Casey Berglund:
When we first spoke and you pulled out some of my story about my move here to Spain, my time in Juno,, and you shared a bit more about when we first met and how we got kicked out of Juno, what we didn't talk about is how I resonated with what you were sharing about your journey through corporate and into taking time off and taking leave. And like you were in that zone when we first met.
And it was in some ways a bit of a synchronicity for me, because as you know now, like I support people who have had something happen in their life and are realigning their working world, whether that's finding a more aligned corporate job or starting a business after being in a corporate space. And so when we connected and you were sharing exactly the space you were in, it felt like this synchronicity for me around like, oh, my work matters. Like there are people who are going through this and I just was starting to meet them through coming into this space.
And because there are so many folks who are either by choice or not going through big work and life transitions, I think it would be super helpful to hear more of your story around that, like around your time in corporate. And obviously you moved to Barcelona for a job. So tell me more about what that was like for you. Like what was it like for you working in corporate initially? And then when did it start to feel like something was off? Can you start there and share a little bit more about that?
Kristina Dedikov:
Yeah. Thank you so much for summarizing it. I'm just like thinking where to start because I mean, we met in October, 2024, and I don't think it was a coincidence because that was exactly the moment when I left corporate after almost 10 years and took the leap of faith and started my own entrepreneurial journey. And you are exactly the person who helps women who are in this threshold phase in their life. So right. How can I start? I mean, I'm from Germany. For us, like generally career is very important… work, career, being productive, doing, hustling, bustling, you know, being in that space. And I was always working in the automotive area. I'm also a good German, of course. You tick that box.
Casey Berglund:
You're like, I'm a car girl.
Kristina Dedikov:
Exactly. I mean, some stereotypes, you know, like, of course I'm German. I was working in the car industry. Whereas you work anyhow. So I was always like driven like career and here and better. Does it come from a compensation of lack of self-worth? Absolutely. Yes. But that's like, I think, another page. In 2021, I had my first, I don't know, I wouldn't say it was a burnout, but it was, I was exhausted. So I took like a three weeks sick leave. And in that time, the voice like became stronger and louder, like moved to Spain, moved to Spain. And then, you know, I got the synchronicities from people saying, "Hey, Kristina, I'm in front of my move to Spain. And I think you will be good there." You know, so everything was just like, okay, I'm going.
Did it make sense? Absolutely not. I just started a new job five months ago. I just had my like apartment, like my new apartment in Munich that like, I bought like all the new furniture, everything three months before in order to leave Munich then in some months. So anyhow, it didn't make sense, but my, like everything inside of me pulled me to Barcelona and I started to work here, to work for a corporation called Seat Code. I don't know if you know the car brand, Seat. It's a Spanish car brand and Seat Code was a software development hub for Seat and for the other Volkswagen Group brand. And I had so much fun. I had so much fun, I have to say, like the company culture itself, like the managers they were from, they were from the dot com business, you know, they are developers, they are, you know, they know the branch and it was such a cool and beautiful experience.
And then I changed from Seat Code because we kind of created a new software development center here in Barcelona for Volkswagen. And that was also amazing because I had the role as Ambassador. So I was traveling a lot. I kind of got to know so many different colleagues, different locations in the world, Portugal, I was traveling to Germany to so many different places and I really enjoyed it. You know, I felt like that's my place. But after a particular time, I felt like there was like this exhaustion because I was just like always doing and pushing and more and more and more and proving myself and here and there. And then I remember I was in January, 2024 when I realized, wait, is this my life? Or was I like chasing someone else's dream?
For example, for my parents, because I'm an immigrant child, right? My parents are Russian German. So we moved to Germany when I was four and my father is working on the production line for BMW. So, you know, they always said study, have a good job, you know, and my brother and I were both academics. So in their eyes, we're like, they're so proud of us. And I'm so happy for that, right? But I was like, is it my life? You know, like, is it me? And then everything just kind of starts to come together and fall apart. And last year in July, I made this decision that I'm going to do something on my own. What? I did not know. But it was so present that I'm going to try. So I kind of decided to leave corporate end of October. And yeah, took the leap of faith that started the crazy self development journey I've ever been on. But that's another part. That's another thing. But yes, it's, it's, but it's, on the one hand, it's challenging, because it's so different from what we've been taught in society, because our society, our school systems, everything is not really like educating and like us to be entrepreneurs, right? It's, it's, you are a good employee. Yes. You know, so that's the reason why I have to figure it out yourself. Yeah, that's, that's really, it really is one of those types of journeys. Yes, we have to figure this out yourself. You know, so that's the reason why these spaces like Juno are so precious, because you can exchange you have like, women who think alike who have the same or similar path and journey challenges. So it kind of creates this like community, which is so important. We've been talking about community, right? So yeah, that's been my journey from cooperation to, to entrepreneurship.
Casey Berglund:
I'm curious, you said in January 2024, you were asking, is this my life? And you said that like it just kind of came out of nowhere. But I'm curious if you were to slow down that moment in time in January, like, where did that come from? Was that like an intuitive voice that came out of nowhere? Or were, were you journaling and you noticed some themes? Like, tell me more about that moment in time. Like, is this mine? What was that like for you?
Kristina Dedikov:
Good question. I mean, for me, that time was, I was again, like in this emotional exhaustion. It was again, I tried to, you know, prove my worth by doing more, being more here and there, you know, it's like always like hustling, bustling and, you know, to be recognized to be seen. I mean, this is what I think the shadow side of a projector, right, just to try to be seen in the world, especially in corporate, which is, you know, they are out for like numbers, the return on the vest, you know, all these things. And sometimes I was like, oh my God, you need to do that. It's so obvious. But you know, like my ideas sometimes were not seen in that moment, even though this is what the collective needed. And this is what they told me, but sometimes the management was like, we have other problems. And that's fine, you know, and I was always try to, you know, just like, say, hi, I'm here, I'm here, you know, like, like see me recognize me and appreciate me, which they did. Right? For sure they did. But it's just like, it was still always like this hustle and bustle. And in January, I was just so exhausted. And I asked myself like, why again? If I'm doing the job that I love traveling, and like, how can I, how can I be exhausted again?
Like how like, you know, before the job, like the other one where I was emotionally exhausted was, I was a key account manager, you know, I was like, and I was working with an account that was very challenging, it was all by myself, more or less, you know, so that I understood, but here, it's my freaking dream job, I'm traveling, I'm, how come?
Casey Berglund:
Right. So this is an interesting crux, because sometimes it's more obvious, it's for some reason, bringing about a relationship analogy, it's like, if you're in like a really shitty relationship, and it's like really feels bad all the time, like it's easy to easier, let's say, to be like, Oh, I got out of that relationship, because it really felt like shit all the time. But exactly, but when you're like in something that's really good, yeah, really good, there's so many aspects of it that you love.
Yeah. And yet there's a part that's like, Oh, but it doesn't feel like it's it that I think is a lot more complex and complicated. And when you talk about like, this was my dream job, it is my dream job. But then like, if it's my dream job, why am I so exhausted? Yeah, I remember after getting out of a kind of toxic relationship with a man, I found this podcast that was called if he's so great, why do I feel so bad? Yeah. And it was about the sort of like narcissist empath dynamic. Yeah. And anyway, it's funny how that is coming to me because it's kind of similar, like this is so great. But why am I so exhausted? It's like there's these contradictory experiences of something.
Kristina Dedikov:
Exactly. Because on paper, it was amazing. Yeah, it was amazing. Yeah. You know, on paper was the dream job. Yeah. But why did I feel so bad? And for the first time in my life, I experienced anxiety attacks. And they got worse and worse and worse, to like to the point where I faced panic attacks. It's like, what is this? What is this? I'm not insane person. Like, what is this? You know, of course, and the shame, the guilt comes on top. Yeah. Right. And I remember then back then, I also kind of tried to speak to the doctor and the doctor here and said to me like, it's your problem. Yeah. So I was like, wait, literally, I had a panic attack. In that moment, my back then flatmate, now boyfriend, like took me to the doctor. And she literally said, it's your problem. And I was like, what?
Casey Berglund:
Yeah. And you're already exhausted. And you're suffering. Absolutely. You're having chronic anxiety and panic attacks. You're shaming yourself. You're judging yourself. And then someone on the outside who has credentials, medical credentials is like basically validating all of your worst voices inside of yourself.
Kristina Dedikov:
Exactly. Yeah, exactly. That's rough. That's rough. Yeah.
Casey Berglund:
From from your current perspective with the awareness and consciousness that you have now,how do you make sense of those anxiety attacks, panic attacks? Like if if, and I don't know if you feel like this is true, but let's say everything's a teacher in a way, what do you feel your body was communicating with you through those anxiety and panic attacks when you like look back and reflect on that moment in time?
Kristina Dedikov:
Oh, that's not your space girl. And actually, I, there was this voice, I mean, when there was the shift, this transformation from the one company to the other, I heard these voices like Kristina, you know, like, think about it. And I was insecure of changing actually. I was insecure and I was talking to a lot of people, but I made a decision, like mind base, like, how can I say like, from your head? Yeah, exactly logical decision, you know, and I don't regret it because it kind of created a lot of beautiful experiences, but there was always this underlying feeling of like contraction in my freaking body. Exactly. And I had it the whole time looking back the entire time was like, like here, exactly. It's like, no, it's amazing. You know, so, and then it got louder, louder, louder, louder. Yeah. Until my body was like, stop. If you don't listen to me, I'm gonna make you stop, girl. Yeah. And this is what happened. I was just ignoring the little signs that my body was like, the not just like the cues, like stop, stop, not your place. Don't. I was like…
Casey Berglund:
And what did the stop look like at that moment in time?
Kristina Dedikov:
It's almost this panic attack. Yeah. The panic and it's like, because it made me stop. I couldn't work. Yeah. I couldn't work. And the problem was because I didn't get like a sick leave or a medical treatment or anything like that.
Casey Berglund:
Right. Because you got gas lit by the doctor.
Kristina Dedikov:
Exactly. Like at work, they said, well, if you are really that bad, why don't they give you like a sick leave? Yeah. Which I understand. So I was like, this is a fucked up situation. Yeah. You know, I was literally, I was like at the bottom of my life and the doctor says, it's your problem. And at work, they say, if you're really that bad, how come?
Casey Berglund:
Yeah. That's hard. And I can see and feel like the emotion coming to you as you like tap into that energy, the, the like how much that hurt. And I think it's like, you're not the only one who's had that experience. You know, like when I first started meeting people here at Juno, I spoke with, I put a post up about really wanting to speak with women who were going through some sort of change in their work and something kicked off a change in their work. And I talked to probably 12 women and you being one of them. And it was so shocking in a way to me, but also not shocking, shocking because I had never really worked in corporate at that level to experience those things. I started a business when I was 25, you know, so I've always been kind of in my own lane in that way. But I was surprised to hear from so many women, the shit that they were navigating that was triggering a need for change. And it was hard not to notice the self blame that they were layering on top of the pain that they were experiencing self blame that then would also turn into a bit of a fuck you energy, you know, like blame self and then blame other. And it's just like, um, that's, that's the nature of the contraction is like, it's a bit of a disempowering, hard, hurtful energy. But my point is that there were so many people that were like, well, I was in the middle of a meeting where I was presenting them. My boss like literally stood up and yelled at me and like, and these things that happen that are traumatizing, you know. And when you don't feel seen, there's like this silent, you're, you're struggling alone, right? When you're not able to be seen or heard or valued or loved, but rather gaslit by like doctors or authorities or bosses. It's hard to navigate that inner world of pain when your body is asking for something to change. And yet sometimes I wonder if that's part of the initiation into taking a stand for yourself when no one else will. What do you think about that?
Kristina Dedikov:
Absolutely. That was the moment when I also had to step up for myself because then something has happened in the work environment that made me stepping up for myself. And actually last year on my vision board, I wrote down stepping up for myself and I did. Did I? Thank you, thank you, whatever, whoever. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, it made me step up for myself and like retrospectively, I'm proud because I was freaking brave.
Casey Berglund:
Well, and especially when you speak about being the type of person that was proving yourself through your work and probably like people pleasing in a way, you're so intuitive and empathetic that like I can imagine that you could so easily play the role of the chameleon and just like adapt yourself to fit. And so I think that is like a lesson that comes in for people who are so adaptable where you're almost forced into like my needs matter and my authenticity matters and your body's trying to get you there. Absolutely. You know?
Kristina Dedikov:
Absolutely.
Casey Berglund:
So what happened after that? I know you mentioned that you started to get these instincts, these intuitive nudges, and you were talking about hearing a voice inside. I assume that that was a voice inside, like an inner voice. When did the inner voice tell you to do something on your own?
Kristina Dedikov:
So it was, I can tell you, it was either the third or fourth, second, third or fourth of July last year. I wasn't pronounced and it was one night that I woke up at four in the morning and it was like, like this and that, I'm gonna do something on my own. I'm gonna do something on my own. I don't know what it is, but I'm gonna do it. So there was like this, this clarity is like, I'm gonna do this. And did it make sense? Absolutely not. But there was this clarity and I said, I have no freaking clue what I'm doing, but I'm gonna do this. And actually two weeks later I was talking to, or I had like a dinner with Debbie, who is also gonna be on this podcast. And we were talking about finances, about all these things. And she's like, Christina, you're a genius. Like, why don't you do something about that? And I was like, huh, maybe. And the fun thing is, Casey, it was some months ago, I kind of checked my journal, my journal like note notebooks or how do you say it? Like that? Exactly. And I just opened and then there was like this paper that dropped and it was like the Ikigaya workshop that I did in January, 2024. So the month that I kind of started to feel like this emotional exhaustion. And I opened and you know, like there's like, there are these four questions knowing Ikigai, what are your passions? What is this? And the other thing is what people would pay you for. And I opened this and I saw this and there was like, like mentorship, like about finance, money and investments. And I was like, yeah, I have chills right now. That's insane. So there was something already inside of me six months prior to that, that decision that already knew that this is the path.
Casey Berglund:
Consciousness is always ahead.
Kristina Dedikov:
It's insane. Yeah. I was like, yeah.
Casey Berglund:
And a couple of things stand out to me there. You went from not being seen in your corporate role to having a dinner with Debbie, who's a beautiful soul. And she saw you and saw something in you and mirrored it back and celebrated you. And that became its own synchronicity. That was like, you know, I love this idea that God speaks through other people or the universe speaks through others, you know, like you're always being guided and sometimes it's through the people that you're in contact with. Yes, absolutely. So you got this, this mirroring back from Debbie, like, holy shit, you're so smart when it comes to money and wealth and investing. And then you find this sheet from your Ikigai workshop and you know, these words get thrown around like Ikigai, Dharma, purpose. They're all really about coming to the heart of your contribution in the world. Yeah. And you see this whole conversation with yourself basically about money and about wealth. And so it opens something in you. Absolutely. How did that idea of contributing through a business as it relates to wealth, money, etc. How did that evolve from that point?
Kristina Dedikov:
So that was in July, right? And I made this decision that I'm going to start something on my own. And since I'm a big fan of mentorships and coachings, I decided to invest in a coaching, which was high price, high price coaching to help me build my business. And I started in September and it was a fun, it was a fun journey, was a fun process by just like, you know, finding the position, finding the right people, all these things to kind of create a business. But then it came to a point of like winning clients for your services. And it was about triggering people. And I remember that I tried to like write one to post and I did that, but everything inside of my body was like, oh, I cannot. I cannot. I don't want to trigger anyone. You know, like everything was like, this is not for me. Yeah. This is not for me. I kind of booked another mentor who is more in the like business coaching, but more like in the manifestation area. And she, for example, says that she attracts her clients organically. And this is what I felt like, Oh, that's, that's, of course, she would be drawn to that. Exactly. It's like, that's what I want. I, you know, I don't want to make these Facebook ads or whatever. I just want to attract people organically. So I did this and over that journey, it was like February, March, like February, I started my business officially.
I registered here in Barcelona and I had my first client already before I even like registered my business, which was amazing. Yeah. You know, and then I had my second client and then there was like a third one coming up and it's like, wow, that's amazing. I mean, I just started and things started to flow. That's insane. And then it was in March and April and there was something inside of me that says Kristina, there are these finance coaches, investment coaches, whatever, that have a million portfolio who have like so much experience in that, in that area. And who are you to teach people how to invest? You know, like who are you? I have like a smaller five digits portfolio. And also because I, in that time I invested a bit because there was the dip and I was like, okay, that's the time to invest now, but still I didn't do it regularly. So how can I teach and preach what I'm not doing myself because my nervous system didn't let me, you know, invest from my savings too much. Yeah. Right. Or at least I don't have the stocks in, in mentorships. Yes. Yes. In mentorships. Yes. Because there was this belief, I need someone else to help me. Someone else knows it better than me. Yeah. Right. So that belief is so strong. And that was also like, I need someone else to help me build my business. I can do it on my own. So of course, since this belief was so present, so strong, I invested and that money was there for mentorships, right? But for stocks, no. So I was like, I felt like a fraud. Yeah. I felt like a fraud. And then I made this decision to only focus on money relationships, right? On creating a healthy relationship with money. And I remember when I made this decision, my whole body, I felt like, ah, a relief. Yeah. But since then, like clients stopped. It was like, it was like a clear, like a clear cut. Like nothing. Yeah. Nothing. And I was like, what is this? Yeah. What is this? And I mean, and then, you know, like I was in, in the space of the, I need to trust, I need to trust, you know, like trusting manifestation, blah, blah, blah. But on the other hand, my body was like, nervous. Exactly. There's no money coming. You know? Yeah.
So, and I was like, no, no, no, trust, trust, trust, trust, just trust. And I was literally gaslighting my body. I was gaslighting my body. And I thought like, by just faking till you make it and by just saying some affirmations, I'm going to get there. But you know what? Our bodies are so intelligent and no matter how much like manifestation, and I'm very critical about manifestation. Meanwhile, I mean, you know that says like to ignore the 3D world, but this is literally gaslighting your body because your body, your nervous system is reacting to the 3D world. Yes. And if there's nothing incoming, your body's like, I don't give a, I don't give a damn fuck about your whatever manifestation. I want you to be safe. I want you to have a roof above your head. I don't give a, I don't give a damn fuck about what you're planning. You know? Yeah.
And then there was this tax payment and the June that literally hit me hard was two and a half thousand euros. And I was like, you know what life God, Universe, Source, whoever, whoever listens, you know, if you want me to make this work, you better give me money.
Casey Berglund:
Oh, she just came out. She just came out. What is the sultry? Roshanda? She just came out.
Kristina Dedikov:
She's like, you better give me money for that. So, and that literally like, I had to stop that. Like this event made me stop. I was like, wait, I cannot continue. And then I went to Greece for a family vacation and I said, look, I'm not going to talk about business. I'm not going to do anything. And that's space. I'm just going to detach and relax.
And that week, Casey helped me so much to reconnect with my, with this little girl inside of me. It's like, what brings you joy? What do you love to do? And she was like, Oh, I love to perform. I love to dance. I love to do this. You know, it's like interesting, you know? So, and then I still, I still have my clients and, um, right now the focus is on investing.
Casey Berglund:
And with your current clients continued from before…
Kristina Dedikov:
Exactly. That we, because I have like, we worked together for four months. So now we're at the end, you know, first we create a healthy relationship with money, money management, and then start to invest in the stock market.
Casey Berglund:
Brilliant. By the way, I'm, I'm just gonna, you can go on your roller coaster ride and I'm going to hold the vision for Kristina being like the, the wealth mentor that we all need. Like the one who focuses on both the inner nervous system regulation around money and having a healthy relationship with money to actually managing money. And you know, knowing what your investments are, Kristina taught me to shift my mindset from talking about expenses to calling those investments because they give you something when you're spending money on something, you're receiving something in, in return. Like this water is hydrating me and helping my vocal cords as we speak. And like, what a gift. And the, yeah, we paid for this water because you pay for water in Spain. Yes. And so that's like the, the financial like literacy and financial management part. And then you also do have an awareness and a gift of investing in the stock market. And like that whole transformational journey is brilliant.
And you have a way of supporting people through it that is unique and needed and knowing your heart and knowing your desire to make that pathway accessible for more women in particular is like, I'm going to hold that vision all day long, every day long. And I know, I also know what the entrepreneurial journey is and I know what it's like to invest large amounts of money in coaching and to receive some gifts from that coaching, but then be like, wait, did I get what was promised? Like, I don't know. And then you're like, wait a minute. I just invested thousands of dollars in coaching. And I'm a coach myself, right? So it's like, we've talked before about how important integrity is as a coach practitioner, mentor and all of that. So I want to like witness you in this journey that has felt like a roller coaster and validate the part of you that also has felt a lack of safety in your body connected to inconsistent revenue.
And I don't know a single entrepreneur who has not experienced that. So it needs to be normalized. And also you have been doing this for not that many months. And also we get to honor the body. So it's hard sometimes when you're starting and you're in the ups and downs and you're learning lessons like entrepreneurship is the greatest personal development path you'll ever go on. Yeah. It's a fast track. And it's fascinating to me that, you know, money was coming in when investing was part of the offer. And that there was a moment where something in you felt like a fraud because you weren't consistently investing in that moment in time. So you pulled back on that part, it created relief in your body. And you started teaching and guiding on the first part of the puzzle, like relationship with money, nervousness and regulation around money. And new clients stopped coming in. And then there were these sort of money triggers that put your body into fight, flight, freeze, panic even. And you know that. So of course you would react to that. And you have your own money story, which you teach to other people, of course, that also makes your sort of baseline for what's required in the 3D as it relates to money, different from someone else's when it comes to feeling safe. Absolutely. So you're navigating all of that and you're coming to a point now, it sounds like with clients that you started working with before, where you're getting to the piece where you start doing the investing work, you're lighting up and finding joy in it again. And are you still feeling like a fraud connected to that? Or is it shifting? What's happening?
Kristina Dedikov:
That's very interesting, Casey, because in Greece, I asked myself this question, like, what brings me joy? And like following two weeks, I had like the session with a client and we started to talk about investing and everything. And after that, I was like, I was so full of joy. And then I was like, wait, that brings me joy. And I never thought that this will bring me joy. And now I'm just like, I'm so knowledgeable about investments. I have such a high integrity when it comes to working with people. And I said, you know what? I don't want to do these high price, excuse me, nothing against high price ticket, but most of the high price ticket, sorry, it feels like a scam. Unless you pay like an MBA for a hundred thousand, it's just like, I don't know why you should pay a hundred thousand euros for an energy of a person. Yeah.
Casey Berglund:
Right. And yeah, there's different perceptions on what someone would consider like high ticket to one person is like a thousand dollars to another person would be like a hundred K. And we're talking about investing high five figures or five figures in manifestation. And there's a trigger point for you in that. And rightfully so, right? Because you step away being like, wait, what skills did I learn that will help me to build my business? Absolutely. Or when there are guaranteed results that do not happen for most of the people, then it's like, wait a minute, what? What's happening there? So, and I know that you said that you went down a rabbit hole of exploring in Germany in particular, some of the scene there. Exactly. So it's like, it's interesting to hold both. Like you said before, like you value mentoring, you value coaching, you value being supported. And it's clear that there's such a navigation as a coach and a mentor yourself, like what is actually in integrity here? And it sounds like there's lessons on like how you can build from a foundation of alignment and integrity.
Absolutely. In everything that you create. Absolutely. Which I think is an important recognition that you're learning. And it just like sucks sometimes when you paid a large price tag for that lesson.
Kristina Dedikov:
Yeah. I mean, it's been 33,000 euros and I think this lesson could have been cheaper, but obviously I needed that. But literally it's, I mean, I had like a psychic reading and a natal chart reading with an astrologist in June. And she said to me that my North note, which is my purpose, I think in life is in Aquarius. And Aquarius is about changing systems. It's about innovation. It's about rebellion of the current systems and it's serving the collective is not serving the few it's serving, serving the many. Yes. And she also pointed out clearly that I'm here to help people build wealth, not knowing what I'm doing. Yeah. So I was like, wow, that's insane. I know.
Casey Berglund:
Synchronicity, just like Debbie synchronicity is the Ikigai paper. Exactly. Flying out of your journal, this astrologer who doesn't know anything about you is telling you that you're a wealth mentor.
Kristina Dedikov:
Absolutely. And also like the incarnation cross and human design is, I don't remember the numbers, but it says that I'm here to help people to break free from limitations. Yeah, you are. Exactly. Money is such a limiting thing. You know, so there's like definitely these synchronicities like pushing me into that direction. And I think that like this moment where I had this tax payment, no matter how much it sucked, I think it was necessary for me. And I felt it in that moment because I felt like that's, there's something very big behind that lesson.
And going back to really guide women like to embody this healthy, at least neutral, like relationship with money, you know, like managing money from a different place, not this fear driven expenses and here and saving, I mean, saving emergency account, you save your money, you save human lives, you know, like the words that we're utilizing, you know, like it's so negative. It's so fear based and changing that to manage your money from a place of love and calm, you know, it changes so much in your body and then start to invest and make your money work for you. It's so empowering. And I think that this is the journey that we need. And I see that the current narrative and the financial coaching scene is like, Oh, inflation devours, are your savings, poverty in, when you retire, it's like, Oh my God, I need to do something with my money. You know, like my body literally contracts whenever I hear that. And I don't want that.
Casey Berglund:
Yeah. And, and how fascinating there's a couple of things that you said in our conversation so far. I'm thinking specifically about the coaching you received from the business coaching to trigger your clients in a post to basically get them to buy and how bad that felt in your body. It's like that sort of mirrors the energy that you're talking about right now with the fear based messages around money as the spark for change, how that just feels so wrong. And so it sounds like the, the shit disturbing that you are here to do in the world for a new relationship with money, a new paradigm around even how we talk about money is so counter to those things. But it's like you had to learn those lessons through the contraction.
Kristina Dedikov:
Absolutely. Absolutely. And it was freaking hurtful. And also to experience lack. I don't wish anyone to experience this, this, this feeling of lack, especially, especially for me, like being an immigrant, you know, like not, I didn't grow up in a, in a war environment, but we were not wealthy. We were middle-class and my parents were always working their asses off and then they built a house. And, um, my mother always said, we don't have money. We don't have money. We don't have money, which is not true because they had money. Otherwise they cannot live, but it feels like you don't have money. And this is a narrative I grew up with. So of course I will do anything and everything in my life to make sure that there is a money flow. So for me, taking the sleep of faith in November and kind of, uh, say bye to the safety and security that this corporate job has given me. Yeah. Whoa, that's insane. And then of course from April on, when there was literally no income, that was hard. Yeah. That was hard. That's hard. It is hard. It's hard.
Casey Berglund:
When you say like, um, yeah, sometimes manifestation teachings promote bypassing the physical reality. In other words, bypassing money, bypassing the body, bypassing the material, the matter, the dense energy that's around us here in the 3d plane, how it like, doesn't work that way. It doesn't work that way for your body because your body is a truth teller as it relates to not just the physical reality, like your body, when you hone that body wisdom, it also is your channel for divine wisdom. Absolutely. But you're, you're human.
We're human. You know, the body is still going to be like, just because you want all these things, like I can't handle that much change right now. Absolutely. And that needs to be honored, you know, and as someone who has like guided people through work transitions and guided people into starting businesses, certainly there are some folks that can go from corporate to jumping full time into business. Often those people have a safety net of a partner who provides for them or parents that they receive money from. They often don't do it on their own. Absolutely. And I'm not here to judge that path because it is the right path to go all in for some people to leap and the net will appear. And if we're looking at a nervous system or body based perspective, like a lot of times it's super wise to have like a bridge job. Something that brings in consistent money where you're, you can learn that lights you up, that you can learn in alignment with the thing that you ultimately want to do.
Like we're humans in this physical plane. And we do need a certain amount and it's different for everyone, but a base amount of consistent income to feel safe in our body. Otherwise the creativity that is required for entrepreneurship is cut off.
Kristina Dedikov:
It's impossible. And that's the thing. And that's the dangerous thing about Instagram, because you see these motivational pages like, yeah, either you go in or you're a loser, you know, are people like, I need to go online. Otherwise, you know, like it, of course it affects you subconsciously, but what these motivational posts or whatever, don't tell you like, does this person who posts this thing, did this him herself as well? You know, because I mean, everyone can speak a lot, especially on Instagram. But, and finally yesterday I had a conversation with a friend of mine who's working in corporate and he has like a new business idea. And he also said like, hey, but normally you have to go all in to make it successful. And I was like, stop it. Stop it. Because he also read it on Instagram. And I said, if you have like, and he also that comes from like, you know, not a good background. He was also like fighting a lot. And now he has like, this is a very good job. So it's like, don't leave that, especially if the, like, if this job gives you the sanity, you know, and the time to explore your hobbies and your side projects, go with that, you know, but don't believe this, excuse me, bullshit on Instagram that you have to go all in, you know, oh, you're trapped in nine to five, you're da da da, blah, blah, blah. How many times did I see that? It's like, that's, that's damaging only because you're nine to five. It doesn't mean you're a loser. No, right. No.
Casey Berglund:
And, and some people love their nine to five jobs and there are incredible corporate roles that are super aligned for people. Not everybody is built to be an entrepreneur or wants to be an entrepreneur. And like, this is making me reflect on my own journey of like being a dietician. Like I had jobs, I had multiple jobs while I was building my business on the side. And by the point that I went full time into my business, it was like something had to give. Yeah. Like either I let go of my business to show up in integrity for the things I wanted to build in the company, but the things I wanted to build in the company, I was using my entrepreneurial gifts to like create things that didn't exist before without getting rewarded financially for those things. There was no place for me to grow, or I let go of the job to continue to grow my business.
But I had been making money in my business for a couple of years, probably. Yeah, maybe it wasn't, it wasn't consistent. It wasn't a lot. Sometimes it was. And there was an expansion that happened with the leap at that point, but I had evidence that people wanted to pay me for what I had to offer because I served many clients before I went full time. Exactly. And people forget that like, this is like, if I'm going to give some business advice, it's like smart business advice.
Smart businesses, like they create a minimum viable product and sell it because that is proof of concept, you know, and then sell it again and sell it again and tweak. And you know, there's like a process and that's good and that's okay. And like, can we just leave behind in the old paradigm, denying the body and denying the nervous system? Absolutely. I'm here for sustainable success, long-term legacy type shit. And I think you are too. Yeah. And I think for us, it really is about, yes, we can quantum leap in moments, but in the course of like a 20, 30, 40 year old business, it's like, there's also moments that are a slow burn. Absolutely.
And that helps with creating solid foundations. Absolutely. Where you like prove your concept over and over again and serve people and like, and have to be called into those lessons and remember your deeper purpose. And yes, it's hard. Yeah. And the message to like, okay, we got to keep going. Like that's important. And Kristina, you got to keep going. You know, I'm not going to let you quit. Yeah. And that's not the point. It's like you can keep going and also call in something that provides a level of financial flow. Absolutely. That helps your body feel safe. Feel safe. Exactly. And I think that's, that's really honoring the wisdom and the body.
Kristina Dedikov:
Because as you said, if you are, if the body thinks that it's unsafe, like your intuition, your creativity, strategic thinking, everything that you need in order to create a prosperous business is cut off. Yeah. The brain is literally not accessing its full power.
Kristina Dedikov:
Exactly. When we're in this fight of light, our prefrontal cortex, everything is shut down. Like, like we're not here to, we're here to survive, but we're not here to, to create. Right. And this is a thing that the, the dangerous part also about these, this manifestation thing, like to ignore the 3D is like literally to guess like your whole body experience. And also like this idea of like success is fast, you know, like success is fast. Maybe if you've been in this business for six years, your success can be fast, but someone who starts, maybe it's true for some people, I don't know, but normally success, like that looks like overnight, there was so much work behind. There was so much, like so many years in really dedicated work because everyone says like real success comes from persistence. So if this is true, like in many ways, like how come like the success is fast? I don't know. Like this, I think that this is the marketing that it's been sold to.
Casey Berglund:
I mean, and especially in the, in the spiritual entrepreneurship space, this is the dark side of the spiritual entrepreneurship space, you know, as someone who has been in business for 10 years, like I felt the exact same way when I moved here and was like, Oh my God, like why couldn't I just quantum leap my business with all these life changes? And like, you know, I was pissed at the fact that I would be pummeled by grief. And then it's like, wait a minute, you know, that's meant to be felt. Absolutely. And we're not seeing the whole picture ever. Like, I don't know, people find their success in different ways. And usually often not all the time, of course, but there's, there's sacrifice or neglect of one part of life that you don't see in some of the people that are posting on Instagram, for example. And that's not to say that we can't quantum leap and we can't be in that expansion and we can't like grow, like there's, there's beauty to that.
And I think that, you know, what you're sharing from your experience is just so real. And especially if you're here to serve the masses, you need to know the process of what most people are experiencing. Yeah. You know, absolutely. To connect with them.
Kristina Dedikov:
Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Is it nice? No. Does it suck? Yes. Sometimes it's great though. Sometimes it's great. As you said, it definitely serves me and experiencing lack. I think it's, I mean, I think right now my journey is literally about detaching my sense of safety and security from money. Yeah. I think that this is, I mean, yesterday, and it's so beautiful, you know, I, I've been talking to you like I'm so, I'm surrounded by so many beautiful people that support me, love me like from the bottom of their hearts. And yesterday, my therapist, he gifted me a session with him and it was just so beautiful because I told him, look, right now my nervous system doesn't let me spend any money unless it's for grocery. And it's okay. I honored that. That's fine. But like, I need to talk to you. So he said, look, no problem. I'm going to give this to you. And I'm so grateful. And yesterday, you know, when he said that, he said, Christina, maybe your journey right now is from detaching your sense of safety and security from money. And this is also what I'm also teaching because the real safety and security is not money because no matter how much money you have in the bank account, and I had a lot and I still have, and I'm coming manifestation.Excuse me. It never made me feel safe. Never, because it's not the amount of money that makes you feel safe. It's, it's first of all, the trust in life, then no matter what your wealth. And the second is the trust in yourself that no matter what, you'll be fine. If you have capabilities, you have competencies, you have like everything that you need in order to create money flow, you will survive your good. You know, it's these two things. So it's not money because money from one day to the other, it can be worthless. Yeah. Inflation, you know, from one day to the other, it's like, it's done.
So what is that? What else is there?
Casey Berglund:
And, and I'm having this analogy come into my mind right now. I don't know if it's an analogy, but I'm like, I personally do not want to learn about building and growing wealth from a trust fund kid who just always had it, who just never, ever, ever had to be in scarcity or never like didn't ever have to work and had money come. And like, I don't say that from a place of judgment, but I personally, and probably the average person listening to this wouldn't want to learn from someone who never struggled with money. Like what do you have to teach if you haven't been through the ringer in all different sides. And I think especially because you teach your embodied wisdom to support other people with the transformation that is required in that relationship with money, which has everything to do with detaching your safety and security for money and so many other things. Absolutely. And not just that, like you also teach about the practical skills connected with investing because you know that too. And you've learned those lessons over time.
So it's like, if you're going to hold space, Kristina, for that whole transformational journey, which you are, then you are going to get gifted all the lessons and initiations connected to every angle of money. If you also want to be an integrity, which you do and be an embodied leader. And so the universe is kind of like, you better know what the fuck you're teaching. You better know what the fuck people are actually dealing with. If you want to meet them and teach to the masses, you know, and the ironic part about this is like when we're in the shit, like I have this experience too, when I was feeling like, Oh God, what's happening with my business? I have a program that's about success and I'm not feeling successful. It's hard to sell a program that's about like aligned success when I'm like, I don't feel that alignment. Am I successful right now? Like it feels like imposter syndrome and like you're a fraud. But actually you're getting the lessons because you're a fucking master. Yeah. You know? Yeah.
Like I have a free offering that's called your pathway to a calm, purposeful career or business that fuels a life you love. And why do I have a right to guide people through that process? Because I know what the opposite of that feels like. I know what the opposite of that feels like. You know it very well. I'm not teaching about embodiment because I've been perfectly embodied my whole life. No, I had an eating disorder that I had to move through. I had to move through disembodiment related to sexual trauma. I had to move through disembodiment connected to money. I had to move through disembodiment connected to business and work. And it's like, that's how we learn.
Yes. You know, like our greatest teachers are the contraction sometimes, the pain, the discomfort that helps us know the opposite. And I do believe that we get to be in a prolonged state of, I do believe our true nature is like joy and expansion and bliss. And also we're only in our thirties. Yeah. You know? Yeah. We're only in our thirties. Yeah. And we have a shit ton to teach as we are right now based on the lessons we've learned up until the point.But my hope for both of us is that we have many, many, many more years to live and be in business and learn and become even more masterful. And so again, when you go out like meta, everything is part of the fertilizer for your aligned path. You're not off the path. You're exactly on it.
Kristina Dedikov:
I'm exactly on it. And I think I needed to be off path the last months to experience to go back, you know, to know, okay, that's not my path. That's my path. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. And the nuances of it. Absolutely. And how it feels and how things are starting to align, you know? And one thing that I also wanted to share with you, and I remember when we went back to your place from the beach and I was talking about abundance and scarcity, because this is something that is also being like mentioned quite often, you know, in this manifestation space. And I'm talking, and I'm referring to financial abundance right now.
And I think that's a..my experience, for example, was that this year I was focusing on my abundance mindset and on attracting money effortlessly, you know, all these things that come with manifestation. And finally, it was everything but like abundant my life and there was like nothing flowing effortlessly. Whereas the last years where I was in scarcity, obviously, I attracted so much money. And I was like, that's interesting. You know, I made so much money. And I was like, I don't know what to do with this. I'm going to go to Chanel to buy some shoes because there's like so much, you know?
So I was like, wait, is this even true that you need to have an abundance mindset in order to attract money? And I want to stop this thing here because it's not true. And, you know, like, for example, there are billionaires, for example, I think it was Elon Musk who was sleeping on the floor of the production of the plant to save money for rent. I wouldn't say that this is an abundant mindset, right? And so, you know, there are so many millionaires, billionaires, whatever, who have not like obtained the abundant mindset and still are like billionaires, right? So what I wanted to say is you don't need to have an abundant mindset to attract money. What you need the abundance mindset for and what do I mean with abundant mindset? It is the deep belief that there's enough. There are enough opportunities. There's enough of everything of friendships, of money, of love, of whatever. And no matter what, you'll find your way. So this is for me, abundance mindset.
And in order to enjoy the money, you need to have the abundance mindset. It's not about the attracting. You can attract a lot with scarcity as well. But in order to feel the calm relationship with that, this is where abundance mindset is important because otherwise, greed comes in. That's the reason why we have this belief of, ah, rich people are greedy. They're not greedy. They're in scarcity. And one way of like scarcity manifesting in life is greed, is a perfect sign for scarcity. Or you're hoarding, you're sitting on your money like a chicken on its eggs.
Casey Berglund:
You were kind of doing that before though, too, weren't you?
Kristina Dedikov:
Oh, I was the best chicken.
Casey Berglund:
And so you had to learn the opposite.
Kristina Dedikov:
Right now I have to learn to let go.
Casey Berglund:
Exactly. Just like let that land. That's partly why you had to invest 33,000 euros in coaching, is you had to learn how to release money. You had to swing the pendulum. This is what we do. We swing the pendulum and then we learn the integrated lessons. Absolutely. Yes. On the other side.
Kristina Dedikov:
Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So exactly. That's the reason why I say the healthy relationship with money is so important in order to be able to enjoy it. Because no matter how much you're going to make, if you cannot keep it, if you cannot spend it, if you cannot or invest it, if you cannot handle it in a healthy way, you will not enjoy having money. You will not enjoy your journey on the stock market. You will not enjoy multiplying it. It's impossible.
Yeah. Right? So that's the reason why I say that's important. So don't get fooled by these abundance millionaire coaches who said you're going to become a millionaire with their programs for mostly an angel number pricing. That's also very funny. It's only $22,222.
So really forget about this. It's not about effortlessly manifesting. It's about receiving for sure. If you're not allowing yourself to receive money, how can more money come into your life? That's definitely a part of it. But this easy game and whatever, I think it's a trap.
Casey Berglund:
I appreciate you sharing so much of your wisdom.
Kristina Dedikov:
Yeah. Thank you so much for creating that space. And actually, that was the first time that I talked so openly about it, because it's a very shameful story. Me, as someone who teaches you money and investing, living in lag, how does this experience fit? Yeah. So it's a very vulnerable place right now. And I'm very grateful for you to create this safe environment for me to share this. And for everyone who listens, maybe can also relate to that story too.
Casey Berglund:
Totally. And from where I'm sitting, I see a wealth mentor. I see it's because of that. It's because of that, that you are the teacher, and I'm going to hold that vision alongside you as long as it takes.
Kristina Dedikov:
Thank you.
