Networking: The revolutionary Coworkingin Sofia, Bulgaria
Translated from original article by diasdeluana.com published on 22nd of December 2018
Why is so important to people understand you produce more when you have the freedom to work from everywhere? This and many more topics I had the pleasure to interview Emil Shekerdzhiiski (which I would never be able to pronunciate right his last name).
Emil it's Bulgarian with his background in Israel, where the start-up scene it's very strong since the last decade, where every second person either has a start-up or has an idea to start an start-up. I must say he is one of the most inspiring and exciting person I've met with many different amazing projects. Bellow you can read a bit of our interview and if you are a digital nomad/ remote worker or it's just interesting in the nomad life, then you will understand why he is doing such a great work:
"I believe the change comes from the little people, not the big people. Little people can be the example for the others it's like a snow ball, everybody comes. And I believe this part of me, creating part of the coworking, mentoring and investing in this coworking and be like the example how you can make money with technology, innovation and start-ups and how you can have a really good life with this and be satisfied. But it's not just about money but like life's accomplishment, this is my niche and this is what I want to bring to Bulgaria, this is why I moved here and I'm working here full-time entirely. I believe with the great minds in this country, who has a big potential and great enthusiasm. Everything here has the pure perfect ground to create amazing start-ups, you have everything here except for money. Maybe this could be the biggest problem. But I believe in this country and the people - this is why I'm investing my money and my time here. Everything I can do to make this place rise. Creating a coworking which it's scaled in the upper sector, and being the best in town. We are always growing, we are already in Israel and Singapore and soon opening another one in Bulgaria. This is what we can do, I'm not alone. I have partners behind me and I'm just the manager and co-founder of this place. The people behind me has full trust on me and I'm here to full-fill this mission for myself, for the people with me and for Bulgaria. Here I was born, I learned how to do business in Israel and now it's my time to give it back here. This is me and this is the Networking."
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But tell me how is it with the Bulgarians? Is that people interested on a coworking?
Currently at this point of time the Bulgarians still don't understand what coworking is, even if they come here they usually ask for the private offices, they are not used to sit on a coworking environment, it will take time to change - they are some who understand, usually if they comes with an international background. The properly Bulgarian still want their private desk, etc. It's just a matter to get used to the coworking.
The offices around the world works just 30% of the time, as they are close during the weekends and evening. So you have all these amazing offices in city center but they are empty the most of the time. So I ask myself: Why? What you can do with the rest of the time it's a hard question. But prime locations should't be empty. Like in Israel, almost every building has at least one two floors with coworking space. The world it's moving to coworking, it's more economical, more efficient and more fun. And Bulgaria will follow I believe - when will happen no one knows, but it will happen.
"For me coworking it's you work with other people that you don't have work relations, they are actually your friends. Everybody it's doing their own jobs and in the end these people are not your colleges, they ending being your friends. You have events almost every night, you can use the kitchen, you can use our nap room, the game room, piano room with good guitars - everything you need to make you feel you work in a huge corporation like Google and Facebook where they take care of their employees, but here you are your own boss, so you are free to come and go when you want, as we run 24 hours - you can come 01am and leave at 03am. Whenever you feel creative. I believe it's eventually it makes you more productive, of course in the beginner it can take a time until you get used to this kind of structure but even if you are not very self regulating person, you will ending living a better life and eventually in a long run produce you will get better results and live a happy life because you will want to go to work and enjoy your work."
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Are you a night person? They have this covered out too - as they run 24/7. Seriously! Perfect for people just like me who works with different timezones.
"Work should have no hours. You should be your own boss. Why should you restrict yourself to work 9 to 5? I believe the companies it's also understanding this, giving slowly and slowly the opportunity to employees to work from home one day, then few days and then to work in your own hours, then maybe to work from a coworking or from a café, and then work abroad. Then you don't need to pay for one month vacation, you can be all the time in the vacation. As soon you are producing your work on time and with quality, why do you need to see the employee everyday? You can meet on Skype. It's step by step."
You should check some of Emil's work: RYL - Record your life (which makes a book about your life), Blockchain Stamp from Lynx.io presents an elegant solution that will grant a significant layer of safety and trust in our everyday business stamps and handwritten signatures aiding the blockchain technology.
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All the kitchen facilities you need.
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Their decoration it's so "cozzy home"
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Visit and work from Networking make my whole trip to Sofia very unique and special, I never expected to meet such cool people. The whole team from Networking made me feel very comfortable and I felt like I could live in Sofia and work there everyday. Maybe this is their point, the feeling of be at home. I'm definitely coming back soon. The place and the city has much more to offer than you think. So if you are around, don't forget to add Sofia to your journey. It will be so worth it.
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If after all of this you still want more reasons, well... I must say they have free beer too! So nothing better than free beer right? This was my working station while working there.
Thank you for the amazing interview Emil - I hope more people could get at least 5% of this enthusiasm and the world would be better. Love people who are doing stuff! You don't need too much to get where you want to be, you just need attitude. And that's it. DREAM BIG.