Dominique Ventura – one step at a time to reach the top

There are a few lucky people who are born knowing what they want to become in their lives.  For the rest of us, we need to stumble forward in the hope that some day we will trip over and discover our calling.  So it was for a young man from France.

Ready to leave school, the police force were the only ones offering Dominique Ventura a career and a ticket out of home.  He soon found his creative spirit stifled by an environment of military uniformity.  It seemed as though he had fallen into a trap.

An unlikely path opened to him where he least expected it. He was able to earn a living and branch out into new areas by pursuing several areas of study within the force.  He trained as a weapons instructor, gaining martial arts degrees and a paramedics instructor diploma, and found time to learn both Spanish and Italian.

The completion of his studies allowed him to become a bodyguard – a far cry from his eventual coaching career, but this would enable him to start meeting interesting people leading interesting lives.

The police uniform was replaced by a smart suit as he entered civilian life.  The next 15 years would see Dominique protect some of the most influential people in the political, religious and aristocratic world, visiting 162 countries in all. His extensive travels comprised 52 countries in Africa during a 2 year trip, 27 US states, 11 Chinese provinces, the whole of South America and almost the entire continent of Asia.

Wars, conflicts, misery, famine and corruption mixed with beauty, magnificent buildings and 5 star palaces. Says Dominique, “I experienced a humbling and dazzling world by turns, which led me to become more understanding about my own destiny and realise how lucky I was to have grown up in a relatively civilised country, despite less-than-ideal circumstances”.

Dominique went on to work in the music and movie industries, and take part in international events.  He has given his expertise to such stars as Michael Caine, Lennox Lewis, David Beckham, New Kids on the Block, and Whitney Houston. He was part of an elite security team in Istanbul for the first ever Spice Girls’ live gig, and sent as a coordinator facilitator to the Sydney Olympics. Not only that, he has performed stunts in two James Bond movies.  To say Dominique has led a life less ordinary would be a gross understatement.

Dominique now resides in the UK and has discovered a passion for working with individuals as a personal coach.  We had an opportunity to interview Dominique to get his unique perspective as an expatriate:

Why did you decide to leave your home country of France?

It was an opportunity really. I was working with Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Her management (Music), proposed to me to leave the police force and go and work in music management in the UK.

What were some of the main challenges you faced settling in a new country as a foreigner?  How did you overcome them?

The language of course. I did not speak a word of English. Neither did I know anything about music management. It was a long 2 year struggle to adapt to both challenges. Also, I really had a problem adapting to the customs in UK. My coffee in the morning, my newspaper, things like that and also crazy people driving on the left hand-side of the road. But I had no choice. I had to adapt as I had made an important decision to leave France and also a very well secured job in the police force.

Do you have any plans to move back to your home country one day?

No, my wife is English and very successful here. We have tried to work in France together. We realised that UK was much better despite several negative points. So no plan to go back. I have a house in south of France though, so we go down there for pleasure and are happy to be back in the UK.

What are the three things you like most about England?

People are much more “on board”, active, more aware of the impact of the Internet. I also like the countryside and pubs with good food, but not horrible pubs stinking beer, dull and lifeless. I adore Oxford where I live. It is completely my wife and me – culture, architecture, great scenery.

Being a professional personal coach, what advise would you give to other expats who want to develop themselves and achieve the dreams they came to London with?

A coach is not an advisor. I think a lot of people do not understand what a coach is. A coach is taking you from where you are now and help you to go where you want to go. Therefore a coach enables people to find inside them the resources they have without knowing it. You can only achieve your dream if you have a clear vision of what you really want. Lots of people can’t visualize their dreams and a coach is there to help them to see it. Outside coaching I also say to people to stop saying “I wish” or “I need” and instead saying “I will”. It makes all the difference.

We would like to thank Dominique for sharing his amazing personal story.  If you are interested in getting to know Dominique as a coach, please visit his website.