Join 60,000+ seasoned professionals who are done with the corporate world. Epic Encore is an almost daily newsletter with inspirational stories from leading experts. Your Epic Encore is about turning your lifetime experiences into the cornerstone of the rest of your life. It represents your audacious leap into entrepreneurship, fueled by the wisdom and tenacity you've garnered in your successful career. This isn't about playing catch-up in business and building a 7-figure business. It's about forging a unique path, using your distinct perspective, seasoned judgment, and invaluable insights that can only come from years of life experience.
So much more than gyros and baklava
|
Ellen and I just got back from two weeks in Greece where we consumed our fair share of gyros, baklava and ouzo. I have to admit I thought I was going to Greece for the views… But I ended up getting a history lesson, a family reckoning, and a quiet reset all in one. What surprised me most? I forgot that everything in Greece was built to honor the gods in mythology. Everything from crumbled ruins to giant stone temples is dedicated to Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo… Not just monuments. These were acts of reverence. They built cities around stories. When a new ruler didn't like the architecture, he buried the entire city and started over. They carved stone for the gods. They lived their daily lives in service to meaning bigger than themselves. It made me stop and ask: What am I building in my life to honor what I believe in? What stories am I living by… without realizing it? Then things got personal. My grandparents once lived in northern Greece otherwise known as Asia Minor. During the Greco-Turkish war in the 1920s, there was a population exchange of Greek Orthodox citizens from Asia Minor and Muslims from Greece. My grandfather told us stories of his family fleeing for their lives. Bombs going off around them. Innocent people being slaughtered by solders. His father got sick and passed away as they fled. My Grandfather, only 12 years old, led his family south only to find out they weren’t exactly welcome despite being Greek. He immigrated to the United States where he met up with his two brothers and what else, they started a restaurant. For the first time, that wasn’t just a sad story I’d heard growing up. It was real.I was standing on the same soil. And it hit me: They survived so I could thrive two generations later. I never expected my two-week vacation would have such an emotional impact on me. I'm still processing the lessons I learned while still recovering from the 10-hour time difference. So yeah… I came back with a little more than a tan and some cheesy souvenirs. Thanks for being on this journey with me. Ted P.S. If you’ve ever visited a place that helped you reconnect the dots, your story, your roots, your purpose, I’d love to hear it. Just hit reply. |
Ted Prodromou
Join 60,000+ seasoned professionals who are done with the corporate world. Epic Encore is an almost daily newsletter with inspirational stories from leading experts. Your Epic Encore is about turning your lifetime experiences into the cornerstone of the rest of your life. It represents your audacious leap into entrepreneurship, fueled by the wisdom and tenacity you've garnered in your successful career. This isn't about playing catch-up in business and building a 7-figure business. It's about forging a unique path, using your distinct perspective, seasoned judgment, and invaluable insights that can only come from years of life experience.
One of the things we noticed in Greece was people were not addicted to their phones. When you met someone, they were genuinely interested in getting to know you. They were friendly. They were excited to meet you. They were curious. They engaged in real conversation with us even though English is not their native language. Their head wasn't buried in their phone while they were talking with you. 100% of their attention was focused on you. Sure, everyone had a cell phone. People used their...
Tomorrow, I’m heading to Greece for two weeks. It’s a trip Ellen and I have been dreaming about. As Ellen says, “We’re in go-go mode for the next 5–10 years.” We’re still sharp, still curious, still able to hike the hills, explore ruins, and sip wine by the sea. This is the beauty of the business I’ve built: ✅ I stay engaged with work that matters ✅ I have the flexibility to travel when I want ✅ I don’t have to choose between contribution and freedom Eventually, we’ll shift into “go slow”...
As I wrap up Rich Schefren’s Zenith Mind OS course, I’ve been reflecting on one of the biggest shifts I’ve ever made, not just in my business, but in how I show up in life. For most of my career, I was operating from a hidden belief: “I’ll stay safe if I don’t take up too much space.” That belief shaped everything: - I over-prepared instead of taking action - I learned instead of led - I polished my message instead of speaking But something changed. Through the Zenith Mind OS process, I built...