My First Fee: That Thrill That Lasts a Lifetime

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Yana Sabeva. I have an economic and philosophical education. Communications are the thread that connects my entire professional path. First as a journalist, then as a PR specialist and today as a university lecturer in rhetoric and PR. This at first glance unusual mix of knowledge and experience gave me an incredibly valuable perspective.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

A journalist.

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

I was 20 years old and the money was from a fee I received for my first published article. I still remember the night before the issue with that material came out. I could hardly wait for the newspaper stalls (there were such back then) to open and I bought with all my available money four copies of the edition with my article. I still keep them. As well as the emotion from the moment of anticipation and searching for the text in the publication. That was the first time I understood what it means to do something that brings you real pleasure.

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 at this stage of our human development?

Everything starts from the family. It is there that I received my first lessons on perseverance, work, money, and why finding “your” profession is one of the most important things in your life path.

My parents were doctors. Their profession required constant learning and discovering the new. From them, I learned to be curious about everything happening around me.

Today we are lucky to live in some of the most interesting times in human history. A time when we can communicate with six generations. They are the best sources of information. Each with their own stage of expression, channels, formats, etc. As for curiosity, it’s hard for me to imagine how one could not be curious in this colorful and interesting world we live in.

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

Love for work and for students is one of the foundations of my life. All problems cease to matter and disappear as soon as I enter the classroom. My goal has always been to adapt the material and attract the attention of as many students as possible.

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

The decision to study marketing was entirely mine. No one in my family tried to influence my choice. However, it took them some time to understand what exactly I would be working on after I graduated. Let’s not forget, back then it was the 90s of the 20th century and this science and its professional expression were quite exotic for the general public in our country.

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

When you are engaged in communications and teach them, reading is an interest by default. You cannot use the same lectures over the years simply because the information becomes outdated. Therefore, you must constantly “read” and learn new things. I have put the word “read” in quotes because here I include not only books but also all other sources of content such as social networks. Reading for me is at the core not only of certain knowledge but also of skills and hobbies. For example, years ago a biography made me a lover of classical music. I still play the piano, albeit only in front of a small audience. I also love tennis, which I got into thanks to an article in a magazine.

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

I have the most wonderful profession in the world and I wouldn’t change it. When we talk about areas of activity, marketing remains one of the most interesting. It encompasses a large part of the innovations we can see in the modern world. That’s why I find it extremely interesting to observe it.

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 want to continue hearing that I have created interest in the subjects I teach and that I have explained the material in a way that is understandable and interesting.

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility, as well as our soft skills are key conditions for success in recent years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

Again, I return to the family. In this case, I mean upbringing, the formation of certain values, and the subsequent building of attitudes. The first lessons in this direction I received right at home. They gave me the foundation to approach daily challenges with the calmness that in general these are normal things in life. They pass and do not define us. What defines us is our reaction to them.

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily – colleagues, friends, relatives?

I believe it is wrong to divide communication into “correct” and “incorrect”. There is communication that achieves its goals (effective) and communication that does not achieve them (ineffective). Effective communication is based on flexibility and consideration of the specifics of the audience. That is, being able to adapt communication (for example, a given message) so that it interests and changes the opinion of different people. In this sense, adhering to a set of static rules for communication that claim to be “universal” is generally a recipe for disaster in a short time.

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 very important. They provide peace and independence. How exactly they can be considered “sufficient” depends on the individual person. For one, they are sufficient when they are calm about their monthly budget. For another, they are sufficient when they provide independence and freedom to make decisions that are in sync with their beliefs and values, without worrying about the consequences, including financial ones. My advice is – regardless of what type of person you are, always strive for financial independence.

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

We spend a significant part of our “awake” life at work. Make it a happy part of it by finding a job that you truly love.