We continue to meet our fellow coaches, get inspired and build coach community with our “Meet the Coach” features! This month we meet Erwin de Grave CPC
About Erwin
Lives In: Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain
Company: Erwin de Grave
Type of Coach: Business Coach
Describe your coaching business in one sentence: I am an M&A Investor and Business Mentor who helps businesses scale through acquisitions while also guiding them in preparing for their long-term legacy.
Meet Erwin
QUESTION 1. What one book should every coach read – and why?
One book every coach should read is Think and Grow Rich for Coaches (based on Napoleon Hill’s classic), because it adapts powerful wealth and mindset principles specifically for the coaching profession—showing coaches how to develop a success-oriented mindset, cultivate deep belief in their own abilities, and create transformative results for their clients.
QUESTION 2. Which website do you visit the most?
I frequently visit the EPIC Network library, because it offers invaluable tools & resources that help me guide my clients more effectively—from acquisition strategies to leadership insights and beyond.
QUESTION 3. Whom do you admire most and why?
I deeply admire Roland Frasier, my mentor, for his extraordinary expertise in acquisitions and business growth strategies, as well as his genuine dedication to helping entrepreneurs and coaches expand their vision and create lasting impact.
QUESTION 4. What”s your vision for your life? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In the next five years, I envision creating a thriving network of businesses that serve the coaching industry—using strategic acquisitions and innovative solutions—so that coaches not only excel as practitioners but also succeed as CEOs of their own business. By working above the day-to-day operations, I’ll focus on shaping visionary strategies, forging high-impact collaborations, and championing industry-wide growth to help coaches truly thrive.
QUESTION 5. What is your “big project” at the moment? OR What are your Top 3 Goals at the moment?
Right now, my big project is growing The Coaching Tools Company—while also pursuing the acquisition of a coaching service business and making the TCTC Mentor Program a success. By focusing on these three areas, I’m working to create a comprehensive ecosystem that helps coaches thrive as both practitioners and business leaders.
QUESTION 6. What has been your favourite coaching moment so far?
My favourite coaching moment involved working closely with a client to plan and execute clear, actionable steps—then following up consistently to ensure progress. Watching him achieve (and exceed) his business growth targets was not only deeply fulfilling, but also a powerful reminder of how structured support and accountability can drive real, measurable success.
QUESTION 7. What are your Top 3 favourite coaching tools and/or resources?
My top three favourite coaching tools are: structured action plans, clear goal-setting frameworks, and regular action/goal review questions. Together, they transform big-picture visions into tangible steps, ensure consistent accountability, and make it easy to track progress—ultimately helping clients stay focused and motivated on their path to success.
QUESTION 8. What do you love most about being a coach?
What I love most about being a coach is witnessing the tangible transformations people achieve through our work together—seeing them hit new milestones, embrace fresh perspectives, and ultimately elevate their businesses and lives. I’m passionate about helping individuals and organizations grow, and there’s no greater reward than watching them surpass even their own expectations.
QUESTION 9. Tell us a secret about you…
A little secret about me is that I’m a huge Sid Meier’s Civilization VI fan—and I was counting down the days until the release of Civilization VII on February 11th, 2025!
QUESTION 10. If you could change one thing in our world, what would it be? And how would you go about it?
If I could change one thing in our world, it would be ensuring that coaches everywhere have the knowledge, resources, and support to thrive as successful business owners. That’s why, together with Dr. Steve Jeffs—my business partner and Master Coach—I co-founded The Guiding Matrix: to empower coaches with the entrepreneurial know-how they need to grow their practices and make a lasting impact.
