Sleep peacefully at night, with the feeling that you have helped, left a mark, and done something significant

Introduce yourself in a few words…

My name is Martin Zaharieff and I am a partner in one of the leading firms in Bulgaria – the law firm ‚‚Dimitrov, Petrov and Co.‘‘  (DPC). I am one of the heads of the departments at DPC for intellectual property, pharmaceutical law, technology, and data. Besides being a lawyer, I am also a professor of data protection at the University of Library Science and Information Technologies (UniBIT), and I also teach legal aspects of information and communication technologies (ICT) at several universities in Bulgaria and abroad, such as Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Stockholm University in Sweden, and others. I have several published books and textbooks and over 75 articles, analyses, and reports on issues related to information regulation and data protection.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

My career is a path built on persistence, curiosity, and hard work. I have never relied on chance. I believe that success is built brick by brick, with a lot of effort and a willingness to learn constantly. Over the years, I have had both ups and difficult periods, but it is precisely those that made me more resilient and confident. If I had to describe it in a few words - determination, courage, and continuous learning.

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

At one point, I realized that I didn’t want just a “good job,” but a profession where I can be useful and feel that what I do has value. This choice often meant more effort, less rest, and less security, but it taught me to rely on myself, not to be afraid of mistakes, and to see challenges as opportunities, not threats.

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

That legal knowledge is only part of the equation. True success comes when you learn to communicate with people, to understand them, to read between the lines, to sense what is important to them. At university, they teach us law, but not empathy. And without it, there is no trust. At the beginning of my career, I didn’t know that soft skills would be just as necessary as legal knowledge.

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

A difficult question that many people are seeking the answer to. 😊 The profession that is “yours” does not drain you, but energizes you. Of course, every job has difficult moments, but generally, if you feel satisfaction, not emptiness, then you are in the right place. Sometimes it takes time, experimentation, and even mistakes to discover yourself.

What skills do you think will be key in the next 10 years?

Adaptability will be the most valuable currency. The world is changing rapidly, and technologies are entering every profession, including law. But people who can learn, change, and think critically will always be one step ahead. Along with that, emotional intelligence and the ability to work with different people. Machines can analyze data, but only humans can truly understand.

Lawyers who demonstrate human understanding and critical thinking will come to the forefront in the context of rapid technological development.

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

In my opinion, we really need to be interested in the person opposite us if we want to create a meaningful contact. The key is authenticity. People sense when you approach them with interest and when with interest in yourself. When you communicate with a genuine desire to learn something, to help, or to exchange experiences, relationships build naturally. I believe that a network of contacts is built over the years, through respect, consistency, and integrity. I seek reciprocity and added value in every interaction.

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

As we know, mistakes are the most valuable and useful lessons, as long as one has the strength to realize it and cope with a given disappointment. At the beginning of my career, I believed that I had to handle everything myself. I thought that this was a sign of strength and professionalism. Over time, I realized that true strength is to trust the people around you - colleagues, partners, clients. Openness and teamwork do not make you weaker, but more effective. Mistakes taught me that no one achieves success alone and that sometimes asking for help is a sign of maturity, not weakness.

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

I personally have been fortunate not to know a toxic work environment. I started working at the firm as an intern at the beginning of my fourth year at the University. Today, 13 years later, I continue to develop at my first job and work in a team with  shared values such as empathy, trust, support.

I think a toxic environment is recognized not by words, but by feelings. When you are increasingly tense, you start to doubt yourself and others and lose the joy of work, that is a red flag. It is important to distinguish a difficult period from a chronically harmful atmosphere. If at the place where you are, you are performing below your potential, it is time to rethink your future.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

I don’t think I would change anything specific. Maybe I would allow myself to be bolder and less critical of myself. In the beginning, we often fear making mistakes, but in fact, mistakes are the best teacher.

How to maintain our motivation in times of stagnation?

Stagnation is an inevitable part of any development. It is a signal that it is time for change, not for giving up. In such moments, I try to look back and remember how far I have already come. Motivation often comes when we allow ourselves a pause, not when we force ourselves. I also liked something I recently read, that motivation is a temporary quantity, while true progress is based on discipline. Only with persistent will and consistency can we achieve sustainable development. In a moment of stagnation, besides showing discipline, we can seek help from family and friends, who also play a key role, especially with the support they give us as our closest people. Additionally, I can point out new challenges, training, or a change of perspective.  That is the way to bring back the spark.

How to achieve a balance between professional and personal life?

A favorite and eternally relevant topic! Balance is not constant, but dynamic, and that is completely normal. In certain periods, work requires more from us, in others – personal life. The important thing is not to forget that no professional victory is worth it if you have no one to share it with. For me, balance means not equality in the time you work and rest, but harmony in the feeling of being satisfied, not exhausted, from what you do. Balance is often fragile and is a matter of constant searching.

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

When we start to feel that even the best projects do not bring us satisfaction. When not just the place, but the very content of our work weighs on us. This is a difficult but honest moment of realization. Then it is not about a new boss or a new company, but about a new direction. And this is not a failure, but the courage to admit that you have grown and are ready for something different. Sometimes it is not necessary to take drastic steps, but we can combine two careers. For example, besides being a lawyer, I teach students about data protection and legal aspects of ICT. Working with students brings me exceptional personal satisfaction and a new charge – a sense of the right direction and meaning.

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

Dream boldly and work hard. Sometimes results come slowly, but persistence is always rewarded. Don’t look for the easy path, seek the meaningful one.

What is your definition of a “successful career”?

For me, a successful career is one in which you can remain true to yourself. To do what you love, without compromising your values. To develop, but also to have time for the people you love. To be able to sleep peacefully at night, with the feeling that you have helped, left a mark, and done something significant – that is true success.