Wherever we go, whoever we are with, we mainly travel with ourselves and towards ourselves
· Eli Alexandrov
We see everything differently when we change our perspective!
Introduce yourself
in a few words..
I am Eli
Alexandrov – a woman curious about life, charged with creative energy. I have
a doctorate in social communications and I am the author of the project Consciousness and
Meaning – a podcast and events for the soul.
What does
traveling the world mean to you?
One of my favorite
activities and a means of recharging.
How many different
countries have you seen so far? Share an interesting story or highlights from your
travels?
I haven't counted
how many countries I have visited so far and I haven't traveled much outside of Europe.
The farthest destination I have visited is Sri Lanka. There, I was
extremely impressed by the spirit of the people and their life philosophy. In
the areas most severely affected by the devastating tsunami in 2004, which took
the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, I met some of the kindest and most sincere people
I have ever communicated with. Their attitude to be at peace with
natural disasters, to accept tragedy, and not to let horror break them was
admirable.
Do you like to
repeat destinations? Give examples and motivation "for" or "against"?
My favorite
destinations are Italy and Spain – I often travel there and always enjoy it. For
me, the criterion for choosing travel destinations is not quantitative – it doesn't
matter how many countries I have visited and the number is not my goal. I orient myself
according to which destination "calls" me and what my possibilities are to visit it.
What was
your first trip that truly changed you as a professional and can be said to have
changed your thinking?
From a professional
point of view, I believe that the most important are not travels in general, but
specifically vacations. I had the best rest years ago on vacation in
Turkey – 7 days of complete tranquility, during which I didn't think about anything other than
creating. I needed time to write and these were the perfect conditions. It
hasn't happened to me before, I remember how I returned more vibrant than ever.
What do
you learn about yourself and your professional skills when you are in a new cultural
environment?
How different
we are in some respects and how similar we are in others. Over the years, I have mainly
worked with foreigners. I have learned that there is a path to every person on a human level, which does not
concern their origin.
Have you met
people or ideas during your travels that have influenced your career path?
Not people, but many
good ideas have come to me during travels. We see everything differently
when we change our perspective. That's why traveling is useful and for me, it is always
a source of fresh ideas.
Do you think
that traveling helps you expand your professional network? How?
I prefer to
associate travel with vacation or excursion rather than with a business trip. For
purposeful expansion of my professional network, I would rather use tools like LinkedIn. Of
course, human meetings are unpredictable and new acquaintances could lead
to professional development. But this is more a matter of luck.
What skills
do you develop the most when you travel, and how do they reflect on your work?
Perhaps most of all,
the ability to accept differences. To broaden my worldview, to draw
inspiration from the new things I see in other cultures.
Is there a city
or country that inspired you to start a new business or project?
My last trip to Rome inspired me to develop the ideas I had regarding
Consciousness and Meaning. My concept became clear in the Borghese Gallery.
Contemplating the masterpieces of Bernini makes you realize that there are no limits to
human creative genius.
When you are in
an unfamiliar country, do you feel more motivated or more distracted? Why?
It depends on
my internal emotional state. Wherever we go, whoever we are with,
we mainly travel with ourselves and towards ourselves.
Are there
destinations that act as a "restart" for your creativity and ambition?
Again: Italy and
Spain.
How do
you manage the balance between work and pleasure when you travel?
I travel mainly
for pleasure. If I travel for work, I also see it as pleasure.
How
have travels changed the way you perceive the value of money?
When I travel, I
try not to think about money. If I can afford a trip comfortably,
I go. If I will think about money, I prefer to save the trip.
Do you travel
with the aim of finding new ways to earn money?
No. This could
be a side effect, but not a goal for me.
What lessons on
financial independence have you learned from different economies and cultures?
Independence
is a state of mind. The financial aspect of our lives also depends on that
state.
Do you think
it is better to spend on experiences rather than material possessions?
Absolutely yes.
How do you
see the future of digital nomadic life?
Bright 😊
Are there
specific countries that are more favorable for work and investments?
Certainly. But
this does not always mean that they offer a better quality of life.
If you could
choose one place in the world to develop your next big idea, what would it be and why?
Barcelona. This
city is like a mini globe, representing all cultures.
What are
the destinations you would definitely recommend visiting and why?
Again:
Barcelona. The rhythm there is in sync with my heart rate.
What is the
career advice you would give based on what you have seen around the world?