Newsletter 101: On gratitude

As I am celebrating my birthday today, I find myself reflecting on my career and the choices I have made so far.

My career journey was anything but straightforward. At times, it's necessary to take detours and make unexpected turns to get to where you want to be. The key is to stay focused on your goals and be open to new opportunities.

When I was just starting, my goal was simple - secure a job and work hard to make ends meet. Coming from a blue-collar background in an industrial part of Sofia, I took on various construction, cleaning, and hospitality jobs.

But the one decision that changed everything for me was pushing myself to study abroad. In turn, I ended up moving to Denmark. This gave me a chance to break out of my comfort zone and connect with like-minded people worldwide. It also allowed me to experience a new culture and immerse myself in the Scandinavian way of living. Lastly, it allowed me to benefit from one of the world’s leading education systems focused on problem-solving, critical thinking, and group work.

To support myself while I was at uni, I worked a series of low-paying jobs, including dishwashing, delivering newspapers, and shoveling snow in the winter. But that did not bother me that much because I felt I had the right trajectory.

One thing led to another, and I eventually started my own startup. It was a truly rewarding experience. I went through a wide range of emotions, from feeling elated because of the potential impact I could have on the world to feeling like a complete failure when things didn't go as planned. However, I found the startup experience to be the most merit-based form of organization I have ever encountered. So I spent the past decade honning my skills and growing my knowledge of the tech sector.

Over time, I advanced and secured senior roles at larger and better-funded startups. I attribute that to my hard work, my focus on solving problems for the business rather than on my own ego, and my commitment to continuous learning. The more I grew professionally, the more meaning I found in my work.

It may sound cliche, but I truly believe that hard work is the only consistent factor leading to success in one’s journey. There is no way to solve difficult problems without putting in long hours. Your success stems out of the size and complexity of the problems you solve and the number of challenges you overcome.

The more problems you solve, the more society will reward you.

As I look back on my life and all the experiences and lessons I have learned along the way, it almost feels like I have lived a few different lives. There was the me in Bulgaria who had no idea where my journey would take me. Then there was the me in Denmark, who began to understand my strengths and interests. And now, here I am in Singapore, with responsibilities and a lifestyle that my younger self could only have dreamed of. Yet, throughout all of these changes, one thing has remained consistent: my gratitude.

I am grateful to all the people who have supported and believed in me. From those who took a chance on me despite my unconventional background to those who are there for me during the tough times.

Last but not least, I am grateful for those who follow my leadership daily at work and for all those strangers who silently cheer for me.

As I grow older, I will make an effort to express my gratitude more often. After all, it’s proven to lead to greater happiness and stronger relationships.

Thank YOU 🙏