Jan van Loon

Background

About Jan van Loon

The Hardest Feedback I Ever Received Almost Made Me Quit CoachingAt 20 years old, I was coaching at PSV Eindhoven when I got the opportunity to be mentored by a top coach educator, Kees Rijvers (1926-2024). I jumped at the chance.Then came the evaluation.It became clear—I wasn’t good enough for the job yet.On my 45-minute bike ride home, I went through every emotion. First 15 minutes: I should quit coaching. Next 15 minutes: That was actually great feedback. By the time I got home: I had a plan to improve.That moment taught me that feedback is the key to growth. But despite knowing this, I still avoided asking for it. I didn’t want to feel exposed.For years, I relied on courses, conferences, and self-study—everything except simply asking others for direct feedback. Sound familiar?Many people struggle with this. The fear of feedback isn’t about the words we hear—it’s about what they might confirm about us. But real growth only happens when we lean into that discomfort.It took me years to truly embrace feedback and to understand how to ask for it effectively. And when I did, everything changed. Feedback isn’t about proving your worth. It’s about unlocking your potential.