Turn Your Expat Life into Your Greatest Adventure Yet.
The Empowered Expatriate Program delivers a complete blueprint for rediscovering yourself, a life of purpose, personal growth, and meaningful connections while living abroad.
Join The Empowered Expatriate Program to overcome obstacles, reignite your passion, and develop a life you are capable of living!
We offer you a complimentary 90-minute coaching conversation to experience what coaching can do for you today. Fully on us!
Hi – I’m Carel van Apeldoorn. I help expatriates turn their lives abroad into their best adventures yet.
[An open letter to all expatriates]
Living abroad is about fully embracing the adventure of your life.
We approach our life with courage, flexibility, and a commitment to living fully—feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
An expatriate doesn’t ask, “How can I live my life within the comfort zone?” They ask, “What kind of life do I want to live?” and then create a journey that supports that vision.
It’s not about accumulating more—it’s about discovering what truly empowers you.
We keep looking for new experiences, personal growth, meaningful connections, and focus on living our life fully.
Sometimes that means that parts of life are hard and lonely, but often it means leaning on a close community of fellow expatriates and experts.
At the end of the day, our shared goal is simple:
Turning our lives into the best adventure yet!
LET’S REDEFINE YOUR PURPOSE, RECLAIM YOUR POWER, AND LOVE YOUR EXPATRIATE LIFE!
Feeling like a stranger in a place that’s supposed to be like home? As an expatriate, you’ve worked hard to build a life abroad—but deep down, you know something is not working. The weight of work, isolation, or a lingering sense of unfulfillment can leave you feeling drained and stuck.
Imagine waking up each day with fresh energy, focused on what truly matters.
Picture turning stress into a strategic advantage and transforming exhaustion into a fulfilling expanding life. With the right mindset, tools, and support, you can do more than just adapt—you can thrive in your new home abroad.
You’ve lost connection with your true purpose, and it’s starting to feel like you’re trapped in a life you can’t escape.
Let’s connect!
“On one level, wisdom is nothing more profound than the ability to follow one’s own advice”
Sam Harris
The Empowered Expatriate program will guide you to:
Rediscover the game of life
Release what’s been holding you back
Dominate your eat, move, and sleep protocol.
Master yourself
Loving your life abroad.
"It’s time to take control of your Expat life and thrive by living with purpose with a mindset that gets stronger the more challenges you face."
What others had to say
MOLLY MYERS - LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL @ SCIS - SHANGHAI
“Working with Carel has helped me in so many ways, especially professionally. I was able to develop habits of mind and behaviors that helped me shape my identity as a leader in my organization. His strategic reflective exercises and communication structures continue to help me grow and improve. The lessons I learned from working with Carel are everlasting and continue to help me shape who I am and who I want to be.”
ALIX ANGELELLI - DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL AT THE FRANCE EMBASSY IN GERMANY
“Carel’s coaching is deep and transformative but practical at the same time. He will help you see the real issue laying under the current problem you are facing while providing solutions to cope with it on the short- term.”
JULIE PANG - JEWELRY DESIGNER ENTREPRENEUR - SHANGHAI
“Working with Carel was the best decision I made. This was my second time working with him. As a solo entrepreneur and artist, life can be really challenging and full of roadblocks. So it was relieving to be able to talk through these issues with Carel, he somehow brought me back to the center each time and gave me tools to manage it the next time around. I really recommend working with him!”
The Journey to the Empowered Expatriate
KNOW THE GAME YOU’RE PLAYING
We will define what success and happiness mean to you. Set clear goals, understand your values, beliefs, and standards, and integrate these aspects into a coherent vision that will fuel you daily to take action.
Live a life that excites and fulfills you, instead of just going through the motions.
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HEAL FROM PAST EXPERIENCES
Imagine stepping into a life where the past fuels your growth. As you embrace every part of your journey, you'll unlock clarity and confidence. Challenges transform into stepping stones, and even your doubts become trusted guides on the path to a more vibrant, fulfilling future.
Move forward with clarity and confidence, and have your past fuel your future.
FORGE ANTIFRAGILE CONFIDENCE
Turn setbacks into opportunities for growth. In Asia’s highly dynamic landscape, learn to adapt quickly and emerge stronger and more confident from every challenge that comes your way.
Inspire those around you with your unwavering approach to the challenges you face.
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DOMINATE THE FUNDAMENTALS
Focus on and get really good at taking care of your basic habits—eating, exercising, and sleeping, just to name a few of the fundamental building blocks. These are the parts that support and drive your energy levels, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
Energy is the fundamental piece that drives your accomplishments professionally and the quality of your relationships.
MASTER YOURSELF
Develop habits, discipline and self-awareness. Align your daily actions with your values and goals so you consistently make progress towards becoming the person you want to be.
Wake up each day feeling fulfilled and at peace, knowing you’ve mastered true harmony between success and family.
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OPTIMIZE YOUR LIFE 1 DAY AT A TIME
Feeling good about yourself is about improving your energy, your professional accomplishments, and relationships that fuel your life abroad on a daily basis. How does it make you feel on the days you have an abundance of energy, do good work, and have positive and quality connections with others?
Loving life is about making progress daily.
MAKE TODAY A MASTERPIECE
Live each day with intention defined in the blueprint that we created together that will get you to your goals. Next it is about taking consistent steps toward your goals, no matter how you feel about the work cut out for you.
Be the architect of your days and create days that turn your life into one big masterpiece.
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THRIVE LIVING ABROAD
Instantly use practical strategies and insights from Carel’s two decades of expatriate life experience in South East Asia. Adapt to local cultures faster and enjoy and appreciate the unique life and experiences living abroad is giving you.
Love living the life of your dreams.
ACTIVATE YOUR SUPERPOWER
Embrace the reality you are fully. Step into your unique strengths and talents like there is no tomorrow. Reflect on all you’ve learned and commit to living your best possible life every day for the rest of your life.
You hold the key to the Empowered Expatriate Life!
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JOIN THE EMPOWERED EXPATRIATE PROGRAM TODAY !
Take the first step toward the person you are capable of being. Unlock the true potential of living the full expatriate life.
Today is the day to take action!
What others had to say
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MICHAEL NICHOLAIDES - INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR @ TAS - TAIPEI
In 4 months, Carel changed my life far beyond what I initially imagined.
His ability to inspire, motivate, and focus my ideas, goals, and subconscious
thoughts on achieving them has been extraordinary.
I set out hiring Carel, thinking: if people hire a personal trainer to improve their health,
why wouldn’t I hire one to improve my life, define my values, and achieve my
perceived form of greatness?
Carel taught me how I can have it all and how to get there on my own.
He not only helped me plan for the future, but he’s also been there for me at a
moment’s notice when an unpredictable work challenge arose.
What’s more, he did this while we were both experiencing the extreme and
unprecedented challenges of the 2022 Shanghai lockdown, and he never wavered.
If you want to improve, hire Carel!
“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming you. Maybe it is about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.”
Paulo Coelho
Once upon a time, you dreamed of a perfect life living abroad.
You packed your bags and belongings with excitement, ready to embrace a new culture and endless opportunities.
But soon, reality set in. Living overseas wasn’t just about adventure—it came with unexpected challenges.
Personal setbacks, career hurdles, and the struggle to form real connections left you feeling lost. You turned to countless blogs, social media tips, and scattered advice, only to find a maze of information that didn’t truly help you move forward, and you felt stuck and not living up to your potential.
Time passed and the guidance you needed was fragmented and confusing. No one had put together a clear, step-by-step roadmap for overcoming the unique challenges of expatriate life—until now.
Introducing The Empowered Expatriate Program.
Built on years of real-world experience and scientifically proven strategies, this program offers all the tools and support you need to thrive abroad. Whether you’re facing personal, professional, or social obstacles, you now have a reliable guide to help you build the fulfilling life you once imagined.
With clear coaching and actionable steps, The Empowered Expatriate Program gives you all you need to create a life abroad that you deserve to live.
What others had to say
“Before working with Carel, I had never really talked to people about my problems. Being a survivor of several difficulties, I have always just pushed through. My work with Carel has shown me that I can acknowledge my past difficulties in life, but not dwell on them while moving forward into the future. I feel like I’m getting a clear roadmap to becoming the person that I would like to be, instead of being trapped in my own cyclical paradigm. Carel is helping me rewrite my personal script to become my best self. I’m currently discovering what my “best self” looks like as I gradually learn to acknowledge the good things about myself. Thanks for providing the space I need for this experience.”
Chris B. - International Educator, South East Asia
What is covered in the Empowered Expatriate Program
The program is structured around Nine Pillars that will systematically help you to access your true and best self. This program will help you to create a life you love, and deserve living abroad.
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Know Your Game of Life
Have clarity on your ultimate target and how to get there.
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Heal Past Experiences
Let go of the past, and embrace the present, to create your ideal future.
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Forge Anti-Fragile Confidence
Develop the unshakable self-trust no matter what hits your path.
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Dominate the Fundamentals
Get good at eating, moving, sleeping to fuel your life.
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Master Yourself
Develop the habits and routines that support you at your best.
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Optimize Energy, Work, Relationships
Aiming for progress one day at a time is where it is.
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Today a Master Piece Day
Have an operational blueprint that support you to thrive daily.
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Thriving Abroad
Get strategies, tactics, and checklist to improve your life abroad instantly.
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Activate Your Superpowers
Putting it all together, and applying it daily will activate your superpower.
Is The Empowered Expatriate Program Right for You?
Not everyone is the right fit for our Empowered Expatriate Program. This program is designed for those who are committed to transforming both their professional and personal lives through deep, consistent work. Here’s who will thrive and who might not be the best match:
You’re a good fit for this program if:
✅ You understand that this program is a powerful tool—but only if you’re ready to actively engage with it.
✅ You’re open to reassessing your current strategies, and you’re willing to make changeswhere, and when necessary to unlock your full potential.
✅ You know that true transformation doesn’t happen overnight; it requires showing up consistently, practicing patience, and embracing the unglamorous work behind the scenes.
✅ You recognize that success isn’t a one- size-fits-all formula; it demands personalized effort, resilience, and continuous self-improvement and reflection.
✅ You’re an action-taker who won’t let excuses or fear hold you back from making the necessary changes in your life.
✅ You’re ready to reach out for support when challenges arise—because you understand that expert guidance can be the key to breaking through barriers and accelation of growth.
You’re a NOT good fit for this program if:
❌ You believe that simply enrolling in a program will automatically bring success without putting in the hard work.
❌ You’re not willing to tackle the deep, often unsexy work required to reshape your mindset, and grow in different areas of your life.
❌ You expect constant hand-holding or a minute-by-minute roadmap—this program is about empowering you to discover your own strengths and strategies.
❌ You’re more focused on the latest tactical tools or shortcuts than on developing the enduring habits and mental resilience that lead to true fulfillment.
❌ You think there’s a simple, cookie-cutter formula for success that works for everyone.
❌ You’re not ready to invest in your own unique growth journey, because you don’t trust your will be able to get a positive return on investment, than this program is not for you.
What others had to say
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BAS BROEKEN
ENTREPRENEUR - SHANGHAI
“Through the sessions with Carel, I have been able to build up a routine that makes my day more productive and enjoyable. Already in the first week, Carel made me aware of the opportunity for improvement and supported me to take direct action. His methods and dialogues throughout the sessions created awareness of certain situations and made complex thoughts digestible to get the best out of myself.”
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CLÉMENCE LAGUETTE
TRANSFORMATION MANAGER - BEIJING
“I'm really happy to have had Carel as a coach. Had other coaching sessions previously, however, his approach helped me to get the kick I needed. His action-oriented mindset and strong entrepreneurial background were elements that clicked with me as I'm working on getting my next dream job. The energy I got from our sessions stuck with me for a long time. Thank you Carel!”
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MARK PENG
FOUNDER @ PEOPOLY, SHENZHEN
“Carel's experience as a tech entrepreneur and his passion for teaching make him a great coach and mentor. He has given me invaluable advice on startup and on life in general. He can communicate effectively across culture borders and has managed a very diverse group of people to achieve business goals. A very unique and capable individual and a nice guy too.”
THE EMPOWERED EXPATRIATE
The ‘Empowered Expatriate’ Coaching Program is a 20-week one-on-one experience designed to help you break free from a lack of clarity, self-doubt, past challenges so you can embrace your adventurous spirit and start living abroad fully.
Here’s what you get
Fortnightly Coaching Session
Dive deep into your personal challenges and aspirations with a structured series of coaching sessions to help you identify your ideal life and begin moving towards it in a meaningful way - total 10 coaching sessions.
Your Roadmap to Success
A comprehensive guide filled with exercises and insights to help you stay on track and make lasting changes in your life
Weekly Accountability Check-Ins
Stay motivated and accountable with regular check-ins to ensure you’re making progress and feeling supported.
Lifetime Access to Recorded Content
Revisit coaching sessions and content anytime you need a refresher or extra motivation.
24/7 access via chat & email
Get support when you need it most, whether it’s overcoming a hurdle or celebrating a win.
Instant access to overseas living checklists
Receive instant access to stress tested checklist that will help you improve various aspects of your life.
Personalized Notion.io workspace
Get instant lifetime access to your personalized Notion.io workspace, where you find all the program content and resources in an easy to access format.
The ‘Empowered Expatriate’ Coaching contains the most comprehensive program for expatriates in the market today.
What others had to say
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DYLAN FLADHAMER
ONLINE MARKETING SPECIALIST - CANADA
“Carel blew me away on our first discovery call, we got into deep territory very quickly and he wasn't afraid to ask hard questions and challenge me.
I walked away from that first call being 'Wowed' and in awe.
He's both really helped me identify areas of my life to work on, and gave me tools and challenges to do the work in order to make progress on those areas.
Another thing I really loved about working with Carel is that when he would bring up things I was already familiar with, it was both validating that I was already exploring the right areas, and brought a whole new level of seriousness to those things.
For example, I was already familiar with the kind of identity work that is taught in the book 'Alter Ego Effect', and Carel helped me go deeper into this through our sessions together.
He was always very accommodating to my needs, and I loved that he would push and challenge me to consider new ways of thinking, especially in my 'blind spots'.
It was great to work with him on very tangible things like tools and structures, and also very big concepts like identity and fears.”
"THE REAL VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY CONSISTS NOT IN SEEKING NEW LANDSCAPES, BUT IN HAVING NEW EYES."
MARCEL PROUST
More about me
Hi – I’m Carel van Apeldoorn. I help expatriates turn their lives abroad into their best adventures yet.
Over the last two plus decades, I’ve built my career in China and Taiwan by co-owning and co-founding multiple multi-million dollar businesses. It was during this time that I met my American wife, Liz, and together we now raise our two amazing children.
My path to coaching began on September 2nd, 1980. At age nine, I experienced the profound loss of my eleven month older brother, an event that sparked a lifelong desire to help others overcome their challenges.
Along the way, I faced other obstacles—parental divorce, dyslexia, and ADHD—which deepened my commitment to finding answers and mastering strategies to thrive despite adversity.
In 2018, I encountered a turning point when I lost a successful internet business. My identity, once so closely tied to professional success, was shattered. Faced with the question, “Who am I without this?” I began to explore a new direction.
In September 2020, following a suggestion from my wife Liz, I embraced coaching—and everything fell into place.
Today, I run a one-person coaching practice dedicated to helping expatriates and business owners improve their lives. I feel deeply honored every day by the trust my clients place in me as I support them on a small part of their personal and professional journeys.
When I’m not coaching, I love spending time with Liz and our children, Anna (2016) and Alex (2023). I also enjoy running, photography, cooking, reading, music, and traveling.
I was born in the Netherlands in 1971 and hold a Master of Science in Corporate Finance from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, I worked in banking. I am a certified Heroic Coach, and completed a three-year training program at The Coaching Institute in Melbourne, Australia.
Let’s connect if you are interested in learning more!
What others had to say
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ALEXANDRE WAYENBERG
ENTREPRENEUR - SAN FRANCISCO
“Carel is everything an entrepreneur and coach should be: intelligent, smart, resilient, and open-minded. He is on a quest not only to be the best version of himself but also to help people around him become their best selves. He has built several successful businesses from scratch and I always look up to him for battle-tested insights and execution-oriented advice.”
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JAY WANG
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND SPECIALIST @ BYTEDANCE BEIJING
"Carel is an extremely dedicated coach who is willing to take extra time and effort to help you reach your goals. I'm very pleased with the results, and would recommend him to anyone who feels like they need a change in their lives!..."
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KEN KITCHENS - UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL @ SCIS - SHANGHAI
“On a journey, you can’t find your destination if you don’t know where you’re starting from. Carel astutely helped me analyze my beliefs, values, and personal history in order to gain insight into what would help me form my vision for the future. He has helped me enrich not only my professional life but my personal life as well.”
TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO BECOMING THE EMPOWERED EXPATRIATE
START GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO THRIVE
Book a free discovery call to find out how this program can help you now.
During the call, we’ll dive into a specific challenges, and you’ll get a full experience around what coaching and the Empowered Expatriate Program can do for you.
Clarity on Your Personal Roadblocks:
You’ll uncover the specific mental and emotional barriers that have been holding you back from living the life you desire, allowing you to finally understand what’s been stopping your progress so you can get passed it.
A Personalised Blueprint to Thriving Abroad:
We’ll outline a clear, actionable plan tailored to your unique needs, and situation, showing you how this program can help you reclaim control over your mind, purpose, profession, and future.
Exclusive Access to Expatriate Best Practices:
With 20 years of expatriate experience in South East Asian, Carel brings a treasure trove of first hand experiences that will help you instantly improve your life abroad.
Step into your power. Own your future. Apply for your free discovery call today!
Limited spots available!
Empowering Expatriates since 2020
Silver Cloud Limited - All Rights Reserved - 2025
CoachCarel.com / Silver Cloud Limited
RM 2/3, 23F, 426 Shanghai Street
Mongkok, Kowloon
Hong Kong