Have you ever felt like your career and life were defined by someone else? That the path you're on isn’t really yours? Theo felt as if he were in handcuffs—until he chose to break free and dive into uncharted waters. In this talk, he shares four lessons that shaped his growth mindset. Are you ready to hear about the Iguana Component, the Jane Approach, the Yiannis Mentality, and the Pushback Perspective? Theo Anagnostopoulos is a science communicator, social entrepreneur, and National Geographic Explorer who has travelled to 112 countries across six continents. He is the co-founder and general manager of SciCo, an international non-profit that promotes science education and public engagement with science. His work focuses on combating scientific illiteracy and empowering educators and students through large-scale STEM programs, particularly in under-resourced communities across Greece, Cyprus, the Eastern Balkans, Tanzania, and Nepal. Theo holds a Ph.D. in medical genetics from King’s College London and is an Ashoka Fellow. His impact has been recognized with awards from the British Council, Newcastle University, and the European Network of Science Centers and Museums. In 2022, The Explorers Club of New York named him one of the “50 People Changing the World”. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx