Ton de Graaf

Ton de Graaf, Chartered Business Coach | Executive Coach | Author | Coach Trainer

I could talk to you about my experience as a Platoon Leader with the Royal Dutch Military Police and as Captain with the Royal Dutch Air Force. I could share with you the things I learned as an Interim manager, Board Member and General Manager. Maybe you would even be interested in my professional development and certification as the world’s first Chartered Business Coach. I could even talk to you about the books I wrote about the coaching profession. If you’re really interested in all that, then please visit my LinkedIn profile. 

What I would really like you to know about me is that I’m a very proud father of two sons (born in 2003 and 2004). And nothing gives me more pleasure than hanging out with them, playing tennis or go for a swim. And my resume wouldn’t disclose how proud I am of my wife who fully supported me when I quit my job and started a coaching practice two weeks before our youngest son was born.

In my resume there’s nothing about my childhood. That my parents couldn’t pay for my tennis lessons and so I founded my own tennis club (with 300 paying members and another 200 on the list during the first year) at age 16. 

It wouldn’t reveal how privileged I feel when people allow me into their lives and share their most secret fears and wants. That I’m truly humbled by their willingness to be coached by me although they know I won’t ‘help’ them, but challenge them and hold them accountable to their desired actions.

My resume doesn’t reflect how proud I am of the hundreds of coaches I have trained across the globe and who are now, in turn, changing lives as I have changed theirs.

Maybe you should talk to one of my clients whom I started coaching when he was a marketing manager in 2008. He became a Managing Director of a 30 million euro company and just now crossed the 100 million euro mark. His next goal is crushing the 300 million euro mark with the same number of employees and wants me to continue to be his coach and that of his management team.

What maybe best describes me is what I often say to my clients:

“Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do.”

These are the words I choose to live by.

More info: http://www.tondegraaf.com