fact I was really scared to share.

The big surprise…

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, there’s one thing I kept too long to myself. So it’s 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 won’t hug you when you land on that airport, and it won’t tell you: “I enjoy you.”

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. 🙂

I want you to know…

Me in Seattle, April 2019 (I had major conflict should I post a picture of myself lol!)

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 you’ll 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 you’re not), they will be your courage, your strength, and your light when all other lights go out.

If you haven’t found them yet, please keep searching, and know that there’s one soul writing this article who is there to listen and cheer for you, no matter what. 🙂

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?

Why We Need To Find Our Purpose

Posted on by Marko Kircanski

Dear friend,

One of the most important events in our lives is the moment when we discover our genuine purpose. It’s that second of realization when we understand that the puzzle is completed, and when all events of the past become clear to us. When we find our purpose, whether that’s a career, relationship, or another realm of life, we feel fulfillment like we’ve never felt it before.

Why We Need To Find Purpose

In today’s modern world, when you say you want to find purpose, you usually get this response in return: “Stop your daydreaming and philosophy.” This is something that really bothers me, since why should purpose discovery be seen as something strange? Why should it be seen as something that’s taboo?

The answer is simple. Every time when a person gives you the weird look upon mentioning purpose, it’s because they don’t want to find it for themselves. Or because they tried finding it and failed. In their eyes, it’s so much easier to just tell you that you can’t do it, too. It will remind them that they tried, but did not succeed, and that they are living a stagnant, repetitive life. Let me give you an example.

You finish school or college, you get a job, you work, marry, and then retire, period. That’s how most people think these days. I’m not saying this way of life is bad, but this is a heavy blow for a mind that’s hungry for meaning and more knowledge. We need to have a higher purpose and a bigger why in life. If you miss out on that, your life may become repetitive, which leads to stagnation, and to much worse outcomes…

We need to find purpose because it’s the pre-requisite for all the good you want to accomplish. It’s the foundation of not just your own personal success, but also a guarantee that you will find those who will share the same values as you do.

It’s not just about reaching that bigger why. It’s understanding that life can be so much more once you know where to turn your sails, and chart your own course. 🙂

It Will Be Worth It

Wandering through life and living day by day may be a good way to live for some, and that’s okay. But not for everyone. Our purpose should be our guide, and it should be that one thing that gives us the strength to persevere even in our darkest moments. It doesn’t matter what that purpose is, because as long as we have it and see it, we can work on it, upgrade it, and make a difference.

It’s easy to go with the flow and let life unfold day after day. Trust me, that’s the easy part. But when you start planning to do something bigger, that’s when you’ll see all the magnificent possibilities life has to offer.

That’s why discovering purpose is so vital. It’s the founding block of our determination, perseverance, persistence, fulfillment, and happiness. But please know, if you still haven’t found it, don’t despair, you will. It’s only a matter of time.

Don’t forget, the road to reaching your purpose is incredibly important, because it’s not all about the end goal. It’s about who we become on that journey. Embrace these moments when you don’t actually know where to go. They will be one of the most beautiful and adventurous experiences you will ever undertake. They will be worth it, all the way. 🙂

Love,

Marko

Have you found your purpose? If not, how would you describe your journey so far? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!