{"id":335,"date":"2014-08-11T11:22:11","date_gmt":"2014-08-11T10:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.buffiduberman.com\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2024-04-18T17:05:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:05:09","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/buffiduberman.com\/nl\/about-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Over mij"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About me<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If you\u2019re looking for an English teacher<\/strong>, please hang up and try someone else. I\u2019m not an English teacher.<\/p>

So\u2026.what do I do?<\/p>

I help highly motivated people<\/strong> redesign their English communication strategies<\/strong> so they can share their business, passion, and talent with the world in order to create true impact, value, and growth, both personally and professionally.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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I\u2019m a Word Wardrobe Wizard, a Confidence Catapult, and a Mindset Magician. At least that\u2019s what my clients say. Het Parool called me \u2018radically compassionate\u2019, the Volkskrant said that I was a \u2018grammar fairy\u2019, Jinek called me \u2018the English coach to the stars\u2019, and De Telegraaf said \u2018I was a super ball full of positivity\u2019.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Whether I\u2019m working with a global CEO in Brussels, coaching a startup in New York, in the recording studio in Amsterdam, or volunteering for my foundation<\/a> in the north of Bali, I\u2019m here to make a difference in how you talk to the world. And how you talk to yourself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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From Brooklyn to Brabant because of Barcelona.
Wait, what? <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Do you want to read the long or the short story?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I want to read it all!<\/div><\/div>\n
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Gotta dash, show me the short version!<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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I was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1968, one year after the Summer of Love (connect the dots). We moved to Highland Park, Illinois when I was young, and I went back to New York for college. I graduated in 1990, with a degree fresh in my unlined hand, and I went to Europe for 6 weeks for a final hurrah before I started my work at Planned Parenthood in NY.<\/p>

Or so I thought.<\/p>

You see, life asks questions.
And I always answer with my heart.
Even if my brain does not understand what is happening.<\/p>

4 weeks after graduation, on a train in Prague, someone heard me speaking English and asked me if I had any teaching experience. I sure did, as a refugee volunteer for many years in NY. She then asked me if I wanted to be the first English teacher<\/strong> in the very first language academy for adults in Prague. I would get 80 cents an hour, and there were about 70 adults who were dying to learn English<\/strong> but also afraid, as just a few months before, they could have been arrested for playing a Beatles record or reading an English book in public.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Chance of a lifetime.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I grabbed it.
Signed a contract in Russian.
Didn\u2019t understand a word.
But it felt right.<\/p>

I called my mom to tell her the amazing news.
In my excitement I forgot all about the time difference.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u2018Mom! I\u2019m not coming home! I\u2019m staying in Europe to start a language academy<\/strong>! For adults! In Prague! I signed the contract and everything!\u2019<\/p>

My mother sleepily said \u2018This is a nightmare.\u2019 And hung up.<\/p>

I still had 2 weeks left on my train pass. My new boss said \u2018Go travel, then come back in 2 weeks to start.\u2019<\/p>

I went to Barcelona.
I met a very tall man at 3 am who tried (or so I thought) to break into the apartment I was staying in. His first words to me were \u2018My name is Peter, please don\u2019t hurt me.\u2019 (I was holding a very large rock at the time.)<\/p>

We fell in love fast and hard.<\/p>

But I had to go to Prague to start This Historical Job As The Very First Native Speaker at the Very First Language Academy. Ever.<\/p>

I said goodbye to him, and \u2018Ahoj!\u2019 to my new life in Prague. I made all the materials myself, learned Czech very fast, and taught English very slowly and carefully.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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I loved it. But that guy. I loved him too.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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After 1 year of writing letters (no email, smart phones, or any of that fancy stuff), I decided to say yes to another big question \u2013 \u2018Will you come and live with me in the Netherlands?\u2019<\/p>

This fella was a keeper.
But he wasn\u2019t enough.
I needed a job because I was an Independent Woman.<\/p>

That one-night stand is now a one life stand.
The man deserves a medal.\u00a0<\/p>

I got hired at the most prestigious language academy of the Netherlands and worked there for nearly 11 years. I had a small voice inside of me that told me that I could do more. That voice got louder and louder. I wanted to make my own materials again, and work long-term with people. So I decided to leave that very safe, well-paid job, and take a huge leap into the unknown.<\/p>

I had to follow my dreams<\/strong> to become the first Personal English Coach<\/strong> of the Netherlands.
There was nothing like this \u2013 no one had ever heard of such a job.
They told me that it did not exist.
But it did.
In my head, and in my heart.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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I started with nothing, and I had to work hard to prove my value. Very hard.<\/p>\n

I had to convince people that they could improve their pronunciation, write better emails<\/strong>, level up their business skills<\/strong>, and feel much more confident with a personal coach<\/strong> on their side, helping them step by step. In regular coaching sessions, full of honesty, humor, and hard work, using materials that were tailor-made for their own needs, goals, and challenges.<\/p>\n

I started in the music industry<\/strong>, coaching artists.
People started hearing a difference in their pronunciation<\/strong>.
Their music managers asked me for help in negotiating contracts<\/strong> and writing press releases<\/strong>.
Their labels needed help with international communication<\/strong>.
Then I branched out into Business English<\/strong> for Fabulous people.
Like CEOs.
And celebrities.
And elite athletes.
And Ted Talk speakers.
And lots more.
You can see my client list HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Fast forward<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Now I\u2019m living my dream. Everyone who works with me can feel my energy, enthusiasm, and excitement – I truly love what I do, and every day when I get out of bed, I can\u2019t wait to see what the day will bring me. If you hate Mondays, it might mean that you hate your job. Mondays are awesome!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>

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I\u2019ve written several books, and coached over 10,000 people since I started in 1990.<\/p>

I\u2019ve done over 15 TV shows as an English coach or consultant<\/strong>, have been a guest on 100+ shows, and have private coaching clients in 7 different countries. 20% of my clients are native English speakers<\/strong>. I\u2019ve won 2 awards, worked on over 500 songs, coached for 10 movies, and have tried about 13 different cheesecake recipes. I\u2019ve written 160 workbooks, lost 3 pairs of glasses, created the World\u2019s First Omnichannel Hybrid Learning Business English Membership Program (wow, that\u2019s a mouthful – otherwise known as Communication Nation<\/strong>) and have created 2 amazing people with that 1 fabulous person (good thing I didn\u2019t throw that rock at him).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Fun facts about me:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI once kissed Tom Cruise in 1983. He then went on to marry a woman with curly hair who was taller than him. Just sayin\u2019. (I am 5 foot 10.) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI forged Molly Ringwald\u2019s autograph in 1985 because once someone thought I was her and I didn\u2019t not correct them.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI have learned 6 languages and lost most of them.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI saw Frank Sinatra perform live in Miami with my grandmother and we both cried.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI am night blind and when I am alone, I am scared of the dark. <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI cannot read a map, parallel park, use excel.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy favorite color is orange but not every shade.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI laugh really hard at my own jokes, and I sometimes tell them to myself when no one else is around.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAt the age of 48, I held The World\u2019s Largest (and Coolest!) English Lesson, teaching 10,000 people English from the Bravo stage at the Lowlands Festival.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    What I believe:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe worst thing you can wear, as a middle-aged woman, is the burden of the expectations of others. Drop it like it\u2019s hot. (This also goes for all people of all ages.)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI believe you can look in the mirror and get excited about who you see. It took me a long time to learn that.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI love getting older and I love that you can see it on my face and in my hair.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI truly feel that everyone has a story to share and I am a miner with a heart of gold digging deep to help you find it.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoundaries are my friends. Saying \u2018no\u2019 to someone else means saying \u2018yes\u2019 to you.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOffline is the new luxury.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe stupid question is the one you don\u2019t ask because you think it\u2019s stupid.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI think that life is short, so you have to make it deep.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI believe that the more you enjoy learning, the more you learn.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYour time, attention, and energy are limited and precious. Use them to focus on action, creation, and kindness instead of fear, comparison, or shame.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Well, that's enough about me. What about you?<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Tell me about you!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t