"The Entrepreneur's Secret" Gala Evening at Hilton on April 27 at 19:30

Mr. Popov, please introduce yourself briefly and tell us how the idea for the magazine "Bulgarian Entrepreneur" and the show "The Entrepreneur's Secret" was born?

The magazine "Bulgarian Entrepreneur" and the show "The Entrepreneur's Secret" are tools for my main goal of increasing the influence of Bulgarian entrepreneurs who create value, have a long-term vision, and foresight. The idea came during the Covid crisis at 5 a.m. when I decided that I wanted to create a tool that is not advertising, not marketing, and that would protect entrepreneurs from such moments. Specifically, "effective branding," positioning through generating business projects that unite the media's clients, allowing business owners to practically advertise their products and services while generating revenue. This strategy managed to give birth to hundreds of projects and realize millions within 6 years.

 

On April 27, the gala premiere of "The Entrepreneur's Secret" will take place at the Hilton Sofia hotel at 19:30. What can guests expect and what makes this event special?

A year after the first episode aired on national television, we decided it was time to officially announce the show. We have prepared an interesting program that will present the spirit of the show itself, we will offer exclusive networking with selected entrepreneurs, and I hope we can reveal a little more of the secret of the successful Bulgarian entrepreneur. The event is not advertised in any way and filled up in a day, but what makes the event special are its guests and participants. Because I strongly believe in the environment and its significance for success. A well-chosen environment can work wonders. And that’s exactly what we do in the show - business wonders.

 

How has the show developed over the past year – from the first episodes to today? What has changed in your format and approach?

First of all, we all want to believe that we are better than we were a year ago. Ani started receiving invitations from other podcasts, which is a very good indicator. We improved the studio, and recently we have a scriptwriter with exceptional experience, whose contribution we will be able to see in the episodes coming in June.

 

After so many conversations with entrepreneurs – what is the most valuable thing you personally learned from your guests?

The most valuable thing I have reinforced through the guests of the show is that the formula for each person can be different. The only thing that unites them all is that they do not give up until they succeed. I have a favorite book that I read many years ago, which says: "I will persist until I succeed!" and the book is The Greatest Salesman in the World.

 

What kind of people do you meet on the show – is there a common model or "code" of a successful entrepreneur that you have started to recognize?

There is a very clear model by which I seek successful entrepreneurs. This is a person who brings value to their clients, partners, and society. A successful entrepreneur is not a street vendor who creates nothing and whose only goal is maximum financial profit at the moment fueled by the ego and complexes of the consumer. This is my main principle.

 

What is the biggest discrepancy between what people see as success and what actually lies behind it?

The discrepancy is huge, even dramatically I would say. Let me start by saying that success is not an event. It is not a final destination. It is not a goal. We strive for success to experience certain goals. Success is a marathon that includes peaks, valleys, dramas, tragedies, depressions, physical weakness, happiness, joy, separations, reunions. Success is, despite this roller coaster, which brings you all kinds of emotions, to maintain your inner positive attitude towards life and people and to continue to believe in yourself and in what you do. This is what people do not see - the constant internal struggle.

 

What has been the audience's reaction so far – what do viewers and readers share with you?

Reactions are always of all kinds. I am not interested in what people say. What gives me the most objective feedback is the duration of partnerships. I have companies that we work with and who have trusted me since the first year of the magazine's creation and continue to this day. There are also those who have not seen the potential in the timelines they have set for themselves and have continued on a different path. But that is completely okay, I do not want to work with people and companies that are only interested in quick results for themselves. What I have created is for true visionaries who do not want to be "street vendors," but want to make some real change in the world and are ready for patience and persistence. I will give an example with the event marking one year of the life of the TV show "The Entrepreneur's Secret." More than 50% of the ninety guests are my clients and partners from the magazine for years. This is indicative of how they react to our ecosystem.

 

What is next for "The Entrepreneur's Secret" – will we see new formats, guests, or development in another direction?

We are thinking in this direction, we have a new member of the team in the shadows, who has enormous directing experience, with whom we will make a small and not so quiet revolution in the format of the show. But for now, I will keep it a secret  :)

 

How do you envision the development of the project in the next 2–3 years?

On the air of one of the two largest television stations in the country.

 

How is the entrepreneur in Bulgaria changing today – is he bolder, more prepared?

More hardworking. Fifteen, twenty, twenty-five years ago we did not have so much choice. Entrepreneurs did not need great super efforts to attract clients. There were not so many entrepreneurs. Today the world is brutally fast, noisy, cluttered. Entrepreneurs are becoming faster, more creative, more adaptive, at least those who want to stay afloat.

 

What has been the most difficult moment in your entrepreneurial journey and what helped you to get through it?

I have many such moments. Perhaps the greatest preparation for the tough moments of the entrepreneurial path was that at the age of 11 I lost my father during a transition period for Bulgaria, during the winter of Videnov, with unemployment and high crime. When you experience what many people do not experience in their entire lives between 11 and 18 years old, you are ready to deal with a few financial crises and a handful of detractors.

 

If you had to summarize in one sentence – what is your "secret of the entrepreneur"?

To be open-minded and flexible, not bent.