Working

Where did the original idea come from?

I married one of the pioneers of the coaching movement. I went to a professional coaching school, The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) the year we got married. I did not originally appreciate the value of coaching. I thought it was all hype. I was professionally trained as a teacher in the Philippines and thus I felt most suited to continue my profession as a teacher in the US. Although I did not fully appreciate what I learned at CTI, for some reason I included coaching skills in teaching my students, and communicating with my peers. I was amazed by the results. Over time, I realized that it worked! When my daughter was born, I decided to be a Life Coach instead of going back to work as a teacher. I went back to CTI to further learn about how to be a professional Life Coach. I have loved it ever since.

How long did it take to get your business off the ground in Barcelona?

It took about a year. I had to focus on other things like the logistics of being a resident as well as accommodating my daughter’s transition into her new school. Through word of mouth and joining networking events, people slowly started to hear about my coaching practice.

What do you wish you’d known when you started/moved here?

It takes time to set up and build a business here. One must have commitment, acceptance, and patience.

How easy was it to get the financing for your business?

The US Capitol One Company has a great loan offer. As long as you pay the whole amount with in 1 year, they won’t charge for any interest. Also, their credit card accumulates points for mileage and has no foreign fee charge. My partner and I have completely self-financed our business through our savings and credit cards.

Did you find the paperwork difficult?

Yes, indeed! The paperwork was hard on me. My Spanish is limited. However, it also motivated me to learn Castellano. I practice a few days a week, listen to a Spanish CD in the car, and I bought a Spanish DVD to learn on the computer. Of course, we hired a lawyer to process all of our legal papers.