This is Markus van Driel. Driven by passion, motivated by life.

His story isn’t that different from the stories of many other gay professionals.

Life in the closet

The first years of his life he spent in the closet, where, instead of embracing your identity, you feel ashamed of who you are.

You doubt yourself, and question what is wrong with you because you are so different.

"My defense mechanism was to destroy my self-confidence," he says. "Instead of recognising I found somebody attractive, I just put myself down; Why am I unattractive? Why am I so un-cool and un-popular?"

"I wanted something that is worth it; love, a connection.You do everything you can to fit in, and 'be normal'. That certainly was my life.

Coming out and connecting with the gay community.

Then you come out and discover the gay community. A highly sexualised life that  appears to be about sex, hot bodies and parties. An ideal image and lifestyle that is difficult to live with. 

Love and belonging.

I started to listen to friends, friends of friends and others whom I met, randomly in bars, clubs, parties and business events; and I discovered why most gay men find it difficult to meet genuine men they feel they have a connection with. 

So you either join the scene or, you reject the community you wanted to be part of, re-enforcing the belief that you  are different and that you don’t belong.

Markus' coaching journey.

Markus chose to start a journey towards discovering self-love and his life's purpose:"Helping people". Since then, Markus has devoted himself to studying and applying energetic, healing, and communication practices.

Markus has been coaching gay men, members of the LGBTQI community and allies, to become their most authentic, successful, charismatic and attractive selves for the past 10 years. He has been featured in podcasts and in media such as the Financial Review.