Asia is the part of the world where my soul is at home

Introduce yourself in a few words..

Eli Dimova, citizen of the world and human development consultant at PrimeLine Consultants International.

For you, what is traveling around the world?

Life and meaning, fundamental value and opportunity for which I am grateful to have. Traveling around the world shows me every time how alike and connected we are in our core dreams, desires, and goals, in our love for nature, the earth, and our unified beginning. I adore cultural differences, as they are a source of personal development, practicing curiosity, tolerance, understanding, humility, and respect.

How many different countries have you seen so far? Share an interesting story or highlights from your travels?

About 20 countries, with some being for business purposes and others my desire to visit key, iconic centers of human civilization, after which I continue to visit more of those that have inspired me the most.

I was very impressed during our trip through the mountains of Turkey for a summer vacation in Antalya when our tire burst and we needed a short break and help in a deserted forest, where local strangers found us and helped us with time, food, genuine human interaction, and refused to take anything from our material gratitude. We continued our journey silently for a while, immersed in the reflection of what we had just experienced, and that there are such people. Turkey and the Turkish people are one of the nations that have preserved the core human virtues in their purest form, I have experienced it there and in other circumstances, and I always return there as if at home.

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

I love to repeat destinations and will continue to do so, as there are special places where I have left pieces of my heart and will always be connected to them.

The United Kingdom and London – they hold my past and nostalgia. I graduated from the University of Surrey in South England. Many people fail to understand this country and the peculiarities of the English people, and find it difficult to integrate there, and I understand well why. England is not the first country that I have visited, but it is the first where I have lived permanently. As a student in Guildford, it was hard to find accommodation, but I was approved very quickly by the landlord in one of the houses near High Street, because ....I had taken off my shoes upon entering the house!    Elegance, unobtrusiveness, tolerance for the unknown, eccentricity, historical self-awareness are just a small part of those values that I always associate with my first home abroad.

The moment I stepped into New York, Manhattan dethroned my entire personal ranking up to that point by one place down. They say that New York is one of those cities that you either reject immediately or fall in love with at first sight – well, I fell in love! My feeling was as if I had stepped onto the highest point of the geographical globe. There I realized and felt that state described by Jay-Z in his song “Empire State of Mind” – “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of”…”big lights will inspire you”.. When I need drive, recharge, and motivation, I mentally return to New York and the emotions I felt there forever.

I will always return to Asia! This is the part of the world where my soul is at home. The tranquility and harmony that captivate me there amidst the apparent chaos and noise, coming from interacting with the locals and their cultures, is an irreplaceable feeling of transcendence. Thailand is a favorite place for me, and in Bangkok and beyond, I immerse myself in an unimaginable mix of spirituality and Divine simplicity, which can only be created and sustained by the true values of freedom of spirit and spirituality. And Thai cuisine is one of my favorite experiences.

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

Years ago, I worked for the now non-existent company Zeneca International, and the first business trip to the headquarters in England impressed me with the level of dedication of my colleagues to the business and their work, attention to detail, and even the requirement to fly only with British Airways for security reasons or to report even incidents with cars during business trips that were almost about to happen but didn’t, the so-called near misses. I have not seen or worked for another company that created such a desire in its employees to belong; for our team in Bulgaria, there were no limits.

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

That I possess a very high level of integrity and adaptability. I see potential in differences and can translate them into a language understandable to others so they can see it too. I have a strong respect for cultural differences that I do not understand immediately, but also the patience to try to see another perspective.

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

I value several people from other cultures – South Africa and Australia, who have become my professional mentors after we met along our career paths. Their behavior has influenced me to enhance some of my views and skills subsequently.

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

Yes, of course. It also depends largely on openness and open communication. I strive to “see” the people on my path with an open mind and try to understand what kind of person, with what way of thinking and experience stands in front of me.

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

Traveling for me develops a sense of orientation in an unfamiliar environment, deepens my attitude towards detail, I try to see the hidden sides of situations or communication, I try to listen more, observe how other people do or interpret the same problems and topics, and what different things they see that can enrich me or be useful to me. In a profession like mine, which is dedicated to the development of people, I apply these skills directly for the benefit of my clients.

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

Yes, there is; during my training in England, I was greatly impressed by the realism and pragmatism of the education there, and its direct connection to the needs of the business. When I started working at DHL International in Bulgaria as a Sales Development Manager, I created an internal site for employees to train on the basic documents and processes related to the transportation of parcels, as the subject is specific and requires specific international knowledge that not everyone possesses.

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

Actually, I feel more focused and with an open mind. Perhaps because I switch to perception and feeling mode, in anticipation.

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

The USA is the destination that affects my feelings of ambition and achievement. The scale, diversity, discipline, the opportunity to create without limits.

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

My work is satisfaction and is intertwined with the rest of the time. I have long crossed the line that separates personal and business life. Anyone who loves what they do can understand me or has already achieved it.

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

They have not changed it. They give me the opportunity to observe the attitude towards money in other cultures, as well as on an individual level. Money represents a good litmus test to understand people further.

Do you travel to find new ways to earn money?

Yes, travels for meetings with our global partners, sharing ideas and different experiences, creating new products and services afterwards lead to new opportunities.

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

In all cultures, financial independence provides a certain level of freedom and mobility, which is a potential source for creating more opportunities.

According to Вyou, is it better to spend on experiences rather than on material possessions?

I wouldn’t put one necessarily before the other, as the choice at any moment can be different for different people and depends on momentary or more long-term individual factors. Personally, I would invest more in experiences, as they create the memories that are part of our spiritual capital and are often one of our anchors to keep moving forward.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

I believe that more and more distancing from a physical workplace will be an increasing trend in activities that transform and allow it.

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

Yes, certainly, countries with higher purchasing power, larger scale, and more favorable conditions for business in general. But these are not static conditions, so the skills to inform ourselves and manage are key.

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

In the virtual world is the place for the development of my next idea. And in a more geographical and material aspect, I would choose the USA.  The pandemic was an event that accelerated processes and changes that had been ignored for years, while others were created. The world is becoming more than ever a place for unlimited opportunities, for turning ideas into reality. Of course, there will always be objective limitations in various aspects. The development of artificial intelligence provokes this dynamic, as well as the need for human development to be accelerated.

I would encourage everyone to make efforts for their upgrading and development, and not to expect the “big idea,” but to apply daily the newly acquired skills and small ideas, that they have.

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

Years ago, I was recommended a destination very inspiringly and I decided to go. I couldn’t share the inspiration afterwards and was a bit disappointed even. Perceptions of every place are highly personal because they stem from many factors taken together – upbringing, education, experience, opportunities. Therefore, I usually refrain from recommending destinations. But, there are some that if possible, one should definitely visit and a small part of mine are – New York, San Francisco, Thailand, Morocco, Istanbul, Amsterdam, London, Paris, and some quaint little town “sur mer,” Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Netherlands.

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

Travel with an open mind and gratitude!