38% of the first impression is due not to what we say, but how

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

Iva Doichinova, radio and TV journalist, public speaking coach and author of the courses “Speak Like a Leader”, “Leadership Speech with a Cause - Oratory Mastery for Advanced” and “Tell the World” at M3 college. I believe that when we talk to others, we are giving gifts. Good communication can change everyone's life.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood? 

Dancer - I realized this dream because I spent many years engaged in classical ballet. The stage has always attracted me since I was little. And in my school years, I dreamed of becoming the favorite literature teacher of the children. It’s interesting that I am now fulfilling this dream, albeit in a different profile. I became a public speaking coach and I really enjoy it :)

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

I literally earned my first money at the age of 17. At that time, we had mandatory practice for acquired qualification at the end of our secondary education - mine was “Stenography and Typing”. So I stood in a shop window on Blvd. Hristo Botev and accepted all kinds of writing orders, including a book for arch. Todor Bulev - the chairman of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria, with whom I am still friends today. Most people gave generous tips and I felt like a rich person.  And I earned my first 'big' money from Toto 2 as a student on New Year's Eve. It was a lot of fun because the colleagues I worked with at that time in BAS while studying decided to make what is called a “wolf trap” - this is a system for catching jackpots, where you play with fixed 5 numbers, to which all the others are added to make 6 for the game 6 out of 49. So, if you hit any of the fixed ones - you are guaranteed a win. Each of the ladies in the room said one number, and they happened to be drawn. So we shared a decent profit for the time, and I loved treating my colleagues from Bulgarian Philology at SU with a Knickerbocker sundae at the then Sheraton hotel. Only the nicest ones, though! 

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?

People and books. I am categorical that there are teachers I still remember and who infected me with the belief and inspiration that I can speak, write, draw, dance. I was also a very avid reader, and I still am, but I just don't have that much time. As a child and then in school, I read a lot, and my favorite books - 8, 9 times. Naturally - strong characters captivated me and made me believe that everything in the world can change if you are brave and believe. The environment also educates - good relationships, nice words, beautiful surroundings, the deeds of others - this shapes the child's consciousness.

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

I don’t think anything has changed over time. I still haven’t become a conformist, even though society uses more acceptable words like consideration and compromise. I believe in the independence of human choice, in freedom, in maximalism and keeping one’s word. 

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

I have always made my own decisions, at least the important ones in life. I remember my mother really wanted me to finish the Russian high school after 7th grade, but I had no attraction to that, even though I adored their literature. So I approached it indifferently and didn’t enroll. I really wanted to go to the Art School, because drawing is my passion, but it was for the chosen ones back then and I didn’t have the required score. The master’s degree in  Bulgarian Philology was the logical choice for an avid reader, so I could do it freely, without someone telling me that I already have 5 diopters and my eyes need to rest.  From today’s perspective - this still remains the logical choice for me - my main job became journalism and hosting shows, and training in public speaking definitely leads to a rich vocabulary and imagery. 

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

Oh, I can do many things and I want to be able to do even more! Maybe I would develop furniture restoration more professionally. It’s a great thrill to find something old and valuable, from those pieces with a utilitarian purpose that border on art. Because in the past, people crafted things with the thought that they would serve many generations, not to be replaced every 5 years. These pieces touch me and I want to give them more life and layers of time.

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

Design is something that excites me too - not just for furniture and clothes, but for things in general. I don’t know why, but the idea of a family restaurant is also creeping into our family. Most likely because we all love to cook and have different dining tastes and obsessions. I doubt we will ever realize it, because it’s a serious business, but it doesn’t stop us from talking about the topic :)

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?

“I love listening to her.” I love good conversations with deep people from whom you can learn a lot, in which you immerse yourself. I have turned speaking into my mission and this is most likely the continuation of reading. Communicating with words, voice, vision is the magic of existence. 

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?

Life, besides being very beautiful, is also unique. At least in this world. I don’t think there are things to seriously get angry or annoyed about, unless they are related to the life and health of us and our loved ones. That’s why I recharge myself a lot with family, friends, culture and art, good wine, books, discussions. 

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, relatives?

In my work as a public speaking trainer, I have established more than before that people from several generations are already unlearning live communication. We move the tips of our fingers across the keyboard and think that with emoticons and fonts we will replace emotion and intonation. It doesn’t work. The voice has an extremely strong impact on the subconscious, and we have forgotten about that. According to psychologists, 38% of the first impression is due not to what we say, but how. In their lives, people use voice clichés, only in one color, speak alike, and this leads to vocal color blindness. Instead of following our emotions, we blurt everything out in the same way. With this, we miss the important impact of our words. Also, the richness of language decreases, words like “extremely”, “unique”, “brutal” are used literally for everything. Political correctness further weakens the language. A large part of the young generation believes that translating from English makes their Bulgarian sound very chic. But it’s exactly the opposite. The impactful, beautiful language is not that of corporations, the international vocabulary, or project writing.

And the ability to communicate can change and develop in such a way that it changes business, our personal world, our entire life. 

What do you think about money? What is their 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 part of the big life vision of each of us. For some, the security of livelihood and the future of their profession may be important, for others - the mission from work and the feeling of satisfaction. If these two things are in a unified coordinate system - I am happy. I love the feeling of mission in the things I engage in, even if some of them do not bring me money. But without them, a person is not free, so it’s important to have built a good name and to be sought after in our professions. 

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

If you go with excitement and return with satisfaction - this job is for you.  Of course, I’m talking about the big picture. There are always problems, challenges, disagreements with colleagues, but these things are part of the flesh of the process. You are on your career path when the mark you leave in your work  exceeds the amount of your salary on the payslip. Unfortunately - the opposite is very common.