Iskra Petrova - Clarity, Confidence, Change

ORIGIN:

I am a multi-passionate person, who finds it hard to be entertained by one project only. I am a Bulgarian who has always felt a citizen of the world - maybe learning to read very early and speaking/ reading in a couple of foreign languages at the age of 6-7y.o. contributed to that. (When I was seven, I decided that I will learn all human languages, to be able to communicate with all people - and I figured I should start with Latin, Hebrew and Greek. So I started with Greek at 7yo, after learning Russian on my own at 6).

I come from classical strategic advertising from the pre-internet era, have launched one of the very first e-commerce brands and online stores in my country (way too early when people were uncomfortable paying online - in 2002), got into strategic advertising (including for Johnson & Johnson

@Joseph Isosaki

;) ), then became a film producer in 1999, and later transitioned into therapy, coaching and mentoring. Throughout this journey I raised two sons, 23 years apart, and developed the passion for non-traditional education to support my two kids who did not fit. One of them is with a black father, the other is overcoming social anxiety.

________________________

WHERE I FIND MYSELF TODAY?

Often juggling multiple balls (I can't thrive with one activity only), a better metaphor is actually knitting a sock - like in the GIF below. Have you seen your grandma or mom do it? You use 6 needles simultaneously, there are no single pieces that can be ready, until the whole sock is completed.

Balancing three distinct businesses and brands: a film production company, a coaching and mentoring academy, and a project for recurring income based on wellness and info products.

Being tech savvy, inquisitive and with high quality work standards, especially when it comes to visibility/ branding (coming from designing and supervising communication campaigns for major international brands), I have been finding it easier to not delegate but do a lot of work myself. This obviously when I started building my own business - I would not do it in Publicis, FCB or JWT (the agencies where I worked as a client service director and deputy general manager in charge of the creative department).

________________________

HOW THIS AFFECTS ME?

Feeling spreading myself thin at times, or not following through some of my projects.

I also tend to overdeliver or pause. I am a true example of my leading archetypes (I use sacred money archetypes in my work on abundance/ money mindset) - the Nurturer, Romantic and Maverick. (Need to say that Carl G. Jung was one of my favourite authors since I was 10.) I find myself putting others' needs before mine, take action (sometimes with risks), but luckily I have the optimistic nature of the Romantic.

The valley I am at the moment is with at least six started projects, and none of them completely finished. Like the six needles knitting the sock. But I am getting there, feeling very close to the end.

________________________

DESIRED FUTURE STATE

Where I am headed is:

My three businesses are growing at a manageable pace, with established systems, team members. My film production company is the best choice for foreign producers looking for a trusted partner in Bulgaria. My coaching academy has launched a solid platform with digital courses, and I certify coaches to teach my proven framework ShowUp: Clarity, Confidence, Change.

I am engaged with passion-fulfilling business and personal activities that honour my cyclical nature, human design and archetypes - with periods of expansion as well as retraction.

I have been building a reality in which I'll have the space and freedom to:

be present for my family - travelling to be with my elder son with wife and two young daughters, and be there for my home schooled teenage younger son;

develop a local, and later - international platform to support teachers, parents and students to build and expand skills on emotional intelligence and empathic communication. I had already developed two programs in the past that were endorsed by our ministry of education (one of them was included in the mandatory program of a primary school), and I am a mentor for another progressive school that has these activities as a focus for the next couple of years.
start hosting again transformational retreats for changemakers - nothing compares with the in-person even energy of sharing. We literally blend our energy when we sit, dance or make art in the same space.

________________________

WHY BUILD THIS KIND OF LIFE

Because I have always been and will continue taking action, feeling the responsibility for what we create and co-create as a family, community and society. If I want to live a life of peace, contentment, abundance, joy and connection, I have to be an active factor in it. Examples: 1/ the above mentioned programs I developed for the primary school teachers, pupils and parents, 2/ my participation as a shareholder in the secondary school where my older song went. 3/ an eco-festival in which we taught pupils from 6 schools to become actors, to produce the decor and costumes for the play, and more... I don't wait others to build a better life for me - I take the lead and do it first.

________________________

FEARS

I am fearless (except for when it comes to the health and life of my loved ones.). I discovered it when I had to fight for the life of the father of my elder son 32 years ago - fight against racism and the corrupt medical system in my country. I was 24, with a 3-year old, preparing to graduate with MSc in computer science when my partner from Africa was kicked out of hospital, for the lack of his residence papers.

What usually stands on my way is my high sensitivity to weather (geomagnetic and solar events). So at the moments I feel stable, I have focus on building the system to support me during such influences, that usually affect me several times a year.

And of course the overwhelming size - at times - of my projects growing simultaneously.

Thank you to those of you who took the time to read this lengthy material till the end, appreciate your time (one of the most precious things) - it means a lot.

I thought I'd write this first, to start it as an accountability thread, and will now circle back to get to know all of you, big brains.

17 comments