Japan makes a giant difference compared to any other destination

Introduce yourself in a few words..

It is very difficult for me to define myself in just a few words, because I have many diverse interests. I am interested in high technologies, b bees and honey, nutraceuticals, ecology, and more. As a result, after 25 years of career in IT and the media sector, I changed my path by founding a company that develops functional foods with honey. Thus, the energy MelliGEL attracted the interest of investors and now our shares are traded on the BSE in the VEAM segment for fast-growing companies.

For you, traveling the world is?

Vital.

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

I have been to 55 countries, visiting some of them multiple times. It is not easy to pick just 1-2 highlights because my travels are almost never conventional – I do not go on organized tours. This way, every time there is something unplanned – it is not always pleasant, but it is always interesting.

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

I really love to repeat destinations. On the first visit, the impressions are many and you cannot fully feel the spirit of the place. However, with each subsequent time, I feel both familiar and discover new things, which provokes me to return again and again.

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

When I visited Japan for the first time, I had already traveled half the world and was excited to see something different, but I was not prepared for the giant difference I discovered. Japan is amazing. Besides being extremely interesting geographically and culturally, it is a country that is very challenging professionally. After my first personal visit, I have returned there many more times, and it was for business, but for all this to happen, I had to change my thinking. Their mindset and business relationships are fundamentally different from ours, and if a person wants to work with them, they must comply with all their requirements.

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

Every new environment is a challenge because it takes you out of your comfort zone. Even if a person knows themselves, they can be surprised by the way they react in new circumstances. Personally, I love challenges not only in a new environment but also in self-discovery. About twenty years ago, I had to work with people in an African country. At that time, I was much more demanding and even harsh, but the kindness of the local people affected me in a special way. Instead of getting annoyed by their slowness and lack of consideration, I showed extraordinary tolerance and empathy. This surprised me because for me then professionalism meant not making compromises and not lowering standards. I discovered that I could change and that I wanted to change. This and other situations helped me develop flexibility and adaptability, which are very useful to me today.

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

I constantly meet various people who make me rethink my ideas and provoke me to develop. This naturally shapes my career path, but despite my curiosity, I have quite a stable attitude towards ideas – I am not at all inclined to give up on something I have started, but I can change it significantly to make it more successful. Besides, when the goal is to offer products to a foreign market, you must consider local tastes, adapt marketing, and sometimes even turn 90 degrees.

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

Definitely yes. The world is connected, and business is done by people. “I have a person” is an international refrain.

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

After every adventure, I become stronger, and after every new situation, I become braver. When there is no action, I rest, clear my mind, and make sense of my ideas. I love to set off on a journey, but I also love to return, and I am always recharged for my work.

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

Japan provoked me because I really like the way they create new things. Their innovations are based on foreign ideas that are stripped of defects, with added benefits, sometimes a hybrid of several things, and here you have something completely new, better, with clear competitive advantages. Besides, I like their style – free from unnecessary embellishments, simple and practical.

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

I am very rarely distracted because I hate wasting my time. I try to get the most out of every situation, and when I am in an unfamiliar country, I am alert to everything – after all, I am not there forever, I immerse myself and absorb everything – sights, tastes, ideas.

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

Unfortunately, this is again Japan. This country, where traditions are the most important thing, is constantly changing and always ahead. Every time I feel there is a strange sensation of “returning to the future”.

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

I find great pleasure in my work, so I do not suffer when I am on a business trip. On the other hand, if I am on vacation, I try to rest effectively.

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

For me, the most interesting is the comparison between differently developed countries. It is clear that in third world countries, money has a different value, but this also implies a different creativity. The challenges are different, and accordingly, entrepreneurs are different. From the perspective of innovations, this is a very interesting question.

Do you travel with the aim of finding new ways to make money?

Of course!

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

I continue to learn…

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

This is not a straightforward question, and the answer changes with age. Saturation of both tires you. After a stage of initial accumulation, however, material things even start to weigh, while experiences enrich us, and their charm compared to material possessions lies in the element of unpredictability, which always makes things more interesting.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

If the question is about remote work from the beach, this is not my model. I love to travel and sometimes work even when I am on vacation, but I love to return home and I love to work from the office. I believe that this hybrid model robs the fullness of the experience and the focus in work. I believe in the flow, and that is why the environment is important.

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

It is categorically so. For every specific job or investment, a very thorough preliminary study of the chosen country must be done, and not only in a business plan. Every small detail matters and can ruin even the best-structured business model at the most unexpected moment.

When choosing a country, one should not only look at financial indicators but primarily at soft factors – can you feel at home there, is it comfortable for you, is it safe? There is a saying that a stone weighs in its place.

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

I know people who have successfully transferred their ideas and businesses to new markets, but I do exactly the opposite. I take ideas from the world and sow them at home. In connection with the previous question, I find it easier to nurture and develop an idea and business in the comfort of a familiar environment.

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

Wherever you go, do not walk on the beaten paths, because the most interesting things are always on the side.

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

Travel with your eyes wide open, not staring at your phone or laptop. If you are looking for business ideas that you want to develop at home, go to East Asia. However, if you are looking for higher returns and would move abroad, go where you will feel comfortable, otherwise it is like a pebble in a costly shoe.