In our interview with Marius Enzo, the 27-year-old sports and fashion model talks about his path from the Cologne Sports University to an independent, adventurous lifestyle. Marius has opted for a freer career and now combines outdoor sports such as parkour, calisthenics and cliff jumping with his modeling career.
portance: Hello Marius, tell us a bit about yourself and your career. Who are you and what do you do?
Marius: Okay, gladly! I'm Marius, I'm 27 and I come from beautiful Königswinter. I studied at the Sports University in Cologne and then started my Master's degree in Bochum. But at some point I realized that I wanted to travel the world. I then worked remotely for a software company and then at some point became self-employed as a sports and fashion model. And now I've been completely dedicated to it for a year and a half, trying out new things.
I also do a lot of outdoor sports, including parcours, calisthenics and cliff jumping in the summer. And I actually love everything outdoors in nature, going climbing or hiking. So I'm actually more of an outdoor guy and just love being out in nature, whether it's summer or winter.
Portance: And what exactly did you study in your Bachelor's degree?
Marius: The degree course was called Sports Science and I was in the Sport, Experience and Movement profile. We focused more on teaching movement exercises and biomechanics in the body and not just this pure "sports teacher thing", where you often learn a lot of pedagogy with children in sport.
Portance: So that means you were also a sports major at school?
Marius: Exactly, but then you also had to learn a lot of anatomy during your studies and you have to master physiology. So now something like the metabolism when running, how it works with breathing and so on. And, of course, you can also go into science and do some really big studies and get your PhD and become a lecturer at university. But I was always, I would say, a good mediocrity. I was always very good in practice in particular. But theoretically, I was always too impatient for that.
Portance: So you're more of a doer than a theorist?
Marius: Yes, exactly. I rather like the action. I was always easily distracted. And I think what I'm doing now is quite good because I have to be very spontaneous. Sometimes you spontaneously fly off somewhere for a shoot because you've been offered something cool. I just like being able to adapt to things spontaneously.
Portance: Were there any role models who influenced you along the way?
Marius: Absolutely. My brother and I used to follow fitness YouTubers like Mischa Janjic and Karl Ess. The two of them inspired us with their idea of a "chainless life". They showed us how to live financially free and passionately at the same time. I found the idea of traveling the world, living a healthy life and going your own way fascinating. Today, I take a more critical view of such role models, but their basic idea has left a lasting impression on me.
Portance: And how did you get into modeling?
Marius: Yes, that was more of a coincidence. I often uploaded pictures on Instagram from my vacation or from training. And then I once spoke to a friend who worked for a modeling agency and he said: "Just send the agencies Polaroid pictures of yourself!" And then I did it. Of course, at the beginning you only get rejections and they say your hair is too short or you're too trained and all that sort of thing. At some point it worked out and that's how I got into it and then, while I was still employed, I had my first shoots at the same time. That's how I felt my way into it step by step.
Mindset is the foundation for me. But it's useless if you don't put it into practice.
Portance: What does mindset mean to you? How do you deal with it?
Marius: Mindset is definitely an issue. Mindset is the foundation for me, but it's no good if you don't put it into practice. I used to collect quotes and thoughts from people like David Goggins or Jordan Peterson to motivate me. But at some point I realized that the best motivation is action. My approach today: just start. Small steps often get you further than perfect planning. I think people always think too much that somehow their mindset booklet will solve their problems. Or they read five books about great habits or something similar. But you just have to start and that's how it was for me.
Portance: How do you stay motivated and disciplined, both as a fitness model and in your everyday life?
Marius: Discipline is crucial, especially when motivation is sometimes a bit low. I'm often unmotivated too, especially now during training. When you do something new, it's 10% motivation and 90% discipline. You just have to go to training, even if you don't feel like it. And I stay motivated especially when I see other people. I take inspiration from people who have achieved something extraordinary, such as the cliff jumper Jérémy. His story shows that you can achieve great things even with a small passion and that you can do it step by step if you keep at it. Something like this shows that it can be done.
Portance: Do you have certain routines? Maybe something in the areas of nutrition, sports?
Marius: Well, I would say that my everyday life is sometimes a bit "jumbled". That's why I realize that good routines always help me the most when it comes to food, for example. For example, I now feel like I know where an organic bakery is at every train station, so I get three organic bread rolls and take boiled eggs from home, which I then always have with me. Good organic eggs, you know? Or I always have Skyr with me. Then I realize that if my everyday life was chaotic or unstructured, then at least I'm doing well thanks to the better diet and I have a constant. I actually drink a ginger shot almost every day as a kind of booster instead of some cheap energy drink.
So for me, I think the most important thing about healthy routines is eating, sleeping and keeping your schedule in mind. I also used HabitTracker for a while, but I don't do that anymore. I also think that there are a lot of people who do routines just to have a habit. But in the end, you really have to find the things that really help you.
Portance: What motivates you to get up in the morning?
Marius: Wow, definitely sport for me and that I want to get better at what I do. Especially when I'm planning something like now, for example, when I'm training for Ninja Warrior. But maybe also when I'm traveling, for example when we're camping in France for a few weeks. I'm already looking forward to jumping off cliffs in the morning. Things like that. Just having great days, meeting up with cool people. Even if I know: "Okay, I'll go into the city first, work on my laptop and then I'll go training with a buddy in the evening
Portance: How often do you exercise?
Marius: Well, I try to go four or five times a week. But it also depends on what's coming up, so let's say if it's summer and I'm doing more parkour outside or high diving in the outdoor pool, then that's more of a sport, then I might do less training. In winter, like now, when you can do fewer fun sports, then I just go to the gym, calisthenics or the climbing hall or the Ninja Warrior hall and then I train there for two or three hours. But I think I try to do it about four times a week
Portance: Do you have a favorite exercise right now?
Marius: At the moment, everything that has to do with swings, especially parkour, so somehow "high", I say, muscle-ups with swinging out. So this dynamic move, it's just fun, you feel like you're flying, it's such a great feeling. I used to get a real adrenaline rush doing weighted muscle-ups with extra weight. But now I'm more into the wide swings and parkour challenges.
Portance: What role does sustainability play in your life?
Marius: Sustainability is important to me, especially when it comes to clothing. I actually tend to buy fewer, but more durable products. Of course, it's always a question of financial means. Of course, I sometimes wear cheaper T-shirts, especially when doing calisthenics and in the outdoor sports scene. It's not so important to me because they break more quickly anyway with the sometimes difficult exercises and the wear and tear is high here. Premium items would simply be too much of a shame for me.
But back to the sustainable things. Your merino jacket is a really good example: it kept me warm on a tour in Austria, even though the temperatures dropped to minus two degrees at night. Products like this show that quality and functionality go together. I think sustainability also has an emotional component: If you invest in a good item, you look after it better and use it more consciously.
For me, success means living a seaworthy life. And I want to get better at what I do.
Portance: What does success mean to you?
Marius: For me, success is about living a self-determined life. It's not about being rich, but about making decisions for your own life and feeling free. Success often starts with the realization that you have to change something and the courage to do it. For me, that means staying flexible and putting my energy into things that are important to me - be it travel, sport or creativity.
Portance: What message would you like to pass on to the Portance community?
Marius: I would say that you should stick to your goals and dreams! But ones that aren't too unrealistic. I'm of the opinion that you should build up step by step and not jump from one thing to the next. I've done that sometimes too. But you should take a more focused approach. Focus on two or three things and then do them properly. And yes, do lots of sport. Integrate training into your everyday life. Find a sport or activity that you enjoy and that connects you with a community. The most important thing is to just get started and stay open to new things. Every step counts, even the small ones.
Portance: Great, thank you very much for the open conversation!
Marius: Thank you, it was fun!
_______
Leave a comment
All comments are checked before publication.
This website is protected by hCaptcha and the terms and conditions and privacy policy of hCaptcha apply.