Success is measured by the recognition and respect from the people you work with

Introduce yourself in a few words..

I didn't have much luck in football, but thanks to the lessons from it and a bit of luck, I had luck in life :) Joking aside. For 19 years, I have been responsible for the business development of the media group SPORTAL, and for a few years now for that in 8 countries in Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG), of which Sportal became a part. Over the years, I had the fortune to meet people with a similar value system, entrepreneurial spirit, and together we created many successful projects such as digital, creative, and BTL agencies, e-commerce solutions, etc. To this day, I love my job and every day I go to the office with enthusiasm. I believe, and through Sportal / RSMG we prove it daily, that we create products and possess expertise that far exceeds the scale of our market. Although we are now part of a multinational team and learn from each other every day, I am proud that a large part of the innovations come precisely from here. 

How would you describe your career in a few words?

In one word - adventure. I started in the company without much thought. A 5-minute conversation in a bar with Stilyan Shishkov. I didn't know exactly what I was getting into, but I felt his ambition and trusted him. A combination of inner intuition and a bit of courage. Back then, digital was a scary exotic, there was no iPhone, no apps. Can you imagine such an environment now? I had endured a rather painful (unpaid) internship at a bank and was eager to invest my creative potential in something. From the first day, I clicked with the people who were already there and were solving existential problems every day. A classic start-up, slightly ahead of its time. After several years, I learned from Stilyan how “fragile” the beginning was. He didn't want to share it to avoid scaring me :) To this day, many of the colleagues from the first years are still with me, and I am very proud of that. Many of the knowledge accumulated in the media environment we capitalized in other businesses like software development, agencies, etc. In the media industry, especially digital, you mainly move in the left lane at 200km/h without brakes and quickly accumulate experience. Every small change in the ecosystem (like a change in the algorithm in search engines or social media) can end you in no time. We quickly realized that this knowledge makes us super-competitive in other fields. We had a few bitter pills over the years, but we learned quite quickly from our mistakes. A key moment for us is that there has never been any “sugarcoating” of unpleasant situations (the so-called “sugarcoating”).

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

If we talk about specific moments, the most important was my wrong choice - to understand what is not for me. Before I made a mistake, the father of my roommate from university tried to give me advice, but I didn't listen to him. It's different to drink the bitter cup :) After that, the right choice was intuitive. Everything else is a series of lesser or more significant daily decisions, on which I relied on my value system and the lessons passed on by my mother and father. It's easy :) When you are true to yourself and make a mistake, you don't regret it. I can look every single person I have ever worked with in the eye.  

What would you like to know at the beginning of your career that no one told you?

That there is a fundamental difference between being informed and being wise. Information is to know that the tomato is a fruit, while wisdom is not to put it in the fruit salad :)) Sometimes we deceive ourselves that when we are informed, we are automatically competent. 

How can a person understand which profession is suitable for them?

Not to be afraid to try new things. In my opinion, internships from an early age are a great way to calibrate your expectations. And of course, to answer the question “where is my passion”. When work and passion find each other, people stop just “going” to work and life is better.

Which skills according to you will be key in the next 10 years?

Social skills and critical thinking that artificial intelligence cannot replicate. There are two fundamental trends that make me believe in this: on one hand, addiction to devices makes people increasingly asocial in real life, on the other hand, artificial intelligence is developing at the speed of light. Since the 90s when IBM's supercomputer defeated Garry Kasparov in chess, it was clear that with mathematics and the exact sciences, we will always fight the most for second place.

How to build a network of useful contacts without appearing interested?

By appearing interested. We shouldn't hide it. On the contrary, we should show genuine interest in the people we meet along the way. Also, always strive to be helpful without expecting anything in return. Relationships with people are a two-way street. 

What is the biggest mistake you have made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

To trust too much. A lesson: not to be afraid to trust again. We should not close ourselves off just because someone has abused our trust. Learn fast and move on.

How to recognize a toxic work environment and when is it time to leave?

I have never worked in such an environment and I really don't know. There is a saying from the movie Ronin with Robert De Niro “if there is doubt, there is no doubt”. I think it is a good compass. 

What would you do differently if you could start over?

This question implies predestination. Rather nothing. Life is a series of left and right turns that lead to where you are now. I wouldn't go back to change any turn because the next ones might not line up that way :) Rather, I would pass on my experience to my children. That is the second chance. I don't like to look back. 

How to maintain your motivation in times of stagnation?

This is perhaps the most important lesson from sports that I have learned. Persistence and resilience. When these become part of your character, it doesn't matter whether you are motivated or not - you have a goal and you just follow it. This is true professionalism. Imagine a figure skater or skier who prepares for the Olympics for 4 years. One slip and you start a new 4-year cycle with completely empty hands. There is no HR to whine to that you have lost 4 years of your life. It requires an iron mentality. In business, it is the same. Very often there is no reward for second place. Many young talents think they immediately deserve a lot because they work hard. Success comes with persistence. Real Madrid also ran a lot, but lost 4:0 to PSG and left the World Club Championship empty-handed with the ambition to try again. 

How to achieve a balance between professional and personal life?

Find your passion.

If you had to give just one piece of advice to people seeking success, what would it be?

Do not settle for “good enough”. Always think “how can I improve things”. Not only at work but wherever you are, even when you enter a café. This will unlock your creativity and raise your personal standards and attitude towards work.

What is your definition of a “successful career”?

Success is something very subjective. For me, it is measured by the recognition and respect from the people you have touched in the process of working together. If I have been a small part of their personal success - I would also be satisfied. If I have managed to change the fate of some of them, for me that is the meaning of our life path, not only professionally. Unfortunately, in Bulgaria, we often judge success by external material signs, while under the packaging, there is nothing worthy of respect. This needs to change. Our children need role models to build a successful society.