Former biochemistry researcher, product manager, photographer, public speaker, and an accomplished writer
Dear readers and writers welcome to my new interview story, which introduces an accomplished writer. I enjoy interacting with people from diverse cultures, countries, and professional backgrounds. I have been interviewing professionals for a long time.
On this platform, I specifically enjoy interviewing writers. Each writer’s interview is special to me as each person is unique. My goal is to introduce them to my audience so that they can meet another interesting/relatable person on this planet and explore their work. I discussed the Importance and Remarkable Benefits of Interviews in My Professional and Personal Life.
In this interview, I will introduce Davor Katusic, one of the accomplished writers whom I have known for a while. His stories gave me valuable insights and new perspectives from a different culture, which I admire. I found Davor very thoughtful, approachable, polite, and supportive. He has an interesting background, and you can connect with him easily.
Meet Davor Katusic
Photo courtesy of Davor Katusic
Hi Davor, tell us a bit about your background.
I’m 44 years old, and I live in Zagreb, Croatia. After earning my master’s degree in molecular biology at the Faculty of Science in Zagreb, I worked as a research associate at the biochemistry department of the same faculty.
Over time, I realized that science doesn’t fulfill me; I didn’t enjoy spending time alone in the lab conducting experiments and reading scientific papers, especially considering my modest earnings. So, I joined Servier, a pharmaceutical company, as a medical representative.
Eventually, I was promoted to product manager for a drug used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoidal disease, and that’s what I currently do. However, what I do for a living does not define me.
When someone asks me to introduce myself, I often struggle because I don’t identify with my job, but rather with many of my interests, such as photography, exercising, music, reading, and writing.
Tell us something more about your hobbies.
Photography: I started photography two years ago, and I tremendously enjoy it. Photography helps me be more present and better notice the richness of the world around me. Besides being a very creative hobby, it’s also healthy because it encourages me to walk a lot.
Exercising: I began exercising in 1998, and since then, I haven’t taken a break longer than two weeks. Exercising is the foundation of everything for me, both physically and mentally.
Music: I play the guitar and used to play drums before my daughter was born. I consider music one of the greatest things mankind has ever invented because there’s almost nothing that releases emotions as much as music does. Sometimes I regret not starting with music earlier in my life because I feel like I was born to play music.
Reading and Writing: Just as exercising is for the body, reading and writing are for the mind. I really enjoy being carried away by a good book or getting lost in writing a story.
Why do you write on Medium?
I started writing on Medium after a friend suggested it to me. I was curious to see if I would enjoy writing and how meaningful it might be. Over time, I discovered that I enjoy writing far more than I initially expected. Writing puts me in a state of flow. When I write, I lose track of everything else, and the experience becomes deeply enjoyable. I didn’t anticipate it being as rewarding as it has turned out to be.
Moreover, I feel that writing makes me wiser, in a sense. It forces me to think deeply about specific topics and situations. As a result, when similar things happen in real life, I feel more prepared because I’ve already reinforced myself through my thoughts and writings.
Another important benefit of writing on Medium is that it helps me master English. I believe that being proficient in English is a crucial skill to have. While some native English speakers may not fully realize its significance, as a non-native speaker, I understand its importance. Writing on Medium allows me to constantly improve my English skills.
What are your values as a writer?
My values as a writer revolve around two main points: authenticity and bringing value. By valuing authenticity, I believe that we write the best stories and have the strongest impact when we are true to ourselves — when we write about what we genuinely care about and do so in an honest and sincere manner.
I believe that each of us should dare to express our unique personalities, even if it means addressing controversial or widely debated views. It is through this kind of genuine expression that our writing holds real value for the community. If we only copy others, we quickly get lost in a sea of sameness.
The second important point I consider is whether my writing brings value. Did I solve someone’s problem? If I were the reader, would I pay for the information I’m providing? Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it isn’t, but I always evaluate my writings in this way before publishing.
What are the top three books that affected your life?
The top three books that have significantly influenced me at different stages of my life are:
- “Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding” by Arnold Schwarzenegger: This book had a profound impact on me during my 20s. It introduced me to physical fitness, which I consider the most important discovery and activity of my life, as it improved my physical appearance, health, and mindset.
- “I Am That” by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: I regard this book as the wisest of all time because it guides one toward understanding the true nature of reality. It helped me break free from religious and mainstream perspectives and dogmas, encouraging me to think differently about life, death, happiness, and suffering.
- “Reflections on the Art of Living” by Joseph Campbell (compiled by Dianne Osborn): Joseph Campbell connects mythology with principles for living in modern society through this book. I find it very inspiring, as it encourages me to live authentically.
How do you connect with your readers?
I connect with my readers through active engagement. When I come across a story that inspires me, I leave a thoughtful comment that goes beyond a simple “nice work.” I also make it a priority to respond to all comments left on my stories and take the time to explore the portfolios of those who engage with my work.
Why did you join Illumination, and how have you found it so far?
I joined Illumination because I noticed that many writers with a large following contribute here. Additionally, I discovered someone who has greatly helped me in my writing journey — Dr. Mehmet Yildiz — without whose support I would have felt much more lost in all of this.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s luck or destiny, and Joseph Campbell’s beautiful quote confirms that things like this happen when we follow our own path. “When you follow your bliss, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open doors to you.”
Joining the Illumination community, and connecting with you, has truly made a difference, because, when I compare my first stories with the current ones, the contrast in quality is like night and day. That growth is thanks to him and, of course, to my own efforts.
Who are the top writers you follow on Illumination?
There are some people that I follow with whom I’ve connected, and they also have excellent articles. Apart from you I closely follow Joe Gibson, Above The Middle, John Pearce 🌻, and Paul Dotta
What are the top five stories that you want to share with your audience and why?
I wouldn’t say that these are necessarily the best five stories I have read, yet I have bookmarked them because I wanted to have them as a future reference, and they are all dealing with writing:
Two by Derek Hughes
Two by you
Here’s What I Learned by Reviewing 100+ Viral Articles in 2021
And the last one by Os Ishmael
How about your own stories? You wrote many. Give us 10 if possible.
I am not as prolific as you are, but yes,I wrote many stories. Here are some of my special pieces.
What are the success factors for you as a writer on Medium?
- Develop the habit of writing daily, but not necessarily publishing daily: Consistency in writing is key, even if you don’t publish every day. This helps improve your skills and maintain momentum.
- Join a community that will guide you and speed up the process: Being part of a supportive community can provide valuable feedback, encouragement, and faster growth as a writer.
- Find a role model for your writing: Identify writers whose work you admire. Analyze what makes their stories appealing to you and try to incorporate those elements into your own writing.
- Write personal stories backed by research: Sharing personal experiences makes your writing relatable, and supporting them with research adds credibility and depth.
- Relentlessly edit before pressing the “publish” button: Thorough editing is crucial. Ensure that your story is polished, clear, and free of errors before you publish.
- Ensure logical flow and relevance to the main topic: Your story should flow logically, with each part contributing to the main topic. Avoid tangents that don’t serve the core message.
- Favor quality over quantity: Prioritize creating well-crafted, thoughtful pieces over churning out a large volume of content. Quality writing is more likely to resonate with readers and stand the test of time.
- Stay vigilant to new experiences: Ask yourself how you can turn them into stories.
What do you recommend to new writers on Illumination?
I suggest new writers spend time on Illumination to improve their writing quality and connect with the community. This platform offers valuable opportunities for growth and learning.
However, I also want to point out that writing on Medium may not be a long-term solution for everyone, as views and engagement can be quite low — at least in my experience. For example, despite having 1.9k subscribers and six boosted stories, I currently receive only about 5 views across all my stories combined on a daily basis.
Therefore, I recommend that new writers use Illumination and Medium to develop their craft and then evaluate whether to continue writing here or explore other platforms. Currently, my priority is writing on Substack, and I would be glad to connect with you there.
What are your plans as a writer?
My plans are to improve my writing every day, and, in the mid to long term, to earn money from writing if I can. I recently joined Substack and enjoy it very much. Combining Medium with Substack is my strategy. Here is the link to my new Substack newsletter. I named it Thoughtful Corner. Thank you for the opportunity to interview me and introduce me to your audience. I am grateful.
Many thanks to Davor Katusic for taking the time to give us a glimpse into his exciting life. You can connect with him on ILLUMINATION’s Slack workspace, follow him Instagram, and message him on Substack Notes.
To learn about his public speaking skills, you may enjoy this excellent TED talk by Davor.
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Thank you for watching Davor speech, reading his stories, and connecting with him.
I recently wrote a book titled Substack Mastery. If you are interested, I share the early version as one chapter a day for my beta readers. Here is the first chapter for beginners,
Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 1
What is Substack, why it matters, and how to start itmedium.com
Please explore some leading newsletters featured by ILLUMINATION-Curators in episode 7 released earlier today. It is an excellent collaboration tool to grow your Substack profile and newsletters.
Substack Mastery Featured Newsletters: Episode 7
Curated newsletters of writers contributing to the Substack Mastery publication on Medium for joyful collaboration and…medium.com
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Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
If you are a new reader, you may check out some of my topics, including the brain, mental health, cognitive function, significant health conditions, longevity, nutrition/food, valuable nutrients, ketogenic lifestyle, self-healing, weight management, writing/reading, including 100+ Insightful Life Lessons from My Circles for the Last 50+ Years.
I publish my health and wellness stories on EUPHORIA and share distilled versions on SUBSTACK. My posts do not include professional or health advice. I only document my reviews, observations, experiences, and perspectives to provide information and create awareness.
If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 31K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. You can contact me via my website. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories. Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium. Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers
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