Hey, I’m Laurence, and I used to think success meant climbing the corporate ladder, leading big teams, and earning even bigger bucks.

 

And for a while, it worked. I spent over a decade in corporate leadership at ANZ Bank and then at Xero, where I lead teams that helped small businesses across New Zealand and Australia. ​

 

Yet I clearly remember running through the streets of Wellington one cold and rainy morning, feeling torn.

 

I was doing meaningful work, I loved the people I was working with and the impact I was having, but I wanted more. I wanted to help more people. I wanted to have more freedom. I wanted to build something of my own.​

 

That’s when everything started to shift.​

 

In 2020, I stopped waiting for the perfect time and started building my own coaching business. It was small at first, just a handful of clients, a few late nights, and a growing belief that this could work. That I could combine my love of coaching, my background in leadership, and my obsession with practical systems into something that genuinely helped people.

 

I realised that my definition of success wasn’t about job titles or salaries. It was about the lives I could impact. The freedom I could create. The alignment I could feel every day.​

 

By 2023, I was ready to go all in. I left my job, packed up my apartment, and set off to travel the world with my beautiful partner. From exploring the Himalayas to relaxing on Croatian beaches, I embraced the world’s wonders while growing my online business, working with clients I admire and building a life that reflects the values I coach others to honour.​

 

That first coaching business laid the foundation for something even bigger.​

 

As I coached more and more entrepreneurs — freelancers, creatives, coaches, consultants — I started noticing a pattern. The first year of business was where people struggled most. That first messy, magical, overwhelming year. People didn’t need more fluff or theory. They needed clarity, structure, support, and accountability. They needed someone to help them align their ideas with action and build a business that actually fit their life.​

 

And that’s when Year-One was born.​

 

Year-One is more than a coaching business. It’s a platform, a support system, and a roadmap for new entrepreneurs who are ready to build something meaningful.

 

Through coaching, group programmes, digital resources, and honest conversations, I help people simplify the process, take aligned action, and grow sustainably! Without burning out or selling their soul.​

 

I believe that the first year of business can be the most empowering chapter of your life, if you have the right tools and support. That’s why my mission is to help 50 people launch their own businesses by 2026, because I believe everyone deserves the freedom that running your own business can provide.​

 

This is the journey I took to get here. And if you’re standing at the start of yours, wondering if there’s a way to do this differently, with more clarity, more meaning, and more freedom, then I’m here to help you make it happen.​

 

Let’s build your Year-One.