Think about success, and exclude failure from your mind

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Prof. Ignat Ignatov and I was born on 1.01.1963 in Teteven. I am a biophysicist and I have over 500 scientific articles. We organize together with Teteven Municipality annually since 2010 on June 11 the event „Days of Mountain Water”. There are three main scientific directions I focus on. Research and analysis of the behavior of water molecules and hydrogen bonds between them are related to the formation of groups of water molecules – clusters. In 2010, I created a concept for the emergence of life in hot mineral water. The main research is conducted with water from Rupite. In the period from 2012 to 2019, I studied nearly 500 centenarians and their siblings. The balance of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, and manganese is one of the secrets of longevity in my research on water and food as factors for health and longevity. The research has been published in leading scientific journals in collaboration with prominent scientists.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

In 1974, I made a telescope, and at that time I was in 4th grade. In 6th grade, I described a phenomenon where small holes act as optical lenses. I have a letter from the magazine „Cosmos” with a response to my achievement. The great interest in space research further shaped my desire to study physics. From 1983 to 1989, I was a student at the Faculty of Physics at SU „Kliment Ohridski”. In 1996, I established a Research Center for Medical Biophysics. Mainly, research is conducted on water, dietary supplements, and seminars for health and longevity are organized in Bulgaria and abroad. What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

The most important choice was made by Nature, as it gave me abilities with „the language of physics and chemistry” to show new achievements for water clusters, the emergence of life in hot mineral water and improving health status. The achievements are related to analyses and practical applications.

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

My student years passed during socialism. At that time, access to scientific achievements from the West was very limited. I even wrote my thesis on a typewriter, mainly using sources from libraries. Now this is hard to understand.

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

Here, advice is difficult. The choice may be related to the feeling of whether this is your world and whether you are satisfied. In the modern world, however, the feeling of stability also comes from financial success.

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

In this dynamic world we live in, speed and combinatorial skills in professional fields will be the most important.

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

With dedication and depth, contacts come naturally.

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

The biggest mistake until 2010 was that I surrounded myself with scientists who demonstrated that they were at a world level, but during a conference in the USA, I saw that a serious change was needed in my level.

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

A toxic environment for me is an environment of inaction, without awareness that someone needs to do the work. Leaving, if you are on an employment contract, is complicated; if you work independently, it is a matter of decision.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

I haven't thought about this question because it could have been worse.

How to maintain our motivation in times of stagnation?

I am not familiar with this because I work on different topics, and the world of science is vast.

How to achieve a balance between professional and personal life?

By not tiring oneself and being energetic and potential.

When is it time to change our career, not just the job?

When you realize that a new leap is necessary, for which there is potential.

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

Think about success, and exclude failure from your mind.

What is your definition of “successful career”?

A successful career is close to your dreams.