Don't be afraid to make mistakes while creating

My name is Ralitsa and I am the founder of EventPlus.bg. 

If I have to describe myself briefly, I am a person of action and connection with people. I love the dynamics of sales and the adrenaline of events, but I believe that the best ideas come when we take off our professional masks and just be ourselves. Work for me is not something that starts at 9 and ends at 5 in a "separate box" – it is a way to express yourself and your energy. And since I think that a person learns while they are alive, I seek knowledge everywhere. My connection with nature brings me the necessary calmness with which I balance the dynamics of business, and dancing is my way to recharge with energy. I love to dance and have fun because I believe that authentic fun is the key to high motivation and successful partnerships.

I took my first steps quite early – I was just 11 and a half years old. During one summer vacation, I decided that I wanted to try what it is like to work, and I started selling ice cream in the city center. Even then, quite intuitively, I discovered the magic of communication and interaction with people. I remember the immense satisfaction from the first money I earned – not only because of the amount but because of the feeling that my efforts bring smiles to people and that pays off.

I don't think I had a strict strategy at that age, but I knew one thing – I wanted to create something meaningful. In high school, I was in a class for "Business and Finance" and in 11th and 12th grade, things became "real". We did projects where each time we had to come up with a completely new business – with the concept, business plan, and specific idea. I remember how we went around institutions to collect the real documents for registering these "companies" of ours. I was so passionate! I remember how we walked the streets, discussing budgets of thousands of leva and "hiring" people, while passersby looked at us strangely. We just giggled, we were happy and had fun with those big folders in our hands. Perhaps it was precisely those moments when I felt the adrenaline of business as a game that laid the foundations of everything I do today. Strategy comes later – first, you have to discover your passion.

Certainly, the people who influenced me are many and I probably won't be able to list them all, but the first and strongest imprint was left by my family and books. My love for letters was born in my early childhood thanks to my mother, who is a teacher, and my grandmother, who spent endless time engaging with me. This even played a "bad joke" on me in first grade – I was already reading and writing smoothly, and my classes were quite boring! However, I will never forget the first two books I fell in love with and which shaped me as a person. One was a children's Bible – it taught me the basic human values, the importance of family, faith, and kindness. The second was "Without Home" by Hector Malo. I read those 500 pages almost in one breath during one summer vacation. I was amazed at how captivating and valuable a story can be. At that moment, I said to myself: "Wow, this is it! Books are my window to the world and my endless inspiration." Those first lessons in empathy and resilience that I discovered in literature are still the compass by which I lead my business and my team.

The influence of our first workplace is enormous and lasts a lifetime. During my student years, I worked part-time to cover my expenses – I was a waitress, bartender, sales consultant. This was my real university of adaptability. Every day I trained how to communicate with different people and how to be flexible in difficult situations. When the moment came for my first regular job as an office assistant, I already had the foundation, but I wanted to add professional skills. I prepared myself – I took courses, learned to type using the touch typing system, to organize tables and processes. It was then that I developed the discipline and consistency that I need today. I learned that my greatest strength is the ability to find solutions on my own, especially when it is difficult. Instead of scaring me, challenges have always motivated me to act.

The mistakes we make at the workplace are often a kind of pain, and we, people, learn the fastest precisely through them. For me, it has never been shameful to say: "I made a mistake, but I will find a way to fix it." The most correct reaction is courage – to face the client or your team, to take responsibility, and immediately move on to seeking a solution. This is how I teach the people I work with: there is nothing irreparable, as long as you are aware enough not to repeat the same mistakes. Mistakes are our greatest teacher. Sometimes the price for this "education" is high, but it is part of the journey. What matters is not the fall itself, but your ability to get up and offer an adequate reaction. It is precisely in those moments that true trust between people and business is built.

To be honest, I have never sought the "easy" or "quick" – I never learned to take shortcuts. I believe that truly sustainable career development is due to three main pillars: courage, hard work, and perseverance. Trust, not only in business, is built over the years, but unfortunately can be lost in seconds. That is why I do not understand people who try to skip the stages of gaining experience and value. For me, those who actually succeed in the long run are the people who are not afraid of work, keep their word, and understand that professionalism is not a sprint, but a marathon. A career is a reflection of our efforts, and the strongest roots require time to grow and withstand storms.

Family is the foundation of our values, but it doesn't have to be our professional model. In my family, there have never been entrepreneurs, so my father's reaction was quite natural. When I told him that I was starting my own business, he advised me: "Don't lose your secure job to chase the wild." I accepted his words with calmness and understanding – he has learned this and has done it all his life with care for us. The lack of entrepreneurial examples at home did not stop me because I have always sought inspiration in an environment of people with more experience than mine. Even today, I carefully choose the personalities from whom to take example. I believe that we should listen to our parents when it comes to morality and humanity, but the career path is a personal responsibility. Today, my family is proud of me, and that shows me that sometimes the best way to thank them is to prove that the "wild" is actually your calling.

The role of friends is no less key, and at certain moments – even leading. The environment in which we choose to communicate and develop is our mirror. I believe that people influence each other energetically and emotionally, often even without realizing it. I have not thought so deeply about this before, but today I see how great a wealth it is that I am surrounded by real people I can rely on. Proof of this are my friendships that have lasted from my teenage years, through high school and university to today. It is an endless pleasure for me when we gather people with common interests, goals, and even similar difficulties. Then you feel that you are not alone in the challenges that business presents you with. Our jokes in such moments are the best medicine against stress. In their lightness, I find the meaning of the shared journey and understand that with the right friends by your side, every obstacle is just an opportunity for a new interesting story.

I believe that balance is key to the development of every individual, but the path to it is not linear. I will be completely honest – 2025 was a year when my focus was almost entirely on work. However, I realize that in order to be useful to my business, I must first be in harmony with myself. I am still searching for my most faithful "recipe" for balance between professional commitments, my personal space, and invaluable time with family. My strongest means of recharging is escaping into nature. The waves of the sea have a cleansing effect on me, while the mountain grounds me. I often love just to touch nature – I love to hug trees. It helps me connect with my "roots", to hear the silence that actually "speaks" to me more than thousands of words. I have set a goal for the new year to be much more aware in this direction. I believe that boundaries do not limit us, but actually give us the freedom to create with more energy. Soon I hope to share with you the working ideas I have discovered along this path.

The most valuable advice I have received and which today is my personal compass is: "Be authentic and don't be afraid to make mistakes while creating." In a world full of clichés and ready-made formulas, the hardest but also the most rewarding thing is to stay true to yourself and your values. The advice I would give is: Don't wait for the perfect moment, but act. Often we, women, want everything to be "in order" – to be fully prepared, to have learned everything, to have anticipated every detail. But the truth is that experience and mistakes along the way are our best teachers. Action is what drives us forward, not perfect preparation. And most importantly – don't forget to have fun along the way! If you don't put your heart and joy into what you do, success will not bring you the necessary satisfaction. Seek meaning, keep your roots, and believe that the best is yet to come!