The beautiful things happen slowly and when their time comes

Introduce yourself – what do you do, which areas of activity interest you?

My name is Dilyana Karova and I have been a certified Business & Executive COACH for 4 years at ActionCOACH Bulgaria. In my work with people and businesses, I use a proven system and methodology in over 90 countries, applied by over 18,000 businesses worldwide. The interesting and unique thing is that these tactics and strategies are universal and can be applied to any business; the difference comes from what stage of development the company is at.

In this regard, over the past few years, I have worked with businesses in almost all sectors - from manufacturing to services, from small, medium, large businesses to international companies over 100 years old, and one of my latest projects is a biohacking store in the center of London.

When did you realize that you wanted to be an entrepreneur and not just an employee?

My professional development started very smoothly. After I graduated with a bachelor's degree, I started in retail at the lowest level - part-time work for 4 hours for an international company that had just entered the Bulgarian market. I remember that at that time it was a great success for me, and my only goal was to prove myself and get promoted to full-time.

After a year, I was offered a promotion, and shortly after that, a managerial position, which I accepted. I took this as a challenge for myself to test my abilities and whether I would cope, especially with the responsibility required for the position. Well, I managed! And so I gradually applied for a higher position, I was approved, and then I decided it was time to change industries.

I started as a sales manager again in an international company, this time in the field of informal education - children's educational centers for mental arithmetic, which was something very new for the Bulgarian market. The year 2019 was very successful for me; in less than 9 months, we opened nearly 30 centers across the country, from Lyaskovets to Sofia, and that was the moment when I first started my own business with the thought of not how I would be an entrepreneur, but how I would educate children.

What were the most defining moments in your professional path so far?

I just involuntarily described them :) But the interesting thing is that these moments are related to making important decisions - whether to continue on the path that is already familiar to me or to start something different, where I will have to learn and build new knowledge and skills. Of course, for the important decisions in life, there will be people who will blame you and tell you: “Don't,” and those who will support you. But this doesn't matter much if a person is sure and has a clear mind about the decision they will make.

One of the important decisions in my life was to certify as a business coach, and this was a test both from the owners of the company in Bulgaria towards me and from me towards them, and before we signed the contract, we negotiated and tested each other for almost a year.

Was there a turning point that changed your vision of success?

Yes, there was. This was the period of the certification course during which I found answers to many questions I had asked myself over the years related to psychology, mindset, business management, and entrepreneurship.

Where do your ideas come from – intuition, market, need?

I would say from all three to varying degrees. Over the years, I have learned to trust myself first and what vision I have for life, how to live it, and where I want to go. It is true that a person must have a vision, something to strive for. And it doesn't have to be distant. It can be short-term, but it should have ambition, strength, and movement.

How do you understand when an idea has value and potential, and not just sounds good?

 For me, this is the ability to see the whole or the big picture, how large the scale is. After that, the period until “the wheel turns” and persistence. Persistence is the key to success. Persistence, determination, hard work, and a little patience are the qualities necessary for any endeavor and which temper us as people.
If I need to be more specific - market research, competition analysis, what the competitive advantages are, how the business is different, what problem it solves for society, who the ideal client is, what the marketing strategy will be, values, vision, a plan for at least a year ahead, and most importantly, to listen to yourself and trust the numbers. Numbers don’t lie.

How do you approach the creative process – do you have rituals, methods, or do you rely on “the moment”?

Neither one nor the other :) When I have a creative task I give myself completely, I don’t like to be distracted by meetings, conversations, or interruptions. Of course, I plan my time and tasks in advance.

What inspires you outside of business – art, people, travel?

Recently, what inspires me are renovations :) I have a desire and need to do something with my hands and see quick results, especially I enjoy painting :)

But I also love to travel a lot, especially in Bulgaria. Our country is rich in history - the old capitals, we have such beautiful nature - forests, mountains, mineral springs, I would say it is vast! :)

What are your unchanging principles in work and life?

Always be honest with people, don’t lie, don’t speak ill of others, don’t intrigue - trust is earned the hardest, respect people and their successes, be humble, be tactful, try to put yourself in the other person's shoes.

The qualities that guide me in life are: strong will and not giving up, always giving a chance, sometimes more than one, but once I make a final decision, I don’t change it.

Over the years, I have learned patience; beautiful things happen slowly and when their time comes :), determination, inner drive, and desire for development, moderation in words, thoughts, and emotions, balance between work and personal life - family is everything to me!

What you are and what you do is equal to what you have.

What does the word “success” mean to you today – and is it different from five years ago?

The mind loves to be engaged, and if it doesn’t always find something to think about, we often get ourselves into some self-deceptions. Success is the ability to turn off these constant ramblings of the mind and understand what is truly important to you.
Success for me is the opportunity to influence the development of people and society in a positive direction and to continue enjoying my wonderful family.
I dare say that in recent years I have been working my dream.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned “the hard way”?
 
That nothing comes for free. Everything I have achieved is the result of a lot of hard work and effort, but I am very grateful to the people who believed in me, to my husband and our parents for being and continuing to be with us!