so welcome everyone now as you can imagine from that introduction I get
imagine from that introduction I get
imagine from that introduction I get asked a number of questions pretty often
asked a number of questions pretty often
asked a number of questions pretty often what are you doing here what is what do
what are you doing here what is what do
what are you doing here what is what do you do here is there something wrong
you do here is there something wrong
you do here is there something wrong with you all these questions and you
with you all these questions and you
with you all these questions and you know I’ve got my mic and answers my
know I’ve got my mic and answers my
know I’ve got my mic and answers my little jokes I’ll say that you know I’m
little jokes I’ll say that you know I’m
little jokes I’ll say that you know I’m a I’ll say I’m a d-list Bulgarian
a I’ll say I’m a d-list Bulgarian
a I’ll say I’m a d-list Bulgarian celebrity and that’s what I do you know
celebrity and that’s what I do you know
celebrity and that’s what I do you know I’ll have to vehemently deny that I work
I’ll have to vehemently deny that I work
I’ll have to vehemently deny that I work for the CIA
for the CIA
for the CIA I really don’t but people don’t believe
I really don’t but people don’t believe
I really don’t but people don’t believe me but when I say you know okay I I work
me but when I say you know okay I I work
me but when I say you know okay I I work for this company I’m a d-list celebrity
for this company I’m a d-list celebrity
for this company I’m a d-list celebrity because of my podcast or whatever
because of my podcast or whatever
because of my podcast or whatever there’s a little grain of truth there
there’s a little grain of truth there
there’s a little grain of truth there and it’s not the celebrity part it’s the
and it’s not the celebrity part it’s the
and it’s not the celebrity part it’s the weirdness part the the kind of
weirdness part the the kind of
weirdness part the the kind of improbable part because if there’s one
improbable part because if there’s one
improbable part because if there’s one thing I can say about my life here in
thing I can say about my life here in
thing I can say about my life here in Bulgaria is that there’s been
Bulgaria is that there’s been
Bulgaria is that there’s been tremendously improbable and why is that
tremendously improbable and why is that
tremendously improbable and why is that special life that interesting and what
special life that interesting and what
special life that interesting and what does that mean for you well you could
does that mean for you well you could
does that mean for you well you could imagine when I think back to when I was
imagine when I think back to when I was
imagine when I think back to when I was your age when I was in high school just
your age when I was in high school just
your age when I was in high school just starting University I was not imagining
starting University I was not imagining
starting University I was not imagining the life that I have now I did not
the life that I have now I did not
the life that I have now I did not imagine I would live in Bulgaria that I
imagine I would live in Bulgaria that I
imagine I would live in Bulgaria that I would work with startups or or have a
would work with startups or or have a
would work with startups or or have a podcast or any of this stuff and to be
podcast or any of this stuff and to be
podcast or any of this stuff and to be honest at the time I didn’t imagine a
honest at the time I didn’t imagine a
honest at the time I didn’t imagine a very happy life I was in high school
very happy life I was in high school
very happy life I was in high school starting University I honestly didn’t
starting University I honestly didn’t
starting University I honestly didn’t really think I’d be happy it was a hard
really think I’d be happy it was a hard
really think I’d be happy it was a hard time for me and shortly after I started
time for me and shortly after I started
time for me and shortly after I started University I faced a lot of family
University I faced a lot of family
University I faced a lot of family tragedies my father committed suicide
tragedies my father committed suicide
tragedies my father committed suicide and he wasn’t the first of my family to
and he wasn’t the first of my family to
and he wasn’t the first of my family to do so and
do so and
do so and I looked at all these things I really
I looked at all these things I really
I looked at all these things I really thought that well that’s my life you
thought that well that’s my life you
thought that well that’s my life you know I can’t escape genetics I can’t
know I can’t escape genetics I can’t
know I can’t escape genetics I can’t escape family I don’t have a choice
escape family I don’t have a choice
escape family I don’t have a choice and yeah I was suffering from depression
and yeah I was suffering from depression
and yeah I was suffering from depression but there was something else I was
but there was something else I was
but there was something else I was suffering from that was maybe even more
suffering from that was maybe even more
suffering from that was maybe even more crippling at the moment it was a lack of
crippling at the moment it was a lack of
crippling at the moment it was a lack of imagination
when I say imagination what do I mean
when I say imagination what do I mean I’m not talking about the ability to you
I’m not talking about the ability to you
I’m not talking about the ability to you know tell a good story or to draw
know tell a good story or to draw
know tell a good story or to draw something off the top of your head I’m
something off the top of your head I’m
something off the top of your head I’m talking about the ability to imagine
talking about the ability to imagine
talking about the ability to imagine your own future to imagine the kind of
your own future to imagine the kind of
your own future to imagine the kind of lives that you could live the kind of
lives that you could live the kind of
lives that you could live the kind of things that you could do because what
things that you could do because what
things that you could do because what was so crippling what was so difficult
was so crippling what was so difficult
was so crippling what was so difficult about that time was just that that I
about that time was just that that I
about that time was just that that I couldn’t imagine a different life for
couldn’t imagine a different life for
couldn’t imagine a different life for myself
myself
myself certainly not the one that I have now
certainly not the one that I have now
certainly not the one that I have now and at the time I was also doing what
and at the time I was also doing what
and at the time I was also doing what I’m sure a lot of you are starting to do
I’m sure a lot of you are starting to do
I’m sure a lot of you are starting to do thinking about a career what am I gonna
thinking about a career what am I gonna
thinking about a career what am I gonna do with my life I wanted to be a history
do with my life I wanted to be a history
do with my life I wanted to be a history professor lucky for me that is a career
professor lucky for me that is a career
professor lucky for me that is a career path that doesn’t necessarily require a
path that doesn’t necessarily require a
path that doesn’t necessarily require a lot of imagination right you do your
lot of imagination right you do your
lot of imagination right you do your bachelor’s you do your masters you do
bachelor’s you do your masters you do
bachelor’s you do your masters you do your PhD you get a job at a university
your PhD you get a job at a university
your PhD you get a job at a university so that’s what I did
so that’s what I did
so that’s what I did I check the boxes I got all those
I check the boxes I got all those
I check the boxes I got all those degrees I wrote about Alexander stumble
degrees I wrote about Alexander stumble
degrees I wrote about Alexander stumble we ski for two years because you know
we ski for two years because you know
we ski for two years because you know why not and at the end of those years I
why not and at the end of those years I
why not and at the end of those years I just finished up a Fulbright research
just finished up a Fulbright research
just finished up a Fulbright research grant right here in Sofia I had an offer
grant right here in Sofia I had an offer
grant right here in Sofia I had an offer to do a PhD at a good school but there’s
to do a PhD at a good school but there’s
to do a PhD at a good school but there’s a bit of a problem first
a bit of a problem first
a bit of a problem first the university was like yeah we don’t we
the university was like yeah we don’t we
the university was like yeah we don’t we don’t have a lot of money to pay you or
don’t have a lot of money to pay you or
don’t have a lot of money to pay you or anything and also we’re in London it’s
anything and also we’re in London it’s
anything and also we’re in London it’s kind of expensive but there was another
kind of expensive but there was another
kind of expensive but there was another problem I read maybe one too many
problem I read maybe one too many
problem I read maybe one too many articles about how hard it is to be a
articles about how hard it is to be a
articles about how hard it is to be a professor these days about adjuncts and
professor these days about adjuncts and
professor these days about adjuncts and pay things and all this added up to you
pay things and all this added up to you
pay things and all this added up to you know I said
know I said
know I said maybe this isn’t what I want to do
maybe this isn’t what I want to do
maybe this isn’t what I want to do and so just like that five years I had
and so just like that five years I had
and so just like that five years I had been going down the same path and like
been going down the same path and like
been going down the same path and like that that wasn’t what I was going to do
that that wasn’t what I was going to do
that that wasn’t what I was going to do anymore
anymore
anymore and I was terrified
and I was terrified
and I was terrified or at least that’s probably what you’d
or at least that’s probably what you’d
or at least that’s probably what you’d expect me to say actually I wasn’t
expect me to say actually I wasn’t
expect me to say actually I wasn’t it felt great it felt amazing I was a
it felt great it felt amazing I was a
it felt great it felt amazing I was a happiest I’d been in years just at that
happiest I’d been in years just at that
happiest I’d been in years just at that moment when I was giving up on the
moment when I was giving up on the
moment when I was giving up on the biggest dream I’d ever had
biggest dream I’d ever had
biggest dream I’d ever had so why well because just at that moment
so why well because just at that moment
so why well because just at that moment my thought wasn’t oh my god I failed aw
my thought wasn’t oh my god I failed aw
my thought wasn’t oh my god I failed aw I didn’t do it I didn’t
I didn’t do it I didn’t
I didn’t do it I didn’t my thought was wait wait a minute wait a
my thought was wait wait a minute wait a
my thought was wait wait a minute wait a minute
minute
minute so if I’m not gonna go down this path
so if I’m not gonna go down this path
so if I’m not gonna go down this path well that means I could do pretty much
well that means I could do pretty much
well that means I could do pretty much anything I I could do lots of stuff and
anything I I could do lots of stuff and
anything I I could do lots of stuff and and I can take the time to figure out
and I can take the time to figure out
and I can take the time to figure out what kind of stuff I want to do and now
what kind of stuff I want to do and now
what kind of stuff I want to do and now that sounds pretty obvious but it’s
that sounds pretty obvious but it’s
that sounds pretty obvious but it’s really easy to go your entire life and
really easy to go your entire life and
really easy to go your entire life and never think that way and so what was I
never think that way and so what was I
never think that way and so what was I experiencing I was experiencing
experiencing I was experiencing
experiencing I was experiencing imagination maybe for the first time I
imagination maybe for the first time I
imagination maybe for the first time I was imagining all the different things
was imagining all the different things
was imagining all the different things that I could do thought well I could
that I could do thought well I could
that I could do thought well I could live in Thailand I could live right here
live in Thailand I could live right here
live in Thailand I could live right here in Bulgaria you know I could still try
in Bulgaria you know I could still try
in Bulgaria you know I could still try to be a professor but like I I could
to be a professor but like I I could
to be a professor but like I I could also be a business consultant I could be
also be a business consultant I could be
also be a business consultant I could be a voice-over artist I could be a high
a voice-over artist I could be a high
a voice-over artist I could be a high school teacher in suddenly realizing
school teacher in suddenly realizing
school teacher in suddenly realizing that I could actually just take the time
that I could actually just take the time
that I could actually just take the time and figure all these things out was the
and figure all these things out was the
and figure all these things out was the most liberating thing I had ever
most liberating thing I had ever
most liberating thing I had ever experienced in my life but maybe some of
experienced in my life but maybe some of
experienced in my life but maybe some of you were thinking yep that sounds great
you were thinking yep that sounds great
you were thinking yep that sounds great but how real easy is it really to kind
but how real easy is it really to kind
but how real easy is it really to kind of explore all these things you know you
of explore all these things you know you
of explore all these things you know you need education you need skills so that’s
need education you need skills so that’s
need education you need skills so that’s the kind of second point I want to make
the kind of second point I want to make
the kind of second point I want to make because a core part of it allowed me to
because a core part of it allowed me to
because a core part of it allowed me to feel that way and allowed me to be
feel that way and allowed me to be
feel that way and allowed me to be flexible like that was that in my
flexible like that was that in my
flexible like that was that in my education I hadn’t just studied you know
education I hadn’t just studied you know
education I hadn’t just studied you know early 20th century radical agrarian
early 20th century radical agrarian
early 20th century radical agrarian movements in the Balkans and their
movements in the Balkans and their
movements in the Balkans and their connection to nationalism I had studied
connection to nationalism I had studied
connection to nationalism I had studied how to give a speech I’d studied how to
how to give a speech I’d studied how to
how to give a speech I’d studied how to write an essay I’d studied how to do
write an essay I’d studied how to do
write an essay I’d studied how to do research I’d studied how to think like a
research I’d studied how to think like a
research I’d studied how to think like a scientist to think like an artist I got
scientist to think like an artist I got
scientist to think like an artist I got in a solid liberal arts education that
in a solid liberal arts education that
in a solid liberal arts education that taught me lots of what I think of as
taught me lots of what I think of as
taught me lots of what I think of as kind of course skills and so the reason
kind of course skills and so the reason
kind of course skills and so the reason I could feel this way the reason I could
I could feel this way the reason I could
I could feel this way the reason I could feel excited about all the careers all
feel excited about all the careers all
feel excited about all the careers all the things I could try was that I knew
the things I could try was that I knew
the things I could try was that I knew that there were lots of jobs that I
that there were lots of jobs that I
that there were lots of jobs that I could do that I had these core skills
could do that I had these core skills
could do that I had these core skills that I could apply to doing lots of
that I could apply to doing lots of
that I could apply to doing lots of things and that’s something I wanted to
things and that’s something I wanted to
things and that’s something I wanted to explain to you all as you’re thinking
explain to you all as you’re thinking
explain to you all as you’re thinking about your education your career is what
about your education your career is what
about your education your career is what you’re going to do that it can be so so
you’re going to do that it can be so so
you’re going to do that it can be so so frightening to think well this is what I
frightening to think well this is what I
frightening to think well this is what I want to do I’m going to get that
want to do I’m going to get that
want to do I’m going to get that education but what if it doesn’t work
education but what if it doesn’t work
education but what if it doesn’t work out then I won’t
out then I won’t
out then I won’t education I won’t be prepared for the
education I won’t be prepared for the
education I won’t be prepared for the job market what’s gonna happen my
job market what’s gonna happen my
job market what’s gonna happen my parents will be very mad but really if
parents will be very mad but really if
parents will be very mad but really if you kind of think about your education
you kind of think about your education
you kind of think about your education this way if you make sure you learn a
this way if you make sure you learn a
this way if you make sure you learn a bunch of kind of course skills that you
bunch of kind of course skills that you
bunch of kind of course skills that you can apply to lots of different jobs then
can apply to lots of different jobs then
can apply to lots of different jobs then you’re gonna be fine in fact you’re
you’re gonna be fine in fact you’re
you’re gonna be fine in fact you’re gonna be probably a lot more excited
gonna be probably a lot more excited
gonna be probably a lot more excited about trying different things than
about trying different things than
about trying different things than someone who just got that one degree
someone who just got that one degree
someone who just got that one degree that you can do one single thing with
that you can do one single thing with
that you can do one single thing with and so to maybe help you visualize this
and so to maybe help you visualize this
and so to maybe help you visualize this let me give you some examples of some
let me give you some examples of some
let me give you some examples of some things that I did once I kind of opened
things that I did once I kind of opened
things that I did once I kind of opened my mind to this imagining what I could
my mind to this imagining what I could
my mind to this imagining what I could do and trying lots of different jobs and
do and trying lots of different jobs and
do and trying lots of different jobs and careers and seeing what was interesting
careers and seeing what was interesting
careers and seeing what was interesting so the podcast you heard a mention you
so the podcast you heard a mention you
so the podcast you heard a mention you know when I decided not to do the PhD I
know when I decided not to do the PhD I
know when I decided not to do the PhD I I still loved bulgarian history and I
I still loved bulgarian history and I
I still loved bulgarian history and I wanted to engage with it so I said okay
wanted to engage with it so I said okay
wanted to engage with it so I said okay why not create this history podcast so I
why not create this history podcast so I
why not create this history podcast so I created it and as I recorded and
created it and as I recorded and
created it and as I recorded and recorded and recorded I got pretty good
recorded and recorded I got pretty good
recorded and recorded I got pretty good at that so I started doing little side
at that so I started doing little side
at that so I started doing little side gigs doing voice acting I you know
gigs doing voice acting I you know
gigs doing voice acting I you know voiceovers for a documentary or a
voiceovers for a documentary or a
voiceovers for a documentary or a commercial or something and as I did
commercial or something and as I did
commercial or something and as I did that I started to get to know the people
that I started to get to know the people
that I started to get to know the people working in these companies I started
working in these companies I started
working in these companies I started helping them write scripts helping them
helping them write scripts helping them
helping them write scripts helping them build some the ideas of whatever
build some the ideas of whatever
build some the ideas of whatever projects they were creating then one day
projects they were creating then one day
projects they were creating then one day friend of mine who works at one of these
friend of mine who works at one of these
friend of mine who works at one of these stunning he says hey my company I we
stunning he says hey my company I we
stunning he says hey my company I we want to enter this documentary film
want to enter this documentary film
want to enter this documentary film contest in the US to make a five-minute
contest in the US to make a five-minute
contest in the US to make a five-minute environmental documentary you want to
environmental documentary you want to
environmental documentary you want to join sure that sounds cool so that’s
join sure that sounds cool so that’s
join sure that sounds cool so that’s what we did I I wrote a screenplay
what we did I I wrote a screenplay
what we did I I wrote a screenplay called the Bulgarian solution to climate
called the Bulgarian solution to climate
called the Bulgarian solution to climate change we made the film and we swept the
change we made the film and we swept the
change we made the film and we swept the awards we won like half the awards in
awards we won like half the awards in
awards we won like half the awards in this category two Film Festival and
this category two Film Festival and
this category two Film Festival and suddenly I was looking and saying wait
suddenly I was looking and saying wait
suddenly I was looking and saying wait wait how did I how did I end up writing
wait how did I how did I end up writing
wait how did I how did I end up writing an award-winning screenplay like who’s
an award-winning screenplay like who’s
an award-winning screenplay like who’s that guy That’s not me I never did that
that guy That’s not me I never did that
that guy That’s not me I never did that kind of stuff but I got there because I
kind of stuff but I got there because I
kind of stuff but I got there because I was open to trying these new things to
was open to trying these new things to
was open to trying these new things to developing these skills and to always
developing these skills and to always
developing these skills and to always looking out for new ways to apply them
looking out for new ways to apply them
looking out for new ways to apply them and I ended up doing stuff that was so
and I ended up doing stuff that was so
and I ended up doing stuff that was so meaningful and felt amazing and
meaningful and felt amazing and
meaningful and felt amazing and interesting one more quick example I
interesting one more quick example I
interesting one more quick example I also do a lot of writing because I
also do a lot of writing because I
also do a lot of writing because I learned how to write
learned how to write
learned how to write in university a friend of mine was
in university a friend of mine was
in university a friend of mine was working on this really cool project
working on this really cool project
working on this really cool project called the Africa Prize for engineering
called the Africa Prize for engineering
called the Africa Prize for engineering it’s funded by the UK government where
it’s funded by the UK government where
it’s funded by the UK government where they go and they teach a bunch of
they go and they teach a bunch of
they go and they teach a bunch of African African entrepreneurs how to
African African entrepreneurs how to
African African entrepreneurs how to kind of start businesses and so he had
kind of start businesses and so he had
kind of start businesses and so he had this idea to take me and a few other
this idea to take me and a few other
this idea to take me and a few other people along for the ride and so we went
people along for the ride and so we went
people along for the ride and so we went to Nairobi Kenya and we interviewed 30
to Nairobi Kenya and we interviewed 30
to Nairobi Kenya and we interviewed 30 or 40 entrepreneurs from all over Africa
or 40 entrepreneurs from all over Africa
or 40 entrepreneurs from all over Africa and got their stories and how they
and got their stories and how they
and got their stories and how they succeeded in how they failed we
succeeded in how they failed we
succeeded in how they failed we transcribed all of them and we wrote
transcribed all of them and we wrote
transcribed all of them and we wrote almost a hundred practical lessons about
almost a hundred practical lessons about
almost a hundred practical lessons about how to start a business in Africa based
how to start a business in Africa based
how to start a business in Africa based on the experiences of Africans who
on the experiences of Africans who
on the experiences of Africans who started businesses in Africa and I got
started businesses in Africa and I got
started businesses in Africa and I got to work on this in Kenya for a month it
to work on this in Kenya for a month it
to work on this in Kenya for a month it was amazing I mean who would have
was amazing I mean who would have
was amazing I mean who would have thought that you know living in Bulgaria
thought that you know living in Bulgaria
thought that you know living in Bulgaria would have brought me there and that I
would have brought me there and that I
would have brought me there and that I could work on something so impactful and
could work on something so impactful and
could work on something so impactful and so interesting I mean I still
so interesting I mean I still
so interesting I mean I still occasionally mails from someone who’s
occasionally mails from someone who’s
occasionally mails from someone who’s explaining that hey you know I’ve got
explaining that hey you know I’ve got
explaining that hey you know I’ve got this this kind of yucca farm in Tanzania
this this kind of yucca farm in Tanzania
this this kind of yucca farm in Tanzania and I have this business problem do you
and I have this business problem do you
and I have this business problem do you have any ideas and I’ll go into all the
have any ideas and I’ll go into all the
have any ideas and I’ll go into all the lessons we wrote and say yeah I think
lessons we wrote and say yeah I think
lessons we wrote and say yeah I think this one this one and this one might
this one this one and this one might
this one this one and this one might help you out and thinking like I’m
help you out and thinking like I’m
help you out and thinking like I’m helping a farmer in Tanzania right now
helping a farmer in Tanzania right now
helping a farmer in Tanzania right now like that’s super weird but again it was
like that’s super weird but again it was
like that’s super weird but again it was imagination it was making those
imagination it was making those
imagination it was making those connections meeting people and looking
connections meeting people and looking
connections meeting people and looking for cool things to work on and always
for cool things to work on and always
for cool things to work on and always being open to try something new that got
being open to try something new that got
being open to try something new that got me there
me there
me there so I kind of think about all this
so I kind of think about all this
so I kind of think about all this together and think back on where I was
together and think back on where I was
together and think back on where I was when I was graduating high school how
when I was graduating high school how
when I was graduating high school how much pain I was in how hard life was and
much pain I was in how hard life was and
much pain I was in how hard life was and my complete inability to imagine
my complete inability to imagine
my complete inability to imagine anything approaching the kind of
anything approaching the kind of
anything approaching the kind of satisfaction and happiness and
satisfaction and happiness and
satisfaction and happiness and fulfillment that I have today and
fulfillment that I have today and
fulfillment that I have today and thinking about that I wanted you guys to
thinking about that I wanted you guys to
thinking about that I wanted you guys to imagine this that you may think you have
imagine this that you may think you have
imagine this that you may think you have some idea of what your life is going to
some idea of what your life is going to
some idea of what your life is going to be right now but you don’t you have no
be right now but you don’t you have no
be right now but you don’t you have no idea I think for nearly everyone out
idea I think for nearly everyone out
idea I think for nearly everyone out there life is just this the most
there life is just this the most
there life is just this the most improbable thing and that if you can
improbable thing and that if you can
improbable thing and that if you can kind of accept that and if you can
kind of accept that and if you can
kind of accept that and if you can embrace this idea that you should be
embrace this idea that you should be
embrace this idea that you should be imaginative and you should think big
imaginative and you should think big
imaginative and you should think big thoughts and wide thoughts about what
thoughts and wide thoughts about what
thoughts and wide thoughts about what kind of like you could have then I don’t
kind of like you could have then I don’t
kind of like you could have then I don’t you’d be amazed what you can overcome so
you’d be amazed what you can overcome so
you’d be amazed what you can overcome so in conclusion I want you all to sometime
in conclusion I want you all to sometime
in conclusion I want you all to sometime maybe not today but maybe before you
maybe not today but maybe before you
maybe not today but maybe before you start going up to university or whatever
start going up to university or whatever
start going up to university or whatever you’re gonna do after school to try that
you’re gonna do after school to try that
you’re gonna do after school to try that experiment to try taking a moment to
experiment to try taking a moment to
experiment to try taking a moment to think
think
think completely openly about what your life
completely openly about what your life
completely openly about what your life might be and then to stick with that and
might be and then to stick with that and
might be and then to stick with that and to always be open to trying new things
to always be open to trying new things
to always be open to trying new things and learning new things and seeing where
and learning new things and seeing where
and learning new things and seeing where they’re gonna take you because I
they’re gonna take you because I
they’re gonna take you because I guarantee you it’s gonna be somewhere
guarantee you it’s gonna be somewhere
guarantee you it’s gonna be somewhere amazing alright thank you all so very
amazing alright thank you all so very
amazing alright thank you all so very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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