Written by: Marina Jankovic, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
When I was a kid, I discovered that putting my story to paper helped me explore and understand my experiences and get stuff off my chest. This process helped me understand my feelings and find my way to move forward.
I continued my journaling practice, and whenever I visualised my future self, my books would be on the living room shelf. I started drafting some of my book chapters years ago, but I still procrastinated, hiding behind my fears of failure and fear of criticism. Although I knew I wanted to write a book for a long time, I didn't dare to make it happen.
Then, 2020 happened. The world started looking different overnight; country borders, offices and schools closed, and collective fear begun growing with the covid-19 pandemic.
My nine and 10-year-old daughters switched to online schooling; my husband turned our bedroom into his office. I turned our laundry room into my space for virtual coaching sessions. And I decided to finish writing my book finally.
Why then?
The time when everything outside started collapsing was the time to go within. The process of writing a book gave me a sense of certainty, despite so many uncertainties, because I saw it as a time with my soul. Yes, there were days when I wanted to put everything on hold and simply wait to become more of an expert, do my academic research or collect more wisdom (typical procrastination strategies!). But I arrived at the place that ignited my inner fire so brightly, so I became compelled to forget about perfectionism, the fact that English is my second language and find the courage to share my message with the world.
When my husband and I decided to move from Dubai to Sydney, I had a few moments of panic with a thought, "There's no way I will be able to get the book done with two kids at home, my new role as their teacher, everyday coaching calls, packing for our big move."
I had moments of feeling guilty, "Surely, I would be a better mother (and definitely a better home-school teacher!) if my attention wasn't divided between the book, my coaching practice and my daughters?!"
Yet, I noticed something interesting.
There was enough time to write a book.
There was enough time to support my children's homeschooling.
There was enough quality time for my husband and me.
There was enough time to be fully present with my coaching clients.
There was enough time to mentor aspiring coaches.
There was enough time for my personal development and coursework.
There was enough time to pack all our stuff and say goodbye to our friends in Dubai and family in Belgrade.
All can work well together when you know your WHY.
What was my WHY for publishing Your Time To Shine?
Your Time To Shine is dedicated to every courageous woman – and man - who chooses to act through fear and self-doubt and share with the world her divine light. However, I could also say that my additional agenda of writing this book is my wish for my daughters to live a life full of wonder and do the work that feeds their souls.
But the truth is, Your Time To Shine is written to contribute to our world.
I want YOU to shine brighter as your light will make our world better, and by doing that, you will light the way for others to follow.
So, I have big expectations of all of us - to never stop dreaming, exploring and finding new ways to transform ourselves and others; creating a world where we all do the work we long to do, bringing our vision to life without overwhelming, and enjoying all the unfolding of these beautiful things.
Of course, you don't have to write a book to accelerate your self-discovery journey. Just pick up a pen and a notepad, or open a Word doc on your laptop and answer the following questions:
What feeds your soul?
What do you LOVE doing so much that the words SUCCESS and FAILURE become irrelevant? What kind of activities help you evolve as a human being?
What is your big WHY to stay courageous on your self-discovery journey?
Be brave. Stay awesome. Share your unique gifts with the world.
Marina Jankovic, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Marina Jankovic is a Master Coach and DE&I Leader with 17 years of international experience in Business Management, Learning & Development and Executive Education. She has managed a Global Talent and Diversity & Inclusion for a company operating in 180 markets and directly contributed to building a more diverse talent pipeline and inclusive culture.
Marina brings psychological depth and a multi-system perspective to her clients and has partnered with numerous private and public sector organisations, both in-house and as a consultant, helping them design and implement experiential learning programs and coaching culture.
Drawing from her own business and talent development experience, along with 3000+ executive coaching hours and hundreds of clients' stories, Marina identifies stepping stones towards creating a more significant impact in business and life.
She is the author of a best-selling book Your Time To Shine, a pearl of practical wisdom for women - and men - to create the lives they want, by choosing courage, leading authentically, and contributing to a better world for the generations to come.
