Miami is often seen as a party destination that people flock to for sunshine and fun nights out. More recently, Miami even became a city that stood out as an inspiration for places all over the world during the pandemic — a glimmer of hope during an otherwise dark time. For Marko Gojanovic, Miami has been the place that launched an extensive career. He has always viewed the city as a land of opportunity to expand his business portfolio. His story is similar to that of the American Dream, proving that hard work and dedication can lead to success.

At a young age, Gojanovic planned to pursue a career in professional tennis, but this dream ended due to a career-ending injury. Now, the 41-year-old entrepreneur has spent over a decade in the hospitality industry, and has most recently shifted to the real estate business, where he has joined the renowned ONE Sotheby’s International Realty team.

As a trailblazer in the Miami hospitality scene, one of Gojanovic’s most recent ventures was Joia Beach at Jungle Island, a wildly successful restaurant and beach club. Its early success was largely due to it being an outdoor spot that could comply with COVID restrictions while many other places could not operate, and the talent of the people that teamed up to work together. He opened the spot with his partners Chris Paciello and Mio Danilovic, but recently parted ways with Jungle Island due to a buyout. So, Gojanovic saw an opportunity through the pandemic and real estate boom in Miami to transition.

As for where he finds his motivation and success, Gojanovic says he has always had big dreams and been inspired by others. “Now, it’s about becoming better each day and going after goals and dreams. I know the kind of life I want and nothing will stop me,” he said. Gojanovic has been able to bring a lot of the valuable skills he learned from hospitality into the real estate industry. He has a lucrative network of high-end clients that trust him, which puts him in a good position to succeed. He finds that the two industries are related, as they are both focused on providing the best customer service possible.

Gojanovic sets high goals for himself and is not afraid to take a risk. “I will go after opportunities if they are presented to me and I’m definitely not afraid to try something new even if it leads to failure,” he said.

“I’m a firm believer that it doesn’t matter where you are in life, if you put in the hard work, things will open up, whether it takes three years or five years,” he continued. “You just have to do the work and breakthroughs will follow.” To follow along on Gojanovic’s journey, follow him on Instagram here.