Unconventional athlete, wellbeing mentor, creator of communities
George’s philosophy is ‘progress not perfection’. He inspires people of all ages, and all levels, to question their limiting behaviour and take action to enable them to thrive.
George graduated with a Masters Degree in Automotive Engineering. But he knew that he didn’t want to spend his working life as an engineer, so he began working on his true passion: wellbeing and fitness, first as a personal trainer.
Realising that his “genius zone” was working with runners, he became the training partner of the Reading Half Marathon, delivering training workshops for runners of all abilities, from beginners to seasoned competitors. A failed attempt at an eCommerce business brought an unexpected benefit: the realization that he had inadvertently gained a significant on-line following which he used to take his workshops to many more people.
Having turned his attention to complete beginners, he wrote the book Beginner’s Luck Guide for Non-Runners. Identifying the most common pitfalls and problems they face, he systematically (and gently) overcame them with his innovative programme. The book became a course in self-belief. Thousands of people used it to rewrite their own stories of personal success, having previously told themselves that they weren’t capable of achieving their ambition.
George applies this same approach to problem-solving to his personal challenges. 10 consecutive marathons in 10 days, two 24-hour, 100-mile ultra-marathons, an Ironman Triathlon and a local charity version of Strictly Come Dancing have all been ticked off by disrupting conventional thinking on what is – or is not – achievable. Like the rest of us, he has had failures along the way. He’s human, after all.
George set up the Facebook group On The Wagon. Growing quickly to over 5,000 members, the group began as a personal challenge to create daily, engaging content, and to provide an environment which allowed his followers to share their own experiences, successes and challenges.
His philosophy is ‘progress not perfection’ and with a commitment to consistently turn up to support his tribe, the group has evolved into one of the most supportive, judgement-free and empathetic communities on the Internet. Many claim the group is instrumental in positively impacting their mental health.
Drawing on these experiences, George challenges and encourages audiences to question their own beliefs. Not just about what is possible for them to do, but for how they can be. Whether he’s speaking about mindset and personal leadership, the link between physical and mental wellbeing, or the power and purpose of community, George Anderson connects with audiences by embracing his own vulnerability and imperfections. He uses the experience of failure and self-limitation as steps on the way to success.
Listening to George is not “hearing a speech”. It is an invitation to accompany him on a journey, for your benefit.