I have traveled to 103 countries, but Bulgaria is the place to start a new business

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Petar Rizov and I am glad to have the opportunity to talk about travel as an experience that largely gives meaning to my life. Between travels, I have more than 25 years of experience in managing companies in the fields of Telecommunications, Finance and FMCG. With my latest project novesim.com for the first time I combine my hobby of traveling and my experience in telecommunications to make the lives of traveling people easier and more comfortable with the help of technology, offering connectivity worldwide with travel eSIM.

For you, traveling around the world is?

A way of life! I am a typical representative of the species “Homo Viator”. People who know me have often heard me say that I live to travel.

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

Exactly 103 countries. Every trip is different. I have countless stories that I can tell, but to avoid boring the readers, I will mention just one funny story. Many years ago (understand without navigation phones and constant connectivity) during our first trip of the type Fly & Drive (fly somewhere and rent a car) we arrived in Spain. We rented a car in Madrid and took a long trip across the country with a road atlas, buying a city map before each major city. And so we found ourselves in beautiful Valencia. We bought a map and entered. Everything was going wonderfully until we realized that in the meantime the Pope had arrived in the city and many of the roads were closed… so the map was not of much use. The good news is that Valencia is full of wonderful large roundabouts (some of which we circled several times until we hit the right exit) and we managed. The lesson remained that before every trip there should be good preparation. Now, of course, it is much easier.

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

I definitely prefer new destinations. I do not understand people who go to the same place every year. Even in one of the favorite destinations of Bulgarians - Greece, which I have visited many times, I have discovered many different interesting places. I suppose people repeat destinations because they feel more secure and comfortable that way. I always look for the opposite of that – something new and different that motivates me to adapt and change according to the environment. I remember that while managing a large sales team at one of our meetings, I asked all the salespeople to change the route they take to work the next day. And at least once a week to change something.

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

Perhaps my first truly exotic trip to Sri Lanka (at the time when there was a direct flight Sofia – Colombo on BGA Balkan J). I saw how different the world actually is. How different needs people have. I think that since then I have learned to always look for the “big picture” and not to limit my thinking and plans to one country, one market, or just one category.

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

To respect differences. To know that the world “does not revolve around me” and that people are different. It was extremely useful for me when over the years I had to do business with people from other countries and continents.

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

Everything influences me and I try to learn something from every new acquaintance and contact with a person. Rather, the accumulation of knowledge and impressions during my travels has shaped me as a person and a professional.

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

In fact, travels have helped me communicate with people and especially foreigners much more easily, because I can easily talk about a significant part of the countries in the world. 

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

Planning, adapting, and handling unfamiliar situations in different environments. Every business needs leaders and managers with such qualities, especially in today’s dramatically and dynamically changing world.

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

It was more of a combination of a state of mind and place… I was in Florida and more specifically The Keys (or Key West) – for those who do not know, this is the southernmost part of the eastern American coastline and consists of a series of islands connected by a highway, which is mostly an endless bridge over the ocean. The place is known for Hemingway having lived and created there. It is closest to Cuba. Perhaps what fewer people know is that for a while the locals declared a autonomy from the USA, named themselves The Conch Republic and even had their own currency… and so until the first hurricane that knocked down the bridge and they had to ask for help. So my story with this place is that on one of the beaches there two musicians arrived, introducing themselves as “Sunshine Billionaires” and played very pleasantly all day. At that time this somehow helped me finalize a long-considered decision and end my 15-year career at the largest Bulgarian telecom, to start something new - a project of a Bulgarian non-banking financial institution, with which we tried to start a business in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. It did not work out there, but we accomplished other good things together.

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

Surely everyone is already guessing the answer – much more motivated and charged. A new place, new emotions, adventures. New and different cases and questions to solve starting from what to wear (not out of vanity, but for comfort or to comply with local rules and traditions), through what new you can eat or drink and survive J.

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

Every new destination energizes me. For example, my current business for traveling people was born during a trip to Laos and Vietnam. I had to be in constant contact with the world, as we were going through a critical business period, I did serious research on how this could be reliable and affordable and found a solution. Then I decided that it was good for more people to know about it and be able to benefit, and thus I started this business.

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

When you do and work on something you like, this question is irrelevant. During all my travels (since technology allows) I am connected to my work and most people do not know and do not understand where I am. Well, sometimes the serious time difference is a factor, but with good organization and planning, it is not a problem. Besides, I have always strived to create organizations and businesses that are not dependent on my physical presence. I have been lucky to come across people and teams that do an excellent job even without me “hanging over their heads”.

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

Fundamentally. When you have been to Africa or Southeast Asia, you see firsthand that people can live with much less and much happier. Meaningless possession of things and spending money on expensive brands has always been strange to me. Buying a watch or a bag from a famous brand for several thousand leva or going somewhere you have never been for the same or even less money… 

Do you travel to find new ways to make money?

No, but as I already mentioned, I started a new business inspired by travel, so it may turn out that way.

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

“Stretch according to your carpet”, this is not just an old Bulgarian proverb. I have met Americans who think they are rich (you probably know that Americans love to brag), but they have been to fewer places in the USA than I have. But, in return, they have huge mortgages and credit cards “in the red”. I have also met fishermen from Mozambique who today caught more fish and are super happy because they will feed their family and half the village.

According to Vis it better to spend on experiences than on material possessions?

I already answered this question above. But, people are different and if someone will be happier (but really) to buy something – let them do it. I categorically prefer to spend on experiences and these are not just travels.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

I don't think it's a future but a reality. I meet many people who work while traveling (just like myself) or live for several months in different places while working. I know that for many companies this is unacceptable, but digital nomadism is not “home office”. Many of the new professions are actually not related to a permanent workplace at all. Where is the office of an influencer or freelancer for example?

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

There are of course, but it depends on what you are looking for and what is important for each business. There are many countries that have targeted policies to stimulate digital nomads and investments in new businesses. In Europe, Portugal and Spain were the first to actively position themselves as such. Nice climate, security, and excellent infrastructure, etc. Unfortunately, Bulgaria is not particularly active in this area.

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

Bulgaria J. Even though I travel a lot. I like Bulgaria and I think, it's a great place to test and start a new business. 

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

Oh, that's a complicated question. I will start with Japan, perhaps the most different destination from everything I have seen - because of the people, culture, and their customs. Africa in its true part outside the closed luxury complexes – for understanding having as an end in itself. Patagonia (on both sides in Chile and Argentina) – for contact with raw and very beautiful nature. Bhutan and Laos – for humility and contemplation. But wherever your path takes you, the most important thing is the mindset of the traveler – to be open to the new and unknown and to embrace it as much as possible.

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

Everywhere in the world people succeed who seek something new and do something different and more than what is expected of them. So, don't stop searching and developing. Be bold and experiment. Because if you repeat the same thing every day, no matter how good you are at what you do, nothing will change for you.