Mød et medlem: Anastasia Dimitriadou
Passion for Entrepreneurship: Meet cultural multi entrepreneur Anastasia
Dette blogindlæg blev første gang publiceret den 20.01.2020
Anastasia is a multi-passionate cultural entrepreneur with almost a decade of experience.
Her love for ice-cream, wine and cucumbers made her start an en experiential food agency called @bitemecrew where you can expect to find canapes hanging from the ceiling and glasses connected so you can’t drink alone. www.bitemecrew.com
She is also the co-founder of @VillaKultur, located in an old mansion from 1880 in Østerbro, which transforms from being a cultural co-working space at day to an event space for crazy creatives at night. www.villakultur.dk. Add to that numerous projects that never came out of their winter sleep and since 2016, after her coaching education, she has been focusing on helping creatives and cultural entrepreneurs start and grow their business.
Tell us about your background and the journey that lead you to starting your own business?
I think I have always had the entrepreneurial gene in me. My parents had their own restaurants and I grew up right in the middle of it. I never wanted to continue running the restaurants but instead do something of my own.
I even remember the exact moment I decided to run my own show. I had just moved to Amsterdam to attend an entrepreneurial business school. I needed money so I went to cafe to ask if they needed some help in their service. Unfortunately, they rejected me because I didn’t have any Dutch speaking skills. So I asked for other open positions. They had one at the dishwashing section. In front of my eyes I saw it all coming together: From dishwasher to millionaire.
I eagerly offered myself as talented dishwasher! After all, I would be able to learn about this new culture, absorb some language skills and build some relationships and who know maybe move up the internal latter. But my little daydream got interrupted when this girl said:
I think I have always had the entrepreneurial gene in me. My parents had their own restaurants and I grew up right in the middle of it. I never wanted to continue running the restaurants but instead do something of my own.
I even remember the exact moment I decided to run my own show. I had just moved to Amsterdam to attend an entrepreneurial business school. I needed money so I went to cafe to ask if they needed some help in their service. Unfortunately, they rejected me because I didn’t have any Dutch speaking skills. So I asked for other open positions. They had one at the dishwashing section. In front of my eyes I saw it all coming together: From dishwasher to millionaire.
I eagerly offered myself as talented dishwasher! After all, I would be able to learn about this new culture, absorb some language skills and build some relationships and who know maybe move up the internal latter. But my little daydream got interrupted when this girl said:
“I am sorry, I think you are overqualified.”
I was shocked and couldn’t believe my ears. How can you ever be too good as a dishwasher? Inside of me I got furious. And so this became the moment I knew I had to start something of my own, instead of waiting for others to discover me. A few weeks later I started my first company Bite Me Crew that works with food experiences. After almost a decade of being an entrepreneur, I am still impressed how far a strong decision can take you.
What is the best and the worst part about being an entrepreneur?
One of the things I love about being an entrepreneur is the freedom. That I can come up with meaningful ideas and make them happen. That I am designing all the steps along the way. The freedom of not having to ask for permission. If I feel like coming in late I will do so. If I feel like changing direction, I can. I also love that I can be me while I work, no need for pretending to trying to fit into an environment I don’t want to be in.
Let’s talk about the worst part. And funnily enough it is the exact same category but turned around. Because freedom also means that I am responsible for everything I do. Sometimes, rarely though, I wish I didn’t have to think of every step of my business. Having to make so many decisions and carry all the responsibility. On hard days I sometimes just wish to get a doctors note - she can’t come to work the next few weeks, please sort the stuff out yourself. Haha.
Photo: Karine Waaliczek
“Have you heard of the saying, it takes a village to raise a child? Well, it takes a community to grow an idea. For me at least”
Why are you a part of Villa Kultur?
Well I was part of starting Villa, because the environment of where I work is very important to me. I am sensitive to what is going on around me, so I wanted a space where I feel like home. Where I am with others, likeminded people who have their heart at the right place. And besides the actual house, which I adore with all its weird corners and garden, I love the people in the house. Have you heard of the saying, it takes a village to raise a child? Well, it takes a community to grow an idea. For me at least. I love the synergy aspect happening naturally when this many people get together. On a rainy day they can lift my spirit, I feel safe to ask for help or simply get inspired by the journey of other entrepreneurs.
A funny anecdote or memory from the villa?
All of my good memories around the Villa have something to do with people coming together. A while back there was a sold out concert in the basement for the artist Jordan Jackson. Now, we were sitting in our office and decided to spontaneously join the concert, so we sneaked into the bar and watched her sing from there. It felt magical, a little behind the scenes and super personal, as if we were the only ones watching. Her voice is gorgeous and the concert was amazing. And I didn’t even have to leave my house for this experience.
“I didn’t have any answers on how to make it happen, find the time and the money and not to mention all the negative self talk in my head which went like: Do you think you are a flying unicorn?”
What are one of the things you are the most proud of having done or accomplished?
One the moments I feel proud of is when I followed my intuition of becoming a coach. I had my Bite Me business already going for four years, Villa Kultur was in the pipeline and but I still felt this urgent call to go after this thing called coaching. One of my good friends mentioned this coach I should meet, another friend of hers. When he told me his story of how he became a coach I got goosebumps all over my body and that was the sign for me that I simply had to discover that path for myself.
“Find your fan, someone who believes in you, someone who reminds you to keep going, a community like Villa or maybe just your mom”
I was very scared of “coming out” that I had discovered another passion of mine that I wanted to pursue. I didn’t have any answers on how to make it happen, find the time and the money and not to mention all the negative self talk in my head which went like: Do you think you are a flying unicorn? What the heck is wrong with you, stick to what you are doing and forget this silly idea of yours.
But I manage to combat all opponents and I am proud that I listened to this little voice, because helping others realise their dreams makes me the happiest unicorn I can think of.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in my daily life or nature. By observing my environment. I like taking items or clues out of one field and translate it to my own. On days where I feel like the most uncreative person in the world, I go to places I usually don’t visit or listen to conversations that have nothing to do with “my world” and voilá ideas start flowing again. I then translate a shape of an object or a thing or a colour into my own context. That always works for me.
Your no. 1 advice for people dreaming about starting their own business and pursuing their dreams?
Do what brings you the joy and find people who believe in you. I meet so many people who are too afraid to even draw anything, because they put so much pressure on themselves that it has to be perfect or become something special. It pains me to see this unused potential just because of the fear of not being good enough.
On the other hand I love seeing people expressing their talent and not giving a shit. Of course you will need to think business-y at some point if you actually want to live off your passion. But my first advice would be: Do, make or live your passion. Show what you can do. Prototype it, test it on your people. Just do it. For free if you have to. Until you get more secure in your belief that you have something to offer. Second: Find your fan, someone who believes in you, someone who reminds you to keep going, a community like Villa or maybe just your mom.
Any new projects in the pipeline that you can tell us about?
Yes of course. There is always many. That’s what happens when you work on several businesses. Haha, but the one I am super excited about currently is a new coaching program, called “Turn Your Passion Into Profit”. I will teach photographers, designers, musicians, artists, actors, writers, chefs and other creative individuals the art of doing successful business. From making a business model and building a vision to becoming a confident business owner. If you are curious, make sure you follow me on instagram to hear more about when the program officially opens.
Thank you so much for the interview, Anastasia!
You can head over to Anastasia’s instagram account for more inspiration and positive vibes. Or reach out to her at hey@anastasiadimitriadou.com