Working

October 20, 2010

Life's little adventure is my passion. Brought up in the UK I moved to the US for college and then worked in New York and London investing in businesses for two investment banks.

While moving back to Europe I travelled extensively on my own and then with my wife to find the place to settle down and start my own business. We have never looked back since moving to Barcelona at the beginning of 2009. I started Green Bean Business & Financial Coaching. We coach people to succeed and reach their next level in business and personal finance. We work with business owners to increase their profits and tackle their greatest business challenges through forming rewarding relationships linking their industry know-how with our business expertise. With our personal finance courses we create the awareness in order to make the plan to hit your money and wealth objectives. It has been a great journey so far starting up a business and working for myself. My personal business goal is to be the Premier Business Coach in Barcelona.

Where did the original idea come from?

Time and time again I have seen hard-working business owners with strong products or services under performing their potential. Why? It is often due to poor time management, cash flow issues, a loathing for finance & numbers or under-performing employees. However all of these issues can be solved by implementing certain proven business techniques and principals. Larger businesses seldom have these issues and so I decided to use my experience, skills and knowledge in business and finance to bridge the gap and bring those successful techniques and practices from larger companies and coach entrepreneurs and small business owners so they can reach their potential. The idea is founded on exporting the knowledge and know-how from high finance and business investing and import it to small business owners in a format that empowers them.

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

It took me three months to finalise my qualifications, research the industry and current market and create a website with marketing material. After that it has been about spreading awareness, building relationships and growing the business. With a service business there are less steps to starting up a business. However, one needs patience, drive and a clear vision.

What do you wish you’d known when you started?

Not to focus on a big launch with everything perfectly finalised and in place. Yes, you need to be prepared but as soon as you start is when your education really begins and you find you have to be flexible and make many changes. Trying to get everything perfect before you start works out as being a lot more work with some time wasted.

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October 20, 2010

Latest Comments

  • Thanks

    Thanks for the comments. Starting a business is challenging but rewarding. If you want more info and advice be sure to sign up to my e-mini series - The Road Map to Business Success which you can find on my website. http://freegreenbeans.com. Have a great week

    Posted by Edward Hamilton November 23, 2010 17:42:38

  • Thank you Edward!

    I am really glad I met Edward. His coaching for my "about to be born" business (or "dream job", I should say) has been like a wake-up call that luckily came at the right time.
    My fundraising consultancy project (www.poleas.org) aims to build international solidarity bridges between social investors/donors (particularly focusing on individuals) in the European Union and NGOs all over the world. This initiative is driven by passion and the expectation of building a solid and motivated international team of people that share this dream of bridging needs and resources with a global perspective.
    With Edward´s short (just a total of six hours) coaching, I made key adjustments to my business strategy and we designed a plan for an initial phase, as well as for the medium and long term. I see now that I was overlooking/underestimating some key economic and financial aspects; these mistakes would have cost money and to genuinely promise things that I could have never delivered, both to my teammates and clients. I have now designed a feasible plan, based on facts and considering all key strategic, economic and financial factors, trying to anticipate obstacles that could arise and providing me with a sense of confidence on the feasibility to deliver with achievable goals.
    Edward´s coaching is great for the NGO/social development initiatives because he offers strategic, economic and financial advice in a language that is easy to understand. I highly recommend his services.
    Additionally, I have taken his “Personal Finances” course and this exercise has allowed me to really understand where I am standing, economically and financially speaking. By using basic financial principles we analyzed my short, medium and long term economic and financial goals, a fantastic exercise that I never found the time to seriously do before.

    Posted by Alejandro Peña November 18, 2010 19:21:17

  • Great advice!

    What good advice, just what many people need

    Posted by Manuel October 27, 2010 15:39:55

  • interesting!

    Thanks, what an interesting and informative article, as a start up business owner it is nice to read useful advice and know that such a service is available.

    Posted by Sarah James October 27, 2010 10:27:12

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