Looking Forward in Hope Today, So We Don’t Look Back in Regret Tomorrow with Agi Keramidas

“As everything in life, no matter what tragedy we had, or whatever has happened in our life, it has passed. So this too shall pass.” ~ Agi Keramidas

Episode Overview:

Agi Keramidas, a former dentist who has transitioned into the realm of personal development and podcasting. The conversation delves into the importance of identifying and pursuing one’s true calling, even when it means making significant life changes. Agi shares his life story, from his early life in Greece to his decision to move to the UK and eventually transition from dentistry to coaching and mentoring. The discussion emphasizes the significance of having a clear vision, the importance of taking deliberate steps towards personal growth, and the value of trusting in a higher power or purpose. Agi also offers practical advice on how to navigate life's transitions and find fulfillment by looking forward rather than back. This episode is filled with motivational insights, practical steps for personal development, and deep reflections on life’s purpose.

• 00:30 Meet Agi Keramidas
• 00:50 Setting the Stage for Today's Episode
• 02:03 Agi's Message of Transformation
• 03:13 The Importance of Taking Action
• 03:45 Pre-Interview Discussion
• 05:02 Affiliate Break
• 06:11 Agi's Life Story: From Greece to the UK
• 06:25 The First Major Transition: Moving to the UK
• 11:49 The Second Major Transition: Post-Master's Realization
• 15:38 Exploring Personal Development
• 23:30 The Journey of Self-Exploration
• 24:59 Life-Changing Decisions and Regrets
• 26:09 Taking Uncomfortable Actions
• 28:22 Defining Your Vision
• 31:44 The Importance of Vision in Life
• 39:33 Transitioning Careers
• 50:14 Trusting the Process and Having Faith
• 55:43 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

SHOW NOTES & LINKS: 

• Website: https://agikeramidas.com
• Podcast: https://personaldevelopmentmasterypodcast.com

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Transcript

Looking Forward in Hope Today, So We Don’t Look Back in Regret Tomorrow with Agi Keramidas

Welcome to the Remarkable People Podcast!: [00:00:00] The Remarkable People Podcast, check it out.

The Remarkable People Podcast. Listen, do, Repeat, for Life.

The Remarkable People Podcast.

David Pasqualone: Hey Agi Keramidas. How are you today? 

Agi Keramidas: Hey David. I'm great. Thank you. It's fantastic to be here with you today. 

David Pasqualone: We can't wait. Ladies and gentlemen, today we are here with Agi Keramidas, Agi Keramidas, and Agi Keramidas. Did I say your name right? Or did I butcher that? 

Agi Keramidas: Fantastic. Oh, that's fantastic. Thank you 

David Pasqualone: Ladies and gentlemen. We're going to have a great show today and normally. what I do is we record the entire episode, then I go back and I make a custom intro for [00:01:00] our listeners. I don't wanna do that today with you. You have your own podcast, so we might have a lot of listener overlap where our listeners show out, your show, your listeners, check out our show.

But for whether they're a Remarkable People Podcast listener for the first episode, or they've been with us for all seven years. In a nutshell, what is this episode going to be about and how is it going to benefit our listeners? Hmm.

Agi Keramidas: It is great because in a way it is also such the intention for the conversation now that you say it, and I will share Now, if you don't mind that we have not planned for this before. You didn't ask me that. You, we would say that. So I'm certainly at the spot right now. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. And I'll, and I'll give you some time to think.

Agi Keramidas: I, I know very well. Thank you. I, it's, I just wanted to share that from my point of view of being [00:02:00] honest. Yep. Because it's not preplanned. But what I would like to certainly offer during this conversation is an understanding or an inspiration even more, that when one is. Unsatisfied in some way with their life.

And that goes on and on. There are things that one can do and look for and do for and change that and not remain there. As many people unfortunately do, if not most people. That's, that's what comes to mind when you asked me, David, as the, the first let's say intention. It is. I rule out to that with my podcast.

I always. Want to [00:03:00] offer to my listeners. So this now really extends to our, to your listeners, to our audience today. I want to offer them not information I want to offer transformation. I want to offer that insight that would make him or her tomorrow morning take some action based on something we said today.

And that's how. Change happens when you take action on something. Sorry that was a long-winded answer. So 

David Pasqualone: no, not long-winded at all. And what's crazy is not crazy. It's a blessing. It shows we're moving the right direction, right? If you know, Agi Keramidas and I were talking before the show, ladies and gentlemen, how we both have podcasts and there's a long wing list to get on.

And then it takes time to produce it before you hear an episode. And there's so much that goes into each of our podcasts. [00:04:00] And we were talking before the show, and Agi Keramidas, I were just saying how. As long as you bring truth, that's all it matters. The rest is just, let's see, let's go with the flow. There is no script.

There is no plan, but we wanna make sure you're getting value. And Agi Keramidas, what you didn't even know is our show slogan is Listen. Do. Repeat. For Life!. So don't just listen to the great content that's going to be presented, but do it. Repeat it each day so you can have a great life in this world, but more importantly, an eternity to come.

So ladies and gentlemen, we are going to talk about Agi Keramidas's life story. We are going to talk about the specifics into what he was saying, how if life isn't going the way you want, if things are not right in your life and you're struggling and you might have everything in man's eyes that the world could want, but yet you have emptiness, Agi Keramidas's going to go through steps of what his life, what he encountered.

What he faced and [00:05:00] overcame and how you can do in practical steps. So we're going to take a short affiliate break and we'll be right back with our friend Agi Keramidas.

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David Pasqualone: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the show. Agi Keramidas,. We told him what we're going to tell him. Where did your life start that this became so important to you?

And then we will go through your life and transition into where you are today. 

Agi Keramidas: There have been two major transitions and I will start with the, the first one, which happened about 15 years ago. That was my move from my home country, Greece, to the uk. And to give a bit of, you know, background or of.

How did this happen and what is the relevance really with what we were just saying? So I am Greek originally, by the way, you said my name very precisely. [00:07:00] So well done. Very, very nice. 

David Pasqualone: Thank you. Thank you. That really is like the number one stressor for the podcast for me is disrespecting a guest by saying the name wrong.

Do you feel that way on your show? 

Agi Keramidas: Look, I always make an effort also to pronounce my guest name correctly. But, and I will digress here for a moment because you mentioned it being Greek with a, a very. Of course you also have a, an unusual Yeah. Passport. Yeah. At least yours. You know, David is very common in, in people's understanding.

David, for me, I give was something that, and this is not even my full name in the Greek version, it is the simplified for people who speak English. So my, my point there is that, I have learned, and personally, I don't take it as a sign of disrespect if someone [00:08:00] mispronounces my name because it is, you know, a very exotic, shall we say, name for many English speakers.

That was, you know, just because you mentioned it. So, but I appreciate you very much and I also like to speak rightly with people.

David Pasqualone: Yeah. So yeah, on that, go and go back to the beginning. What were just, 'cause you know, we don't want to dwell on our past, but we wanna learn from it. Good, bad, the ugly, the pretty, the pretty ugly.

When you were born, you were born in Greece, what was your home like? Life? Brothers, sisters, mom, dad, you know, orphanage, whatever it was. What, what foundation was laid to start your life? Agi Keramidas. 

Agi Keramidas: I'll tell you So and thanks for starting there. Yes. I had sister, younger sister, mother, brother a happy childhood for us.

Far as, as I remember, you know the relevant part of it really is that my mom was a [00:09:00] dentist. So what happened was when I was 17 about to, you know, choose a career. She influenced me. And then she did the same with my sister and I went to dental school. To the university and I became a dentist as a result.

So, fast forward to what I said about 2010. I had already been working as a dentist in my hometown in Greece for a few years. And you know, there was some external success I was. You know, going well, it was my own practice and so on. People knew me. It was, it was all right. I was engaged, but I felt something was not right.

I felt empty. I was not satisfied with any of that. And at the same time, I had a, an internal desire. Do you want to call it dream or calling as I said it earlier? About [00:10:00] England, about uk I would daydream about it. So after a while, I decided that, you know, I don't want to remain in my unsatisfied life.

And I took the bold decision to leave everything I had behind my, you know, my dental practice, friends, family, fiance, and I came. On my own to the UK with you know, two suitcases and a one way ticket with the pursuit of something that was calling me. So I'll take a break here. I dunno if that's where you want to go or somewhere else.

David Pasqualone: No, that there's, listen, the only rules to our podcast is you tell the truth and we talk about it openly. And whatever you're able to achieve or overcome, we break it down into practical steps so our listeners can too. So you're telling your story and we're listening, so we're enjoying it. So take us, keep going forward.

I'll stop [00:11:00] you when I have a question. 

Agi Keramidas: Fantastic. It's, you know, courtesy between podcasters. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. Everybody knows our listeners. It's like friends having a cup of coffee or smoking a cigar together. Just getting to know each other. 

Agi Keramidas: So. That was, as I said, 15 years ago, I moved to the uk. I created a new life here from the beginning.

I still worked as a dentist here, and it was very different environment and. Carrying on, moving a bit more fast forward, and I will tell you the second big transition, and I think it will become evident that there is a common. Theme there, underlined between the two transitions. So the, the second transition was when I was when was that?

It was 10 years ago, actually. Interesting. It was 10 years ago today. When [00:12:00] I had just graduated from a master's degree. I did in restorative dentistry. So I just graduated and I found myself in a very peculiar position because I had just spent two years to learn and considerable amount of money to do that.

And I graduated and instead of feeling super motivated and, you know, bumped to. To do things, I, or I found myself completely the opposite. I was unmotivated. I didn't really feel like doing any sophisticated dentistry like I have been learning how to do. So that put me in a very strange situation of what's wrong with me.

I mean, I've done all that and now I don't want to do that. I mean, it's crazy. There must be something wrong. [00:13:00] I'm glad I didn't remain with that question or that statement of that question actually, that what's wrong with me? It was an initial question, but then I realized there's nothing wrong with me.

If anything, it is who I am and if. My my inner world is telling me that something is not right. At the very least, I need to explore that and find out what's, what's going on.

David Pasqualone: Yeah. And let's stop there. Agi Keramidas. Mm-hmm. Because, okay, now you are going to tell your story, so we're going to answer this either later or you can answer it now.

Okay. But, you know, I believe it. God, the world, I believe, coming at everything from a biblical worldview. So I believe there's a real God, a real Satan, and all those negative thoughts I always attribute right to Satan. He's trying to, he has two goals. One for people not to believe in God, and two, for them not to have a relationship with them if they have trust in him, right, to make chaos.

And when you hear [00:14:00] that, what's wrong with me? The answer's like you said, nothing and so many times myself, you are listeners. We're like going through the day and we hear what's wrong with you? You're such a loser. You hear all these negative thoughts and they're not true. If you really become, you know, you step back and pretend you're talking to somebody else.

It's really, it's nothing wrong with you, like you said. That's just not your passion. That's not how you were wired, and we're going to get into that. So whether it's now or you're like Dave Shelf that we'll talk about it later. When you hear those lies and those negative thoughts, what do you like to do to overcome those and get 'em out of your life?

Agi Keramidas: This is a, a question that has so many different layers of answers. And there is not one, you know, universal answer for that. For me, it is first of all, it is. [00:15:00] Something that is ongoing and it's not something that one can master and then not have it. I'm not I'm trying to think of something more specific to, to tell you.

Well, and 

David Pasqualone: this is it. Our listeners understand that it's different for everybody. It's different for every situation, but what worked for Agi Keramidas like wouldn't. When you hear the thought, what's wrong with me? So many people hear that. 'cause that's what they're told. What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?

But really it's. No, it's what's right with me. You know what I mean? It, it's like, it's like I'm just in the wrong place. I'm gold. I'm just, I'm in a factory that makes lead, you know? 

Agi Keramidas: Hmm. I will tell you what gave me the understanding at that time to move past that question was that I started reading some books.

Personal development books because I wanted to find answers, even if that was still the question. I wanted to find answers. So the, when I started reading some books or doing, you know, some [00:16:00] personality tests or some kind of ba basic personal development, I started realizing that this is not something that is wrong with me.

If this is my, for example, my personality type, or this is whatever else is my characteristic. There are billions of people like me there, so there's nothing wrong with me, which is, you know, a, a limiting belief at the, at different, I know. Described it in a different way than you, even though in, in essence, I do understand what you mean, what you meant about where those beliefs come from.

But you know that this, this belief, when you learn. You recognize it and then you can move past it. The first I think thing is awareness that that thought appeared. I think that is a more direct [00:17:00] answer to your question earlier. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. Well, it's just like, I'll make it real practical. Some people have a career right now.

They're an executive at a huge international firm. They have the family, they have the money, they have everything the world says you should want, but they're listening to this podcast right now and they're miserable. I've been there. You might've been there. I know a lot of our listeners have been there.

But there's nothing wrong with that. They might have gone, oh, you're good at business. You should go into business. So they go into business and they go out to business and they get this career, and by the time they're 50, they look back like, whoa, what just happened to my life? They've been living somebody else's life.

'cause it wasn't what God really wired him for. They're good at it, but they may love gardening and they may want to just spend their time gardening and build a business from that. And they might do really well at it financially. They're not going to make billions, but who cares? They're going to be happy. So that's what I'm talking about.

When people are struggling with that what's wrong with me? Why aren't I [00:18:00] happy? It could just because they're in the wrong place. Right? 

Agi Keramidas: Definitely, and there isn't one, like the person you described that is miserably used, that word, they are miserable because there is a difference, a discrepancy be be between the life that they're having or some aspects of the life that they're having.

And what they have in my, in their mind or in some other element of their being us, what they would like to, and when, when I have in my mind that, you know, I would like to have a certain kind of life or a certain kind of business or a certain kind of relationship or a certain kind of whatever it is, but I don't have that that creates.

This kind of me miserable feeling that you have. And you know, the answer to that really is to [00:19:00] look into it. So really define what is it that I am miserable about? You said you used the word they're miserable. They have you know, success or, but still there is that, you know, they called it the quiet desperation.

It can be, it's different for different people. But what I would invite someone listening that is like that, is to explore why the, the first question, the fundamental, not what's, not what's wrong with me, because that presupposes that there is something wrong with me. The question is, why am I feeling like that?

You know, many of us go through years of our lives without really reflecting on why we're feeling like that we could be, you know, unsatisfied for a long time or, and we [00:20:00] can maybe. Think of it from time to time, fleet in a fleeting way, but not really sitting down and ponding on it. Reflect on it even better.

Journal it. Write down, you know why I'm feeling like this. I've been feeling like this for years. Why am I feeling like this? And you know the answer. I, I'm, I'm I'm smiling now because I think once you start doing this process, the answer is, starts to become obvious. And there is something that you have a dream, an aspiration, you know, whatever else it is.

It could be your calling, you know, your, your gift that you bring to the world.

It's not fulfilled yet. You would like to fulfillment, perhaps not consciously, and you have not realized that consciously in words, but [00:21:00] another part of your nose, there is something you are meant to do or you are born to do, or you, it's your gift to, to the world.

When you start reflecting where I am, what, why do I feel like that and what is it that I would like to do? Then answers start to come. It is, you know, you might come into the answers quickly or you might get into a journey of discovery. It's different from different people, but I think it always starts with.

Questioning reflecting, looking inside you and answering the question, why am I feeling like that? And when you come with a superficial answer, ask again. Why? Why am I feeling like that? Get more deeper layer in your answer. You know, just this is just [00:22:00] a very simple, simplified explanation David, but it's, I think it's a great.

Start, especially for someone who hasn't taken the time to really reflect on their life and write it down. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. And writing it down is huge that it's almost like telling someone back you, you know, something in your brain, but then when you try to explain whether it's a business plan or instructions, you can't explain it.

That means you don't have full mastery and there's gaps and you need to fill those in so it works. Mm-hmm. So you're at this point in your life, in your story, you're a dentist, your mom was a dentist, you became a dentist, but you're unfulfilled. So you start thinking about going to England. So take us from there, Agi Keramidas.

Agi Keramidas: So I'm already in England. When I did the master's degree, I was already in England. Okay. I was, it's been, it was five years after, so I did the [00:23:00] master's and I was very happy to achieve something like this in not my first language. So I, it was it felt good. That's why I was, you know, after all these achievements, it felt so.

Weird not to feel the kind of fulfillment or satisfaction that I wanted to take. Then the journey further from there, that initiated the journey for me to. A journey of self-exploration. I like to call it personal development self-exploration. I started reading books. I went to seminars.

I had a very big catalytic event if you want, or light bulb at the Tony Robbins event in 2017. And then from then on. I went to public speaking, I, I started becoming more of a person who [00:24:00] expressed himself outwardly. With more, you know, confidence starting building my own voice, which is something I never had in my life until then.

And then at some point in 2018, I started my first podcast and I think its was the same year that you started your podcast. And so, so it's going to be seven years very soon. So the podcast continued the journey of personal development for me, and this I know that it is my path and it is ongoing.

My path of self-mastery.

I'm kind of going, thinking of different directions now. I could go with this. David, I don't know which would be the most useful right now. It's 

David Pasqualone: just your, it's your story and it's your life. So if you were to [00:25:00] stop and say, you know, like, you know where you're at now, but for all those years to the point you got mm-hmm.

What was like the most helpful, most life-changing switch you made? That it couldn't be something simple that, a profound effect, or it could be like, no, I had to consciously make sure I didn't think this way or do this anymore. You know? What's something you wish you could tell yourself 20 years prior that would've expedited your journey?

Agi Keramidas: It is very interesting because this concept of seeing your past self or your future self was really the catalyst that made me change. It was when I looked at myself in the future carrying on in the same way as I was and how. Regretful, I would have been, you know, in my deathbed or in my seventies or whenever, looking back, [00:26:00] not doing the things that were true to to my heart.

The for me. It was important, and that's something perhaps actionable for someone to take some uncomfortable action. And that is different for, for different people. For me, the uncomfortable action was at that time because I was very reserved, a very shy person, you know, in social interactions. I was always at the back of the room.

I wouldn't, you know, speak with people. Unless I knew them already, I was very uncomfortable. So for me, getting outside of my comfort zone and breaking that, because that would be you know, my advice to myself at that time would be to break that. But the question is how to break from that. [00:27:00] And what happened was I.

Took action that would immediately put me out of my comfort zone there. So I joined, I went and did a five day public speaking course, which was, you know, such a. Well, I can say I'm comfortable, uncomfortable is an understatement. Now as a, as an experience, when I was thinking about that in the past it would be my worst nightmare.

But still, I did it. And by doing something that takes you out of your. Comfort zone. That is a way to start breaking that. It's not that I broke it because I did that course, but that was one of the steps, that allowed me to keep on breaking these or other limiting beliefs. And, you know, there are I suppose a few million more that I, I [00:28:00] always, you know, I identify and work with them and it's, it's a process.

I think it's the journey of, of growth 

David Pasqualone: 100%. It's always a journey and, you know. I always look at life as when we get it right, that's when God takes us home. Other than that, we're here to grow and do something. He has a purpose for us. Right. So let's just say we title this episode looking forward so you don't have to look back in life.

Mm. If that was the theme, what advice would you give people? The actionable steps like, hey. This, this is generalized, but try that step 1, 2, 3, and then contact me and we'll continue the conversation. What are some steps to look forward to readjust where we are today? So 20 years from now, we're not looking back and regret 

Agi Keramidas: to look forward.

And it's a great you know, title for this conversation to look [00:29:00] forward and in a way that is meaningful and is useful. You have to know where it is that you are looking or what it is that you are looking at. In other words, you have to very clearly define. The destination or the vision or the North Star, whatever it is a beacon of, of light that will guide you towards that direction.

But you have to know exactly, of course, exactly with the limitations of art. Knowledge at the current moment. We, we don't know how things will be in X amount of years, but we can project a future that we would like or a vision. So my invitation, I will say, for for someone, you know, in order to look forward is very clearly, again, I will say take the [00:30:00] time to reflect and write down.

What, what is your vision? In other words, and I would, because the, the word vision maybe for someone might not sound, you know, say what Vision. I've never thought I had a vision. I would rephrase it and say, how would you like your life to be? What is the kind of life that you would like to have, I suppose?

In a way you can say that is your vision. It is for your own life. And start defining it. Start writing it out. How is my, you know, my, my family life, my spiritual life, my financial life, my career, my, all the elements, my relationships, my social life, my friends, all these elements right and down, how would I like this to [00:31:00] be?

And you know, it doesn't matter if or how this might happen, this is, you know, looking forward again, I'm saying it is the, the direction or the, the, the North star or mm-hmm. The, the analogy. I like that analogy because, you know, with the North Star. That you can go and walk and walk and walk, but you will never reach there.

So I think it is a good, great metaphor to set a vision or an intention for a life that is unreachable. Why not? I mean, I remember that phrase that it is most people. The mistake that most people do is that they, instead of going for the very high target and [00:32:00] missing it, they go for the medium target and they achieve it and they hit it.

So, whereas they could have gone for more, but they go just for the mediocre because it's easy. Mm-hmm. In a way. Or certainly easy s So that's my, you know, with, for looking forward, first define where you're looking at and once you have that, then you can, you know, reverse engineer it and break it down and so on.

And we can go into that if you want. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, and that's actually a term we use that without Kevin. 

Agi Keramidas: Oh yes. 

David Pasqualone: That's a term we use on the podcast all the time. We're going to get your success reverse engineer into the practical steps. Yes. And there's a lot of things, if you don't mind what you said, three things immediately came to my mind.

Number one, when was the first time you heard this concept? Because [00:33:00] I never heard this concept. No one ever, you know, in school they teach you all this, and I don't know, I'm sure it's the same in Europe these days, but. In America, they teach you all this crap that doesn't matter. They don't teach you life skills.

They don't teach you conflict resolution communication. They don't teach you budgeting. They don't teach you practical things, but they teach you emotional, 

Agi Keramidas: emotional awareness. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, yeah. They teach you all this bull crap. That doesn't mean a damn thing that you can learn on your own. And they waste kids' lives and they're dumbing down population.

Okay. So you can tell I'm a little salty about that. Right? But I remember I went through all of school two years in and outta the hospital 'cause I had a tumor in my head. And then I went on the five year college plan. 'cause I switched my major midway. So I was 25 years old in my senior year. The last [00:34:00] week, an English teacher.

Not even like a philosophy teacher or like a, a biblical teacher, my English teacher, I thank God for her. She's like, I want you all to take out a piece of paper and envision your life 20 years from now. Where are you going to be? And that was the first time I heard this concept and it was so powerful and it changed things for me in a positive way.

When's the first time you've thought of, you heard this? 

Agi Keramidas: A wish for me would be so early as you, David, for me, it was when I was in my forties, in my early forties when I started my personal development journey. And it, I learned that from a coach that I had back in 20 17, 20. So it, it is, you know, I wish I would have learned this and other skills that I have learned since that time.[00:35:00] 

When I was well at school, that would be, you know, let's not talk about the education. It would be, I, I'd rather, you know, look forward or look at things that are more to our control, as, you know, for our own lives. So, but you know, I did, I wish I would have learned those skills. At a young age. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah.

And now it's our job to help educate and teach other people. But it's crazy that I was 25, you were in your forties. And our listeners, this may be the first time they're really. Hearing this concept or it's clicking, but biblically the Bible talks about where there's no vision that people perish, but he, the keepeth, the law happy is he.

And a lot of times people misuse that verse, but the vision is the Bible. God's rule, God's law. And, and to have, like Nehemiah, he gave a vision for go rebuild the walls. And throughout the Bible, old Testament, new Testament cover to cover, God's always given [00:36:00] people a clear vision. And then their job is to find the steps.

We plan like we're going to be here for 50 years, but we also have the balance to live like today's our last day. And a lot of times with what you're saying, the other verse that came to my mind is the Biot talks will commit thy works unto the Lord, and I thought shall be established. So once we have that vision, you, you said, don't worry about all the details.

Right? It just kind of works itself out. Basically once you have that vision. Have a plan. It may change, you may have audibles, but just work towards it. And it just keeps getting clear and clear is what I experienced. Is that what you experienced? 

Agi Keramidas: Yes. And I will come back to that concept I said about, you know, having that a beacon of light because it really, when you actually use it as a beacon of light, your vision, your direction.

It simplifies your decisions very much, doesn't it? Because it is I will tell [00:37:00] you since I'm there is a story from ancient Greece. There was someone who asked Socrates, who was, you know, the, the famous wise man. And told him, you know, I want to go to Olympus. You know, the mountain at the at the top.

How can I go there? And Sokar told him, you know, it's very simple. And he pointed with his finger, said, do you see. Olympus and the other guy said, yes, I see it. So make sure that every step that you take takes you towards that direction and you know, it is. It is a nice, simple story. And of course our life will steer us away from that direction, but when we have the beacon of light, we will.

Again, move towards that direction whenever the circumstances arise. But the [00:38:00] decision making is much simpler like that because for every single thing, if you think about it, you can say, will this thing move me towards my desired future, my vision or not? So when you have a very, it's very binary. It's yes or, or no.

And of course, you know, I don't want to, to say that this is absolute for all things, but generally speaking, it makes decision making much easier when you have that as your guiding principle.

David Pasqualone: Yeah, I, if anybody's ever mowed a lawn, that's, I mean, a small, practical. What you just said about looking at that north star, that beacon of light, if you've ever mowed a lawn, ladies and gentlemen, you want a nice clean cut.

Where do you put your eyes? You put on a fence post as far away as you can, and your lawnmower goes a perfect straight line, and you do that [00:39:00] back and forth. You gotta PGA golf tour lawn. That's exactly what Agi Keramidas's saying. So now let, let's get back to your story. I don't want to, this is, I hope, I wanna bring as much value to our audience as possible, but if I'm ever interrupting and you're like, Dave, shut up.

Just slap me digitally and let's, let's go. But where is your life now, Agi Keramidas? So you're learning this truth about vision and looking forward, you know, looking forward today, so you don't look back and regret tomorrow. Take us from there to today. 

Agi Keramidas: Yes, sure. So what I did at that time and as a result of my own self exploration was realizing that dentistry was not the, the future I wanted for the rest of my professional life.

So I. After a a, a period of a long period of transitioning, I went from full-time to part-time and then I went to three days a [00:40:00] week and gradually cut it down where eventually I broke free of it and focused increasingly and now completely on my coaching, mentoring, and podcasting. 

David Pasqualone: And that's a huge light in service.

That's a huge life lesson right there, because how many people have you and I met, and listeners you may be told, you know, just jump in and do what your passion is. That's like nine outta 10 times suicide financially. What Agi Keramidas did is he had a successful practice, he had his vision and he transitioned, and that transition allowed 'em to have less stress and more success.

So Agi Keramidas, do you agree with that? I mean, there's some people who put all their eggs in one basket and then when things are hard, they don't have the mental focus 'cause they have the financial pressure on 'em. So I believe what you did was incredibly wise and smart. Transitioning out, transitioning [00:41:00] in.

What have you seen with people making this kind of change in their life and what would you advise? 

Agi Keramidas: It depends. It really depends. I mean. There are for me and for many people it makes sense. It is more, you know, reasonable If I can use that or sensible to. Plan. And of course I would say unless you have any reason to really hurry up and any urgency that you know, you have to change things next month, then I don't understand why one needs to do it, especially when it's going to put them into hardship.

It might happen, you know a transition and changing career. It is you can prepare, but the bottom line is, and I [00:42:00] will tell you for me, and I will share vulnerably and openly, that simply put, as a matter of fact, the income I was getting as a dentist all my professional life. I'm not going to get it anymore.

So there is, you know, no matter what provisions have been made, there is something that I was used to all my life and now I won't have it. . 

David Pasqualone: So from your birth to the point where you started transitioning from a dental practice into your new career field, is there anything we miss that's significant or anything you want to comment on before we transition to you moving into your new career path?

Agi Keramidas: The only thing I will say I, I as perhaps add to what I was saying earlier, that [00:43:00] there is this approach, shall we say the burn the boats or burn the bridges, which forces you to either conquer or perish. You know, for some people it might be the right approach, not for everyone. That approach was very effective for, you know, the, the warriors in that time that they would invade the, the island.

So modern society and someone who has a family. To support. It's not, it is much more complicated than that. But still, you know, for some people this approach of banning the boats really increases the motivation and the pressure. Hopefully one has the tools or the abilities to handle. That's precious.

But you know, for it, it's a, it's a different journey, doing it more gradually and [00:44:00] preparing. I think it's very important in this day, as I said, the, the sensible thing to do. So I'm not going to add anything more to that. David was just you know, to, to conclude on what I was saying earlier on before that.

David Pasqualone: No worries. And that's great. If anybody doesn't understand the term burning the boats or burning the bridges in war commanders and generals would bring their troops to battle, and so there was no turning back, so there was no retreat. They'd burn their boats and they'd say, you can either win the battle or die.

And so what do you think they did? They were highly motivated, right? There was no turning back. So that's where the concept, ladies and gentlemen, burning the boats comes from. And that's what Agi Keramidas's saying, like, sometimes in life we gotta burn our boats so we can only at succeed or die. But then if you have a wife and or if, you know, if you're a husband and you have a wife and children, you have [00:45:00] responsibilities.

You know, you don't wanna put stress on them, that can be avoided. So he's talking about the wi a, a, a wise decision to transition. So now you're in your transition, you're finishing it. Bring us from that point to today in your life story. Agi Keramidas, 

Agi Keramidas: we are pretty much on now, David, as things are as transition.

The transition has recent, recently. You know, completed. And that brings us about to, to now. 

David Pasqualone: And tell us about today. Where are you today and where are you headed next? 

Agi Keramidas: Looking forward, as we were saying earlier, so I am, I will tell you a, a couple of things that come up now as the first things that come up.

And then I will make a note and there is something else that I wanted to discuss with what we're saying, which I believe it's very [00:46:00] important looking. First with the, the podcast, my podcast, personal Development Mastery. I have been running for many years. I'm over 500 episodes. I can't imagine not going to at least a thousand.

So I have still a very long way to go, and I'm very excited about this. So that's one thing. That, you know, we were saying earlier about our vision and what we bring out to the world, and I think, I believe not. I think, I believe for me the work that I do via the podcast and the insights. Or hopefully the, the change in someone's life as a result of taking some action on something they listened.

And of course, [00:47:00] David, that also applies to your podcast because we're in the, in the same we have the same mission basically as podcast hosts to, you know, make the world a better place by our. Our power, our gift, our blessing, what what God gave us to bring out to the world. We, we bring it. So that's one element of me, you know, looking forward, I, I will carry on.

That's my intention with the podcast. The other, let's say part of it is as I have focused now very much, much more with coaching people and mentoring people, especially people who are in transitions, because I, I have gone through a few major ones myself, so I. I, I have firsthand experience of not only the logistics, but also the, [00:48:00] what happens inside us in terms of thoughts, fears, emotions you name it, everything that can happen when we change, when we, especially something big, which is not even, it's not just a career.

For example, me, dentistry was not just. Career. It was an identity, a huge part of my identity. The I am a dentist, that has been, you know, something in my life since I was, you know, in, in uni. So focusing on coaching, mentoring others who are in transition, and I would, like to carry on doing that because the transition, especially with people who decide they want to do the transition and they're not, you know, forced, but the people who want.

To [00:49:00] do, to do something different. You were saying earlier we were saying about someone who hasn't got a clear idea of where they would like to be. So it's something I, I really enjoy helping with David. So that's. You know, in a, in a nutshell, there are so many other things, but in a nutshell, it's something that comes up as an answer to your question about me looking forward.

David Pasqualone: Yeah, no, we, I'm really thankful for our time today, Agi Keramidas, and it's been great. Before we wrap up your episode. Ladies and gentlemen, like always check out the show notes, whether you're listening to your podcast player or whether you're on Rumble or anywhere else you find our podcast. But connect with Agi Keramidas.

Continue the conversation. And Agi Keramidas, before we go, is there any final thoughts or encouragement or motivation or wisdom that you'd like to share with our audience?[00:50:00] 

Agi Keramidas: I will. David, I will bring something which you know, we haven't discussed at all. So I will I will open perhaps a different conversation with that. But I think it is important and is an answer to your question that there is when we have said, as we said, our direction, our vision, and we decide we move towards that direction, we can.

Prepare, we can define, we can reflect, we can, you know, have all these tools strategies, compasses, all the, the, the, the right people, all those things that will help us along the way. But there is also, and other big element. You know that, I know that you [00:51:00] personally resonate with that, and that is having trust, having faith that things will unfold for your best, you know, having the, the, the belief.

The, you know, and I'm, I'm touching my heart now. It is, you know, believing in, in God, believing in your whatever it is, the spiritual element or something bigger than you. For me, it doesn't matter how one calls it. What matters is the belief that there is something bigger than us and we are. Mm, guided.

I will use that word very carefully because I believe it. We are guided in our life so many times, or some, especially in in transitions like the ones we've been [00:52:00] discussing today. You also have to have an element of trust. Of belief. 'cause you know, we, we can't really predict the future, but we can believe that no matter what happens, it is going to be for the best.

So I, I will leave it like this as a message of you know, additional motivation. Because we can always control, we can only control our actions. We can do everything and prepare and do everything. Still, the outcome does not belong to us. We cannot predict that. So having the, the trust faith that it'll somehow unfold magically, if you want to, to say it like that, or in a divine way, if you want to call it like that, because it will.[00:53:00] 

David Pasqualone: I agree with that completely, and that is one of the hardest things for whether someone's trusted crisis or savior or not to just, you know. Trust to just know and hope it's going to work out. Once you've given your best, the rest is up to God and you know, you drop the profoundest thought. We've had a lot of great thoughts along the way, but this is like how many people struggle with this?

You got some people who don't work hard enough. You got a lot of people work too hard and they agon and agonize on the way during their journey and they, they don't enjoy it because of it. So. When you're looking at the future, you know, looking towards the future so we don't look back and regret later, we're going to do our best.

But like you said, all, all the all things work together. [00:54:00] To those who love the Lord. Okay? There's a verse in the Bible that talks at Romans 8 28. All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who called according to his purpose. So even when things seem like disastrous to us, they really are part of God's plan.

He never causes pain. He never causes evil, but sometimes he allows things to happen 'cause they will ultimately benefit us in this life. An attorney to come. So how do you recommend keeping your perspective, right? You know, you have a plan and you're working towards that plan and everything's going brilliantly, and then all of a sudden you get hit with like just lightning bolts that you didn't see coming and you couldn't control.

How do you recommend our listeners respond to those moments in life? 

Agi Keramidas: I think that takes a whole new conversation, like the one that you, you had to answer that. There is one very [00:55:00] quick, simple phrase that I'm sure that you must have heard before, but I think it is very effective in situations like this.

These tools shall pass.

As everything else in life has, you know, no matter whatever tragedy we had or whatever has happened in our life, it has passed. So these two shall pass. 

David Pasqualone: And on that note, we'll end this episode, but I do want to add one more thing, and Agi Keramidas, if somebody wants to contact you, ask a question, continue the conversation.

What's the best way for our Remarkable listeners to reach you? 

Agi Keramidas: My podcast is called Personal Development Mastery, and you will find it. Everyone will find your podcasts personal development mastery podcast.com. There you can contact me, you can listen, and I would be delighted to, to hear [00:56:00] that you listen to our conversation with with David.

So send me a message. I would love to hear from you. 

David Pasqualone: Beautiful. Ladies and gentlemen, we're so thankful you are here today. Hopefully you love this episode. It brought you some motivation and maybe some concepts that you haven't thought about in this way before. Apply 'em to your life. Reach out to Agi Keramidas or myself.

If you have any questions, share the show with your friends and family. Bring 'em value. Hopefully we can help everybody grow. Our goal is to help you grow and glorify God. And if we're achieving those things, man, I can be happier. So we love you, Agi Keramidas. Thank you for being here, my friend. It's been a true honor.

Agi Keramidas: It's been a real pleasure. Thank you, David. 

David Pasqualone: Oh, you're welcome. And ladies and gentlemen, we'll see you in the next episode. Ciao! 

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