About me

There isn't really a page with information about why I decided to become a coach in the first place. Below is the text version of an interview I have given some time ago for the Australian Life Coaching Society , in which you can find the reasons for me doing what I am doing today!

Do you remember the moment you decided to become a coach? Could you share that with us?
Yes, absolutely. I had been involved in my Body Stress Release practice for a number of years, and found that I was doing quite a bit of counselling in it as well. Although I could see the benefits of my counselling work, I was actually more interested in and passionate about moving my clients forward than in helping them to resolve their past issues –although that is very rewarding as well. At that point, however, I did not really know where to start (a little naïve, but there you go).
One sunny day, my partner showed me an advertisement in a local magazine of a company that trained people in becoming life coaches. I tore it out, went to an information night that week, and immediately knew I had found what I had been looking for, no doubt whatsoever.

I signed up the following week!

Coaches come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. What’s your background?
Quite different to coaching, I can tell you. I am a born and raised Dutchman, and immigrated to Australia in 2003 with my partner and our daughter, mainly in search of a new life style, more adventure and –not in the least- better weather! My “previous life” had to do with law. When I was an 8 year old boy I already knew I was going to study law (don’t ask me why; I just knew), so that was nice and easy.

After my graduation I –sort of- automatically got involved in the law business, first working for a bailiff’s office, and later on in a law firm.

I was a barrister-solicitor for nearly 6 years, and realized at one point that I did not want to do that work until my retirement, which is a good reason to quit, generally………We (my partner, our 13 day old baby-girl and I) then took off to South Africa for 6 months, where I studied Body Stress Release, and where the “foreign country virus” got hold of us.
Upon return we quickly realized the Netherlands had become too small for us in a lot of ways (I don’t mean that in a negative way, but still), and decided to “take the punt” and apply for permanent residency in Australia.
We got accepted, travelled around the country for a year (did 50,000km from March ’03 till March ’04; absolutely awesome!!), and settled down on the Sunshine Coast, which to me is as close to paradise as one can get!

Do you have a coaching specialty or niche?
How did you come up with that? If you are a general life coach, what inspired your choice?
I recently decided to go more specific, after providing more general life coaching services before. I am now focusing more on people who are like I have been (and sometimes still am): professionals, business owners and highly motivated individuals who know and feel there is more to their lives and businesses than what they are experiencing now, and want to take both to a higher level.

The problem they are facing is that they aren’t fully aware what that level is and how to live it. Call it “spiritual” coaching, if you will, although it is totally non-religious. And call me “The Awareness Guy”; that pretty much says it.

I firmly believe in the universal Law of Attraction, and desire for my clients to grasp the concept of it in a practical way. If you know how to focus your intention, visualize the future as you want it to be, and maintain a “feeling good about it” attitude, everything is possible. My highest aim is to get my clients to realize that they are purposeful creators, and that they really can be, do and have anything they want if they put their minds to it! I’ve been studying the Law of Attraction since I was about 15, and I tell you, it works. How it works for you is very much dependent on your value system, which is another thing I teach my clients!

I am so passionate about this because I can see in my own life that it works, and it has made my life far more enjoyable!

On top of it all, I use a Personality Type Profiling System called Dreamtime Personalities. Once people start to understand why they are doing things a certain way, and why other people do things differently, shells fall from their eyes, and great understanding for themselves and others bubbles up.

How do you conduct your coaching? In person, over the phone, workshops, chat services?
Preferably I see my clients face-to-face. That way I can see what’s going on for them by their body language, instead of having to guess what their thoughts are. And I just like to drink coffee with them!
I also conduct phone coaching with overseas clients (the Netherlands is a beautiful market for me!), as well as local/national/international workshops and group coaching. Conducting tele-seminars is another way of getting the word out!

What’s been the most challenging moment in your coaching career to date?
I think there are two, one that’s no longer an issue and one that creeps up every now and then.

The old one was that I was looking for results in my clients, I was expecting things. And that doesn’t work. What I personally would like to see as a result might not be the result my client gets or is looking for. And results may only come way out in the future. I had to let go of my “instant gratification”-desire, which I have done, fortunately.

The other thing is keeping the practice going. As a sole trader there were and sometimes are doubts about “the numbers” and how to get them. The funny thing is that the less I think about it, the more easily clients come in! The Law of Attraction in action….

What’s been the greatest highlight?
It sounds a bit weird, but that was when one of my clients, after a lot of denial, realized all by herself that her marriage wasn’t working, and that she needed to let her husband go. After she had done that she just blossomed and found here soul-mate! That was a great thing to see. I felt a bit for the husband, though……. On the other hand, he’s got a great new relationship as well, so all is well that ends well!

What’s your big dream for your coaching business?
My big dream is to have an international coaching and NLP practice (I am also a Master NLP practitioner), where I fly across the world, giving seminars, doing group and one-on-one coaching, and being a tourist! I absolutely believe it is achievable. It is just a matter of time. It’s already happening, with me having conducted seminars in Sweden and the Netherlands recently!

What area of self, coaching or business do you feel you have the greatest to learn and what are your plans for that?
I think it has to do with marketing my business. Every now and then I still feel that there is a need to do marketing activities, instead of just doing them -it’s a subtle but profound difference. In actual fact there is no need to do anything at all, but there is always action to take. Nice paradox, huh?

I intend to tackle this issue, and I’ve already started the journey by engaging the services of a marketing-oriented coach.

Do you have a mentor and get coached now? How has that experience helped you?
Yes, I’ve got one (I feel every person should have one, by the way). She pushed my buttons here and there, which got me nicely uncomfortable. But from that space I have been able to take action, narrowing my field and being more specific about what I wanted really. That’s an enlightening experience.

What are your thoughts about an Australian coaching community?
I think it is a great thing to have. There are so many coaches out there, left to their own devices, not knowing what to do. Many of them lose faith, give up hope and close their practice. I think that is a crying shame, as there is so much quality going down the drain that way!
Every coach (and every client for that matter) should be able to feel connected and should be able to receive support from people in similar situations.
Speaking for myself, I have (together with a fellow coach) set up a networking group for coaches on the Sunshine Coast, and we get together once every two weeks. It is a great opportunity to share knowledge, maybe vent some issues, support each other in our efforts and celebrate great achievements! I always go home energized after our get-together. Wouldn’t want to miss one!

What advice or suggestions would you offer new coaches?
For me the great lesson was (and still is) to trust. Just keep hammering away at your practice and it will grow, for sure. You may have a practice that explodes (which may be great but overwhelming) or one that grows organically (which may be testing your patience but is rewarding in the end). Both ways are fine, as long as you keep the vision of what you want. And have fun with it. There’s enough other stuff that you can be very serious about……

How about for established coaches?
Keep up the good work; we do make a difference. Form groups of like-minded souls and combine forces where possible.
I feel that there is enormous power in numbers, and it is probably a great deal of fun too. I specifically like the acronym TEAM:
Together Everyone Achieves More!

If you have a personal vision statement, versus a business one (unless they’re the same), would you share it with us?
Okay, here it goes:
I honor authenticity in relationships with people through honesty and integrity, promoting physical and mental health and well-being. Can you make something out of that?? I created this statement during my NLP training, and it works for me!

Thank you for sharing your time, ideas, feelings, energy and passion with us!
You’re very welcome!