The career is movement: follow curiosity, not expectations

Introduce yourself in a few sentences!

My name is Vyara Stefancheva. I help people with business ideas turn them into reality – through knowledge (as a teacher), through strategy (as a marketing and business consultant) and through a community where I find like-minded people. I believe that the future belongs to those who combine knowledge and awareness. I find inspiration at the intersection of creativity and data. 

 

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

I grew up around an old CRT television and a computer with “Windows 95”. I was fascinated by the idea that you could create entire worlds with the help of technology. Back then, my dream profession didn’t even have a name – I was simply drawn to everything related to words, images, and computers. I learned to read from the front page of a newspaper, to write (with a pencil and on a keyboard), to draw (on paper and in Paint), and to not miss a single advertisement on television. Today I realize that nothing has changed – I just have more experience and a diploma for the same curiosity.

 

At what age did you earn your first money? Share with us some interesting story.

 

Interestingly, my first job was for a technology startup at Microsoft. I did part-time data entry and image optimization for PowerPoint as part of the Office 365 package. With the money, I celebrated my 18th birthday – a symbolic beginning of my journey in the tech world. Especially considering that years later I worked as an SEO expert and regularly use the same products for my lectures.

 

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests?

I believe that curiosity is not learned, but maintained through experiences, people, travels. I am happy that I rarely get bored, I always find something to do and look for something new to read, to learn. I am thirsty for new knowledge and new skills – and I believe that this can be cultivated. In my opinion, our interests do not appear by chance; they are a reflection of something deep within us that seeks expression.

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

The change in me does not cease. If I go back just three months, I will see a completely different version of myself. I strive for constant development and I take each day as a new chance to improve myself. With this change come new priorities, new feelings of meaning. I rediscover myself, accumulate experience and find new traces on the path to myself.

 

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

At one point, I considered studying software engineering abroad on a scholarship program, but even with its help, the costs turned out to be too high. So I decided to stay in Bulgaria and apply to Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.  Unfortunately, the educational system did not provide me with opportunities for career orientation, so I just went online and started taking tests that promised “to reveal my personality type and suitable professions for me.” The only major that seemed to fit me and whose program really seemed interesting was “Public Relations” at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

From the very first lectures, I realized that I had made the right choice. There is a special ease when you discover your place; everything just comes to you naturally. While listening to what is being taught, countless ideas come to mind. That’s why I hurried to find an internship and gain real experience. Later, I built on that with a master’s degree in business, which coincided with my first years as an entrepreneur and complemented my knowledge at the right moment.

 

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

I am interested in psychology, personal development, and technology. I constantly explore how technology and the human mind can complement each other. The internet continuously throws new interests and opportunities my way, so I love to acquire new knowledge and skills. I enjoy drawing inspiration from the world around me and creating something in return. Contributing to society is my greatest goal and source of energy.

 

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

I constantly change my profession. It is a joy that my interests and work completely overlap. And this is not luck; I deliberately pursue this way of life – if I feel curiosity about something new, I immediately look for how to turn it into a skill that brings me both knowledge and income. Naturally, this requires the courage to take wrong turns while finding your direction. Today, I use my career development as a resource that allows me to design the life I want to live. When your interests and profession overlap, the profession becomes a tool for creating the reality you desire.

 

What would you like people to say about you when you are not in the same room with them?

That I am a person who inspires and helps others to believe more in themselves. That I have left a sense of clarity, calmness, and motivation. I don’t want to be simply remembered as “successful,” but as a person who has made something significant for other people.

 

How do you cope with daily challenges to stay in good shape and mood?

Discipline and motivation sometimes take me to a point where I have to remind myself that I am not a machine, and that is exactly what I struggle with. I am learning to stop when I need to and to allow myself time for rest. By nature, I am an introspective person and I am drawn to inner dialogues. I enrich them with nature, art, workouts, and books – they help me return to myself. It seems to me that consciously or not, balance is one of the first things that the world tries to take away from you. The entire model is built around achievements, not around balance. Routine and system leave no room for pause. So this is my way – every day I train the skill to live in my own inner rhythm.

 

What are the most important conclusions you have drawn so far about effective communication with people?

At university, every lesson started with a definition of communication. My conclusion after everything I have learned so far is that to communicate effectively means to study and respect differences. The more you understand human nature, the more you can contribute to society.

 

What do you think about money and what is their influence on your life?

For many people, money is a measure of achievements, but for me, they are a window to opportunities. Over the years, I have learned to respect them without being a slave to them. My wealth is measured in the following - I invest my time in what I love, without money dictating my choices.

 

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

Follow your curiosity and don’t be afraid to start over. The best career is the one built around your interests, and not around others' expectations. A career is movement, not a title.