The personal brand is everything that people think about you, even if they don't say it out loud

Introduce yourself in a few sentences!

A 40-year-old girl. According to my friends, too serious and pragmatic, in my opinion – too far from growing up and maturing.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood years?

I wanted to become a car mechanic, to have my own service or rather a garage, because back then almost everything happened in them.

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

Relatively late, at about 19 years old. That was my first fee, paid as an intern at a newspaper in Varna, where I grew up. 

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an earlier 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?

What shapes us is how easily or difficult we have received the things we wanted. Correspondingly, how quickly.  For me, it happened that from a very young age I knew I wanted to pursue journalism. Regarding education, not everything worked out the first time, because I experimented with studying in Canada. In that sense, the path was not very easy. But in work, from a professional point of view, things happened naturally. The development was neither short nor on a short path. Step by step, I went through all kinds of media – newspaper, radio, and television, quite a few positions, host of a show, of news. For some people, this may be too slow a process; for me, it was desired, and at times too fast. And every year of experience is important because it has shaped me. Otherwise, I think I don't have a deficit of curiosity; rather, I have a problem with time to read and learn enough. Recently, even a friend asked me why I need to know things that are not necessary for my work or life. I admit I didn't know what to answer – it had never occurred to me that I could only read what would be of real use to me.

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

Maybe what changed is that as a child, I quickly got bored with the things I engaged in. I quickly lost interest when I saw the result, even if it wasn't achieved yet. It's like climbing a mountain; the peak is already in front of you, but you stop just meters away from it without climbing it. It still happens to me now, but much less often. Otherwise, regarding motivation, not yet, that's why I said at the beginning that I don't think I've matured. I am still guided by the meaning in what I do, and if it corresponds to my values, then both the results and the satisfaction are present.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was this decision correct, looking back today?

It was entirely my decision. My parents did not guide me, nor did they influence me – neither in high school nor for university. They were only worried about whether they would be able to assist me with advice or direction, as the field of journalism was too distant for them. I come from a family of engineers.

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

This question is like from old lexicons. I like to do things in moments of extremity, so I also enjoy more adrenaline sports and activities. The mountains and nature have naturally and imperceptibly become part of my life since 2016, due to an involuntary ascent of Musala, where my friends had taken the initiative to clean the peak. After that, my husband and I continued to other peaks... The mountain has become much more for me than just escaping from everyday life. It has become a part and a way of life.

The mountain has introduced me to many different people, some of whom are still close friends in my earthly life. I don't know if I have hobbies; I don't collect anything. I like the minimalist style in almost everything, even in relationships with people. And I have all sorts of interests – from quantum physics to interior design. In general, I like everything from which I can learn new things.

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

After almost 20 years in the media and journalism, I recently took a step towards change; I think I will stay in one place for a while before heading towards a new change 😊

They say that the personal brand 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 would add that the personal brand is everything that people think about you, even if they don't say it. And it shows in the attitude. Frankly, I don't care to hear anything specific about myself. I am grateful for the good attitude.

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?

Every day begins with a new effort in this direction. I consider myself quite flexible in a work and team environment, but I also have my limits. I always try to think from the perspective of the other side, or if I have crossed a line, to apologize. At the same time, for years I have worked under pressure and in extreme situations; I highly value demand and discipline because the result is the most important thing for me.

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, close ones?

I realized very late that the ability to communicate with different people, of different ages, positions, experiences, egos if you will, is not something everyone possesses. And I have witnessed how, in a professional context, my colleagues have lost battles and created additional problems just because they were not flexible and tolerant towards insignificant differences with other people. Perhaps the core of proper communication remains the human approach, the ability to listen, and to be sure that you have been clearly understood. The latter I am still perfecting.

What do you think about money? What is its 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 a good thing, but as we know, it can also make you sick. No one has yet found a person who can define what sufficient money is. Perhaps enough to sleep peacefully. Perhaps enough not to think when you want to provide some pleasure for yourself or your family. Both money and satisfaction from what you do are like interconnected vessels. Just one is not enough for a long time to compensate for the other. So, if both are in balance, perhaps everything is sufficient.

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

To have a job from which they learn continuously or at least relatively often – there is no greater privilege and pleasure than to feel that you are moving.