I have the ability to awaken search in others

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Martin Petrov. I was born in 1990 in Sofia. I grew up in a panel block in one of those neighborhoods we all know – with small entrances, dusty inter-block spaces, and friendships that start with "are we playing today?". I was a child who observed more than spoke. I listened to how adults argued about politics, about money, about "what it was like once", and I wondered why no one asked the question "but what is important now?". Perhaps that was when my need to understand things more deeply began.

In school, I wasn't a top student, but I thought a lot. I didn't like ready answers. "Because that's how it is in the textbook" wasn't enough for me. I asked. Often annoyingly, often stubbornly. Then I discovered philosophy, Japanese culture, and something in me fell into place. Like finding a word for a feeling you’ve carried your whole life but didn’t know how to name. That was Bushido. Not as an exotic concept, but as a principle – honor, integrity, responsibility.

Over time, I began to create trainings, to work with companies, to speak in front of people. But I never wanted to be a “motivational speaker”. That sounds to me like someone who comes, makes noise, hands out phrases, and leaves. I want to be a person who stays. Who helps you ask the right questions – even if you don’t get the answers right away. I have worked with tech giants and small family businesses. With both types of people, I have sought one thing – to create value and meaning together.

I don’t believe in “quick results”. I believe in the process. In everyday life. In the small choices that are not visible, but shape you. And I believe that leadership does not start

with a title, but with what you do when no one is watching. I am not looking for a stage. I am looking for essence.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

As a child, I had one recurring dream. I stood in front of people, speaking, but not as an orator or artist — but with some strange ease and sincerity. I didn’t know exactly what I was saying, but I felt that I was touching them. They looked at me attentively, listened to me, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. I woke up with that feeling that you can’t frame – something between inner security and strange responsibility. Today, I explain this dream as my first encounter with the feeling of calling – not as a profession, but as a reason.

I went through all the typical childhood dreams – first I wanted to become a lawyer, then a doctor, then a volleyball player. One would appear, the other would disappear, then a new one would come. But the dream remained. The feeling remained. It was as if all those dreams were attempts to name it.

This feeling pushed me to search. I started asking many questions – about the world, about people, about myself. I began to read, to dig, to understand how we think, why we do what we do, what blocks us, what drives us. I wasn’t looking for “answers” in an absolute sense. I was looking for movement, a change of perspective. And in this process, I gradually realized that I have a gift — not to give wisdom, but to ask in a way that people reach their own. To make them stop for a moment, to doubt their habitual way of thinking, to break the routine and feel something different in themselves.

I don’t think I have fully discovered myself. I think I am a person in motion. But I know that today I can say: I have discovered something important along the way — that I have the ability to awaken a search in others. To inspire not with slogans, but with questions. To make change possible – slowly, in small doses, but lasting.

At what age did you earn your first money? Tell us about an interesting incident?

I earned my first money when I was 12. My father had an acquaintance who had a villa with a large, uneven yard. He decided to level it and needed help. The work was simple but hard — we had to carry over 50 cubic meters of soil with wheelbarrows. All day we walked back and forth, filling, pushing, dumping. The sun was strong, and my hands were still childlike, but persistent.

In the end, I was covered in mud, exhausted to the bone, but strangely happy. I remember how we sat down at the end, had a lemonade, and I held my first money in my hand. They were not just banknotes — they were proof that I could. That hard work, even if heavy, brings a sense of value. Not because of the money itself, but because of the journey to it. The feeling that something is done well, and that you did it. Alone.

That feeling stayed with me – and to this day I believe that nothing replaces that quiet satisfaction, when you finish hard, real work and know that you didn’t slack off. I’m not sure if from then on my life has always been so simple in its equations, but that first lesson was clear: value comes from what you put in, not from what you get.

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests? What is your recipe for curiosity, sources and wells of information and inspiration in this stage of our human development?

Has there been any significant change in your perceptions in a more mature age about what motivates you to do or not do something?

As a teenager, I wasn’t one of the “exemplary”. I was on a path that at times seemed like a slide downwards – fast, convenient, but empty. I lacked direction, and perhaps people to show me one. There was rebellion, there was apathy, there was also fear — of myself, of not being enough, of not knowing where I belong.

But then a few people appeared. Not as saviors from a novel, but simply as people who spoke the truth to my face. Mentors, teachers, random but key figures who didn’t try to make me a “good student”, but encouraged me to think, to ask, to doubt. To earn. They taught me that nothing real in life comes easily. That it’s not shameful to fight, to work hard, to fall, to get up.

Only after high school, in college, did I start to feel what education means in a deeper sense. Not as grades and diplomas, but as the opportunity to awaken to something new. There I discovered another beauty – that of knowledge, which no one had shown me before. Not as an obligation, but as a fire. And that fire burns in me to this day. It drives me. It makes me hungry to learn, to read, to understand, to develop — not to prove myself, but to become more than what I was yesterday.

I think curiosity is not an innate talent. It is a choice you make when someone shows you that the world can be deeper, more meaningful, and more beautiful than you believed. I was fortunate to meet such people. And since then I want to be one of them – for others.

At first, I did many things to prove myself. To others. To myself. To some imaginary judge sitting in the corner and keeping the score. I worked hard, often to exhaustion, because I wanted to show that I could. That I am valuable. That I deserve respect. It was like an internal struggle, in which you never fully win, but only postpone the next round.

Over time, however, something changed. Or maybe I changed. I realized that living through the eyes of others is a trap — quiet, but insidious. There is no victory in someone liking you if you can’t stand yourself in the mirror. I started asking myself different questions: not “will this be liked?”, but “does it make sense?”, “does it bring me joy?”, “does it help?”.

Today, I am driven by different things. Not applause, but the feeling that what I do brings change. That it creates space for people to think differently, to doubt, to awaken. I am glad when someone tells me that after our conversation they made a turnaround or that they stopped for a moment and asked themselves "wait, is this how I want to live?". That has value.

My motivation is no longer in the external effect, but in the internal resonance. The question is not “did I prove myself?”, but “did it make sense for both of us from what we did?”.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was that decision correct, viewed from today’s perspective?

My education is a peculiar combination — both a series of coincidences and perhaps the best choice I have made. I have two bachelor's degrees and two master's degrees, but the beginning was far more uncertain.

Initially, I wanted to study economics at Sofia University. It didn’t work out. At that time, I took it as a failure. Today I see it as the first tile in a beautiful domino. That’s how I ended up at MT&M college — a place I didn’t know, but which introduced me to an education I hadn’t expected. Theory and practice went hand in hand. We learned, but also applied. And most importantly — we had teachers who didn’t teach from the bottom up, but talked with us. This place awakened me. It showed me that learning can be an experience, not just an obligation.

The college we called “the Danish” inspired me to go to Denmark and continue my studies there. And so I did. There I completed my second bachelor's degree. Not because it was planned. But simply because a door opened, and I decided to walk through it.

When I look back today, I see not a strict plan, but a series of random coincidences. Each one has led me to the next — without guarantees, without big ambitions, just with the trust that if you take steps consciously, the path aligns. And indeed — it aligned beautifully. Now I am facing the next step in my academic career, namely the doctorate. The next domino is almost fallen.

Share more about your interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies?

My interests have always been diverse. I am excited about topics like education, civil society, politics, volunteering. Everything that touches the public, that “greater than me”, has always found a place in my thoughts and attention. Perhaps because I believe that change does not start from systems, but from people. From conversations. From position.

Japan also holds a special place in me — not as exotic, but as philosophy. Bushido, Ikigai, Kaizen – I don’t perceive them as “concepts”, but as a way of existence. Origami, as much as it seems like a hobby, is for me a practice of attention, focus, patience. Calmness. I think that a person needs things that are not “useful” in the classical sense, but simply help them to be whole.

As for the skills I have developed in working with people – I would say the following. I have learned to listen. Truly. Not to wait for my turn to speak, but to enter the world of the other, to understand where it hurts, what is missing, what is not being said. Over time, I developed sensitivity to nuances — not only in words, but in the pauses between them.

I can also see structures where others see chaos. I can organize not only information but also thoughts. To ask the question that unlocks. Not because I am smarter. But because I care. This is perhaps the most valuable thing – that people feel that I am not leading them by methodology, but by human connection.

Would you change your profession today and which fields of activity capture your interest?

At the moment, I am practically juggling between several professions — marketing and PR, training and leadership, artificial intelligence, startups, and funding. To someone on the outside, this may seem chaotic or even greedy — as if you can’t choose one. But for me, all of this is one and the same thread — a search for impact. In different environments, with different tools, but with one and the same intention: to contribute.

I wouldn’t change these professions. Each one gives me something different — perspective, depth, flexibility. They do not compete with one another, but complement each other. Marketing teaches me to formulate messages. Leadership — to create meaning. Artificial intelligence — to look to the future without losing humanity. Startups — to take risks, to believe, to lose and start again. Funding — to see reality and think strategically.

And if one day I add something else — it will only be if it truly inspires me. Not out of the need to do more, but out of the desire to become more.

They say that personal branding is everything that people say about you when you are not in the same room with them. What would you like to hear today?

People most often seek me out when they need perspective. Sometimes on topics like leadership, marketing, or personal choices. Other times just because they know that they can talk openly with me — to vulnerability. Without being judged. Without being offered a ready solution. Sometimes even just, to ask them “what do you actually want?”. It’s not much, but often it’s enough.

Most often, I am associated with Bushido and leadership. With the philosophy of an inner compass that does not seek titles but seeks value. Over time, more and more people seek me out, especially when it comes to communication – for text, for messages, for the feeling of "I don't know how to say it, but I know it's important". After I managed a media outlet in 2024, the spark for journalism ignited even more strongly within me. I started writing more often, more directly, more uncompromisingly. And people recognized it. Now, more and more, I am associated with this — with the voice that does not embellish, but also does not destroy. It simply states things as it sees them.

In my personal circle, I have always been a bit of the "crazy one". Like Alice in Wonderland — the child with wide-open eyes, asking "what's behind this door?". Or like that mad scientist who believes that the world can be better, and therefore crashes into walls, sometimes with his whole body. I have always been a dreamer, sometimes to the point of naivety. And yet — this stubbornness, this persistent chasing of windmills has brought me the most meaningful encounters and the deepest lessons.

If there were no limitations — neither in time, nor in money, nor in circumstances — I would conduct training every day, but not just trainings with slides and exercises. But those that change people from within. Those in which neither I nor the participants leave the same as they entered. I would create spaces where thinking is turned upside down, understandings are shaken, and life begins to be lived with new clarity, new responsibility. Spaces where we lead not with force, but with meaning. We inspire not with words, but with presence.

I would read twice as many books as I have time for now. Not because I want to "know more", but because reading brings me back to myself. It organizes my thoughts, opens horizons that would otherwise remain invisible. Over time, I feel that the more I read, the more I learn to listen. And the less time I have, the clearer I understand what I am missing.

And I would spend at least ten times more time with my family. Without extravagance. Just time. Presence. Real conversations, walks, silences, laughter. If everything else disappears, this will be the last thing I want to remain.

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility as well as our soft skills are key conditions for success in the last few years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

The most honest answer is: with effort. There is no universal formula. There is no morning ritual that guarantees inner peace. For me, everything starts with awareness — what is happening within me, how I react, what blocks me. Sometimes this means stopping, not reacting immediately, asking myself one more question.

Movement helps me — not just physical, but also mental. To shift from a thought that pulls me down to one that brings me closer to myself. Books, music, conversations with people who do not want to "fix" me, but simply be present help me. And the awareness that I don't need to be at my best every day — I just need to not give up internally.

What are the most important conclusions you have drawn so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily — colleagues, friends, loved ones?

I have learned that not everyone speaks with words, and that not always the loudest person says the most important thing. Over time, I started to listen not only to what people tell me, but also to why they say it that way. I started to make space — for difference, for the pace of the other, for the pain behind the mask.

With people — colleagues, friends, loved ones — I try not to take everything personally, but to take each person seriously. Not to put people in categories. Not to expect everyone to be like me. To respect the different rhythm, different style, different need. And most importantly — to admit when I am wrong.

What do you think about money? What is its influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

Money is an instrument. Neither good nor evil. Neither a goal nor a path. Just a means. And when we treat it as something more than that — it begins to control us. I believe that we should not be ashamed to want security, freedom, and opportunities. But we must be careful not to confuse price with value.

There have been moments when I had less money but more clarity. And the opposite — more money but less direction. The real question is not "how much is enough?", but "what do I need it for?". If you cannot answer that, it will never be enough.

My advice: money can be earned. Honesty, time, and relationships — cannot. Money should serve your life, not replace it.

What is the most valuable career advice you would give to people?

The most valuable career advice I would give is: don't rush to climb before you know why you even want to climb.

Many people rush into seeking titles, successes, money — without stopping to ask themselves: "Is this my path? Is this my place? Is this my pace?" Sometimes "success" makes us lose ourselves because we chase other people's ideas and goals. We work to be liked, instead of working to be useful. And then even if we reach "high", we find that the view is not ours.

My advice: do not choose a career that looks good from the outside. Choose a job where you can be yourself and which reminds you every day why you are in this world. Then success comes — not as a goal, but as a side effect of meaning.

If I had to be remembered in three words, I would choose: change, value, meaning.

Change — because I believe that we are not born to remain the same. The person I am today is not the one I was yesterday, and I will not be the same tomorrow. If I have left a mark in someone's life, I want it to be in the fact that I have helped someone to change — even with one thought, one decision, one small step inward.

Value — not as market value, but as human value. I want to know that what I give — ideas, time, attention — has weight. That it is not noise, but something that remains. Even in silence.

Meaning — because that is the question that has always guided me. Not "how", not "how much", but "why". Why do we do it? For whom is it important? If I have served even one person to ask themselves this question — and to answer honestly — then I have done my job.