In Mexico, I realized the power of the brand Hristo Stoichkov, both for football and for Bulgaria

Introduce yourself in a few words:

My name is Nikolai Nedeltchev and I can call myself a marketing veteran and an inquisitive person, who wants to understand the world, human thinking, and behavior.

For you, the journey around the world is?

Traveling for me is an adventure, a way to understand the world around me better and a way to understand myself, because someone once said that the first thing a person learns when they go abroad is what they were in their own country.

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

So far, I have visited over 25 countries. One of the most interesting stories is when I was in Mexico and was waiting in a huge line. One of the airport staff came to me and asked where I was from. I replied, from Bulgaria. “Ah, Stoichkov” his face lit up. “Stoichkov” I corrected him. The staff member was stunned when I told him that we had played football together for more than three years and had known each other since childhood. He didn’t believe me and looked at me suspiciously. He only believed me after I showed him a picture from that time, where our team was photographed with Stoichkov and me. After that, he called two more of his colleagues, who were obviously football fans, and passionately explained to them who I was, after which he asked me to show the picture to them as well. They took a selfie with me, as if I were Stoichkov, and took me to the front of the line. That’s when I realized the power of the brand Hristo Stoichkov, both for football and for Bulgaria.

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

Yes, I love it, although I don’t like to do the same thing there. Madrid and Rome are two of those destinations, that I often visit.

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

My first trip as a professional was to Istanbul in the distant year 1992. For a few months, I had been working as a Marketing manager in the representation of Apple Computer and had to go to a pan-European meeting there. For the first time, I had to meet my colleagues and the marketing head for Europe, an Italian woman. I had to present our marketing activities and plans and to be honest, I went with a heavy heart. I thought that my colleagues, especially those from Western Europe, were doing wonders. I was stunned when after the presentation my boss came to me and told me that she was very impressed with the great things we were doing in Bulgaria and how deeply we had absorbed the culture of Apple. That’s when I realized that people are measured by what they do, not by the geography and history of the country they come from.

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

Personally, as a maximalist and very self-analytical person, I constantly strive to understand the reasons for the success of the people I meet. I don’t always succeed, but truly successful people are a stimulus for me to move forward. And when this is in a new cultural environment, I try to outline the big picture and understand how it affects the lives and professions of the people in it. I try to hypothetically place myself in it and imagine what I need to change in myself to be successful there and whether I would manage.

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

Yes, I have. During one trip, I met a very interesting Dutchman who had sold his business a few years ago. We talked at length about his previous life and his current life outside the corporate world, about the pros and cons of both worlds, and this conversation was a catalyst for me to make the decision to sell  my shares in the business I had founded and change my life.

Do you think that traveling helps you expand your professional network? How?

Yes, definitely. When a person travels, they meet new people with different ideas than their own and with a different network of contacts. The important thing is for a person to be open to them, as well as to be sociable, to make new acquaintances.

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

As I mentioned, I am a very inquisitive person. The ability to observe and analyze people, to seek the sources of their motivation and behavior is very useful in marketing. And when a person travels, there are many opportunities to do so.

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

I have thought while I was in different places that it would be wonderful to start one or another business, but I haven’t done it. When I was in Carrara, Italy, where one of the best marbles in the world is extracted and where some of the best studios are located, where works of art are created from it, I thought, that I would like to be in that business. But I am still in Sofia J

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

When I am in foreign countries, my senses are usually heightened, as if to capture more of what is new to me and I “switch to a higher gear”.

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

As I mentioned earlier, Madrid and Rome are two such places. New York as well. In general, Italy as a country pleases me and fills me with ideas and pleasant experiences.

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

I try not to work while I travel. I don’t always succeed, but I make an effort.

Do you travel with the goal of finding new ways to earn money?

Not at the moment.

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

Definitely yes. I personally have come to this conclusion and for me, experiences especially with people I like and love  rank much higher than material possessions. I realized that when you own material “goods”, it actually owns you. Moreover, you quickly get tired of them and the pleasure from using them decreases sharply. While every trip, especially to new destinations with pleasant people is a source of pleasure and new knowledge.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

I think it will become more widespread. No matter how banal it sounds, the world is a global village and video conferencing platforms are fueling this trend. And the new generations are growing up with a different value system than my generation and such a life appeals to them.

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

Italy. Because of the nature, food, people, design, and for that perfect artisanal feeling. These people can refine every detail to perfection.

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

Every new destination brings a new promise and thrill. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

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

Only work on what you like and love. Sacrificing at least 1/3 of your life every day for something you don’t like is torture and not worth it, in my opinion.