This is for the free thinkers,

The old souls,

The “ahead of their times”,

The crazy ones,

The rebels,

The dreamers,

The misfits,

Who lives at the edge.

Are you ready to change the world?

I have something very special to share with you today. It’s my failure story.

– THE END –

It’s a story on burnout.

My burnout as a community leader, founder, and conductor.

I failed.

I tried so hard to build the community of my dreams while trying to make money while chasing guest speakers while chasing community members while trying to make a difference and change the world…

All at the same time.

I failed.

I burned out after almost 3 years of trying,

I couldn’t do it anymore, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I tried everything.

I tried to get a team to help out,
It didn’t work. (I didn’t work).

I tried to copy every single community-building tactic out there,
It didn’t work.

I tried to do what others did. and I forgot myself along the way.

I lost the spirit of community.

So I had to take a step back. To move forward.

Like Steve Jobs have famously said:

“You can not connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them by looking backward.”

After a couple of months,

The dots started coming to me in waves…

I had a HUGE void. A void I couldn’t fill, nor could I understand.

I lacked true meaningful connection. (Dot #1)

Community was never something I started as a hobby or as a passion project.

It was something I deeply needed in my life. (Dot #2)

I had no one but myself.

(Imagine the pain when you’re an only child).

I felt cultureless, like a nation without a home.

I was a misfit by blood. (Dot #3)

I hated the idea of fitting in. To go along to get along. To settle.

(An idea well-designed by an industrial society).

At this point,

All the dots were collected but not yet connected.

There was a missing piece.

As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.

Soon enough,

I heard an echo coming from afar.

It could not be ignored;

The closer it gets, the louder it becomes.

It was shouting! CALLING* my name,

A very loud voice saying:

Redefine what family means.

Eradicate loneliness.

Build a world (home) for misfits to be heard.

And I knew deep down in my gut that…

This is my wake-up call. This is my purpose.

But purpose without action is a lost dream, a life full of voids.

This is why I have this sheer responsibility to act on this.

This is how I can change the world.

How?

Re-education.

To do it with:

Art — Autonomy — Freedom — Permission — Generosity — Privilege — Passion — Intuition — Meaning — Impact — Fun

To:

Create long-lasting life experiences that bond us together in a disconnected world.
Do work that matters with people who care.
Challenge conventional thinking with creativity.

Why?

To find my way back home.

To take what’s left and make it right.

To make a better way, the misfit way.

– THE BEGINNING –

If you wish to see me build a world like this,

Or even participate in the co-creation of a misfit nation.

You are invited! For a chance to meet again.

Take it or leave it.

This is a piece of art I’m making here.

If you wish I can build this with you (not for you).

You are invited to a limited (30 seats) private community reunion.

Your Invitation

This isn’t your average reunion.

We’ll be celebrating the spirit of our community.

Expect laughter, memories, and a whole lot of fun.

So, dust off your party shoes, and get ready to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones.

P.S.

Please don’t join if you are not serious about this mission.
Please don’t join if you are not a misfit, rebel, free thinker, old soul, ahead of your time who lives at the edge.
Please don’t join if you are not in it for the long term.
Please don’t join if you don’t believe in the spirit of generosity.
Please don’t join if you don’t believe you can make a difference or change the world.
Please don’t join if you want me to tell you what to do, or give you an instruction manual.