Today we’d like to introduce you to Artemisia Karachristou.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I realised that I love numbers and have an affinity with words. So, I followed the path so many have taken. I went to university to study Finance, Accounting and IT and then, as so many before me, I found myself working in big multination companies and big European Institutions. I was really good at whatever I was doing, but I was not feeling fulfilled or happy. Quickly I realised that the specific lifestyle was not for me. But I did not know what other options existed for me.
Since a child, I have had a tremendous love for travelling and exploring. I remember the day I took the decision. In July 2014, I was in my office in my new job, I had a very good salary and the working environment was great…BUT…I had an AHA moment. I wanted to invest my time and energy doing what I love, without that necessarily meaning that I wanted to quit my day job at that moment.
So, like this, I created my first side hustle business back then that still, until today, organises adventure journeys that combine personal development and connecting to nature. This side hustle allowed me to follow my passion, meet and connect with extraordinary people, have amazing adventures worldwide, and monetize it to 6 figures. Fast forward to today, my mission is to help 1.000.000 people do the same.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
The greatest challenge that anyone setting off on an entrepreneurship journey has to overcome is themselves really, or at least who they think they are. Everything else can come with time and developing the relevant skills and expertise and, of course, with a lot of trial and error. For me, it was the same.
To start and go from zero to one, I had to become aware of my limitations when it comes to creating a business. And most of the time, the obstacles exist in our thought processes, beliefs, and emotions, much less in practical matters. Practical obstacles, if possible, you will find a way to overcome. If you do not know something, there are many ways to learn it and become good at it, but if fear or self-doubt paralyzes you, you will never start.
If you look around, you will see so few people doing what they love and are passionate about and so many living just another “Groundhog Day.” It was the same for me and in order to move forward from my situation back then and go after what would make me fulfilled and happy, I had to overcome fear and the version of myself back then so something new could be born.
Another key ingredient was that I had to find my authenticity and be unbiased and unpretentiously myself. Many people are struggling with this a lot and I want to encourage them, that it is possible to do what you love.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I am a StartUp Mentor. I help employees or people who have a 9-5 job, to turn their passion into a five-figure side hustle business without quitting their job. My focus is on the Inner Transformation required for any entrepreneurship endeavour to succeed, as well as the business aspect. I help people take the first step, go from zero to one, and keep themselves on track.
There are so many courses and services available about the mechanics of building a business, about marketing, finances and sales. My experience is that there is something of greater importance when it comes to starting a business that many people fail to realise. And that is overcoming “Fear” and “Self-doubt.” This is what is preventing people from actually starting. You might study and learn all the best marketing and sales techniques; you might have technical knowledge about finances and still not be able to start your own business. Why?
When building a sustainable business, don’t get me wrong, marketing, sales, and finances are vital. Still, unless you overcome within you the self-doubt for your abilities and the fear of failure and success, you will never start and all the knowledge you gained will remain just that, knowledge. It will never become your experience.
My work empowers people to overcome their self-perceived limitations, get started, and also offers them practical tools needed to build a successful and sustainable business, such as for example determining their niche and product.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
What else? To get started! We humans like to fantasize about success and what that could personally mean for each of us. We also want to fantasize about power and making money, but when it comes to putting in the time, attention, and energy needed, we procrastinate. It is very objective what success means for different people. But unless you get started, you will never find out.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
For me, success is synonymous with authenticity, to genuinely be yourself, no compromise. This entails that your feelings, thoughts, words and actions are fully aligned, so there is no inner conflict within you.
In school as children, they teach us all things opposite to success. They teach us to strive to be the best instead of discovering ourselves; mistakes are penalised, instead of encouraged as the only way to learn and grow; they teach us to do everything on our own and not cooperate, if someone else has the answer, they should not tell it to anyone. You might manage to have a lot of money or become famous or influential, but still, you might feel unfulfilled.
Unless you are authentic, whatever that may mean to each one, follow your passion, and invest your time and energy in activities and people that light you up, success will remain a far concept.
What’s next for you?
I am launching my new online course very soon for those who want to start a side hustle business based on their passion and doing what they love without quitting their job and who want to make their first five-figure from it.
I will continue teaching and supporting people on that, as I find it crucially important. In parallel, I have a couple of adventures coming up in Peru, one in March and one in July, where we will lead an intimate group of people to the most incredible adventure of their lives and some more adventure trips coming up.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
Anyone interested in connecting with me can visit my page at www.expatincubator.com or drop me a message at artemisia@expatincubator.com
Stay true to your authentic dreams and passion for life. It is absolutely possible at any time and age. But the best time of all is NOW!
Wishing you all the best,
Artemisia & The Expat Incubator