It is important to “calm down” and rediscover your own values

Introduce yourself in a few words..

I have been involved in marketing for over 15 years, but I rather define myself as an entrepreneur. Besides advertising and media, I participate in the first Bulgarian startup studio BattlePass Studio, as well as in several companies related to tourism.

For you, traveling the world is?

Need, fun, school, and work.

How many different countries have you seen so far? Tell us an interesting incident or highlights from your travels?

The last count was around 37, in recent years around Covid I fell behind in ‘conquering’ new destinations and mostly relied on the tried and tested.
I have countless interesting moments, but for me, the weakness remains Asia and some of the most beautiful countries there - Thailand, Maldives, Philippines. I love diving and the diversity and emotion in these waters are incomparable.

Do you like to repeat destinations? Give examples and motivation “for” or “against”?

Definitely - when you know what you like, and you’ve found “your” place - there’s nothing more logical than to return there periodically. For me, these are the destinations I mentioned. Naturally, we have a few spots in Greece that we return to even more often because we have a weakness not only for the nature of our southern neighbor but also for their culture, history, and music.

What was your first trip that truly changed you as a professional and can be said to have changed your thinking?

Santorini over 10 years ago. For me, this was a meeting with a new world, especially in business terms. I saw a problem in group and organized travel, which I tried to solve with the company Tripsy.club. In short - to know in advance who you will be traveling with.

What do you learn about yourself and your professional skills, when you are in a new cultural environment?

It is important to “calm down” and rediscover your own values and significance within a larger whole. When you are out, in an unfamiliar environment, this is much easier and somehow happens organically.

Have you met people or ideas during your travels that have influenced your career path?

Mostly during business trips related to conferences. A specific type of tourism that I value highly.

Do you think that your travels help you expand your professional network? How?

Definitely, and on a large scale. But this should not be an end in itself, but rather a well-planned investment of time and money.

What skills do you develop the most when you travel, and how do they affect your work?

Tolerance and patience.

Is there a city or country that has inspired you to start a new business or project?

I already mentioned Santorini, I think it is that :)

When you are in an unfamiliar country, do you feel more motivated or more distracted? Why?

If I am on a business trip - the motivation is different for sure, somehow you focus more and know that you have only 1 goal.

Are there destinations that act as a “restart” for your creativity and ambition?

For me, this is mainly a type of journey - with yachts, amidst the sea and vastness, in harmony with the sea.

How do you manage the balance between work and pleasure when you travel?

Really difficult, especially if I am with a group from Tripsy. But over the years I have learned that the most important thing is to stay calm and not overdo it with the desire to combine both, but rather to manage to alternate them in the right proportions.

How have travels changed the way you perceive the value of money?

I don’t know if that has happened yet.

Do you travel with the aim of finding new ways to make money?

I mentioned above - relatively often, I have reached Dubai and Oman at the end of July with night temperatures of 45 degrees.

What lessons about financial independence have you learned from different economies and cultures?

For me, the most valuable lesson has been that the happiest people I have seen are in the poorest countries and regions, and conversely - the unhappiest in some of the richest countries.

Do you think it is better to spend on experiences rather than material possessions?

Every extreme leads to results that can be undesirable. I have always sought balance, this applies to possessions as well.

How do you see the future of digital nomad life?

Endless, more and more people will manage to work this way, even though many large companies have canceled their policies for remote office and work.

Are there specific countries that are more favorable for work and investments?

There are always, but the situation changes quickly and for me what matters is not the current conjuncture, but whether there will be long-term stability in a given country. This is also the reason why in Bulgaria I have such tragic results for foreign investments - no one sees us as a stable and predictable environment for doing business.

If you could choose one place in the world to develop your next big idea, what would it be and why?

Most likely Dubai - a global market, easy access to almost every point in the world, security, availability of capital.

What are the destinations you would definitely recommend to be visited and why?

This question is too complex - there are no mandatory destinations, there are those that attract you and those you are indifferent to or negative about. My advice is to listen to your heart - wherever it pulls you - go there.

What is the career advice you would give based on what you have seen around the world?

Be yourself and give your all in terms of emotion and effort - this is valued everywhere.