I'm George
I am a transformation coach who helps others navigate through their own personal transformations and live life the way they envision it. I am also an endurance athlete, author, researcher, husband, and dad.
TRANSFORMATION COACH
About me
I am someone who has gone through multiple large and positive transformations in my life. Some initiated by me, some thrown at me like curveballs, or more like tsunamis. Regardless if these events started by me or someone else, or how difficult and painful they were, I always navigated through them with intention and saw them as opportunities to transform myself into a better, more whole self. I see personal transformations and change as a bridge between one's current self and their self-actualization.
As I navigated through these transformations across different issues, ages, and circumstances, people in my close and, then, wider circle started reaching out for advice as they were going through similar journeys. They often said they were inspired and motivated by my personal story and found useful the tools I developed to
not only deal with trauma and change but to visualize and realize my own personal transformations and live life the way that suits me.
From struggling to finish high school to a (soon to finish!) PhD from a world class university, from an obese teenager and overweight adult with bad eating and drinking habits to a healthy Ironman and endurance athlete, from dealing with PTSD symptoms to having peace and mental strength, from being a shepherd in a remote island in the Aegean sea to meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations and being a sought out advisor in science and technology, from experiencing the total destruction of my family to building my own loving family, and from lining up on food banks to owning a home in one of the most expensive cities in the world and being an investor.
Transformations
Here are some of the transformations I have navigated through and could be similar to yours. I have found that some of the tools I developed -- most notably different ways for visualization, goal setting and executing -- apply to many other types of changes as well. If you are motivated to change but unsure on how to move forward or stuck in some way let's chat!
These transformations, often overlapping, have occurred over years and in many ways are still a work in progress. At the same time, they represent only some of the transformations I have navigated through. I intend to write the full story in a book format but for the purposes of this website I hope that a shorter version would help you understand a bit more about my background and approach.
From struggling to finish high school to a (soon to be completed!) PhD from a world class university.
I passed the last two grades of high school with the bare minimum grades to not have to repeat the class, which was almost some kind of miracle considering how little I was studying. In addition to growing up in an environment where I was getting mixed messages around the value of higher education, I was bored and rebellious. Add to this the destruction of my family in my teens and you get the picture. I was led to believe that I was smart but not really cut out for school, I was below average in all subjects after all. I internalized that and made it part of my own beliefs, I almost accepted it. When in my late 20s I started taking education more seriously (then pursuing a two year degree at a community college) I realized that I can do much better. I realized that much of what I was telling myself was what others were telling about myself - a false narrative. This realization was the beginning of a long, difficult, and beautiful process: uncovering all the false ideas about myself and changing each narrative one after the other. In the following years, in addition to going all the way from a community college to being the first in my family with a MA and then pursuing a PhD, I was ready to go on a relentless pursuit of (re)defining who I am across all fields of life.
My approach
I believe in systematic, strategic, and long-lasting change. Through my experiences, I approach transformation as the development of someone's craft in knowing, believing in, and further developing themselves. I found that 'quick fixes' are not sustainable as they often produce quick wins that are also short-lived. True transformations require a deep dive into someone's self and understanding why we think of the world and ourselves in certain ways, what motivates us, what doesn't, and why, and how we can optimize that. All this requires self-reflection and experimentation. In addition to being highly rewarding, this can be a fun process!
I have been fortunate to have high-quality training in a variety of methods, tools, and formats: from conducting one-on-one interviews and discussions, to teaching groups of 20-30 people, to facilitating workshops with and delivering presentations to audiences larger than 100 people. Previous experiences as educator, researcher, and advisor have allowed me to work with individuals and groups across many industries, countries, age groups, and other demographics. I have worked with executives in industry, academia, and government, as well as not-for-profit organizations. I’ve been told that I ask great questions and offer thoughtful reflections, ideas, and solutions that consider both the big picture and the smaller but important details.
In addition to my expertise, in my coaching practice I bring my empathy, focus, curiosity, and a pinch of humor when appropriate. I provide the framework for the session and the client drives the discussion, while I ask questions to help navigate through the topic we’re focusing on. We may need to dive deep into your story in order to find your motivations and possible blockages. The intention of this activity is to arrive at some practical, specific, and tangible actions that can help you move towards the goal you are after. I look forward to exploring how I can help you with your transformation.
About me
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From struggling to finish high school to a PhD from a world-class university,
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From being an obese teenager and overweight adult to completing an Ironman,
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From shepherding goats on a remote Greek island to meeting the Secretary General of the United Nations,
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From dealing with PTSD symptoms to finding peace and mental strength,
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From watching the disintegration of my family to building my own loving family,
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From lining up at food banks to owning a home in one of the most expensive cities in the world,
I see personal transformations and change as a bridge between one's current self and their self-actualization.
How it works
I am interested in working with people who want to transform some aspect(s) of their life but are unsure as to how or feel stuck somewhere in their journey. I am also interested in working with those that find themselves in the middle of an unexpected circumstance that want to navigate through that transformation with more intention. Also, your transformation doesn’t have to be big and ‘flashy’, a modest one is also valuable and often works as a testing ground for future change. The key to succeeding through working with me is to come motivated to make some changes once I help you figure out which is the best path for you and what steps can get you there. Being consistent and sticking to those changes for long-term sustainability is important and we can work together on that too.
My 1:1 sessions are virtual and I am open to working with people from any location. After an initial 20-minute consultation call, we will work together on a plan toward what you want to achieve and some milestones in order to get there. Usually that involves getting deeper into your present, including any blockages you may be carrying with you, and the future you envision. People I have worked with have found helpful the way I connect dots they were not able to do in the past, reframe issues and narrative when helpful, and, based on who they are, provide the appropriate tools and methods to get to where they want. After each session you will receive the notes from our session with the key takeaways and action points moving forward.
I love having deep and enriching discussions but also value being practical. I try to finish my sessions with some tangible and actionable items to help my clients with their journey.
Sign up for my upcoming newsletter on the art and science of transformations where I will be sharing useful tips as well as some relevant personal news.
Transformations
Here are some of the transformations I have navigated so far in my life. These transformations, often overlapping, have occurred over years and in many ways are still a work in progress. Some of these might resonate with you, or what you have in mind might look totally different. I have found that some of the tools I developed – including different approaches to visualization, goal setting and executing – can apply to different types of transformations. If you are motivated to make a change – big or small, long-term or shorter-term – but unsure on how to move forward or stuck in some way, let's chat!
From struggling to finish high school to a PhD from a world-class university.
I passed the last two years of high school with the lowest possible grades and the minimum of effort. In addition to growing up with mixed messages around the value of higher education, I was led to believe that I was smart but not really cut out for school. Seeing myself below average in all subjects, I internalized that.
While pursuing a two-year degree at a community college in my late 20s, I realized that I can do better – that what I believed was only what others were saying about me. This realization was the beginning of a long, difficult, and beautiful process: uncovering all the false ideas about myself and changing each narrative one after the other. In the following years, in addition to becoming the first in my family with a master’s degree and then pursuing a PhD, I was ready to begin (re)defining who I am across all fields of life.
From being an obese teenager and overweight adult to finishing an Ironman.
My relationship with my body and athleticism has always been complicated. I played sports in school but almost never at a high level. Constantly being encouraged to eat more while hearing critical comments by family and friends confused me. At 14 I hit 265 lbs and, while I quickly managed to lose the extra weight, my relationship with food, alcohol, my body, and sports remained complicated. Although in my adult life I occasionally picked up hiking or running, I lacked consistency and quickly went back to unhealthy habits.
I had always admired ultra endurance athletes and secretly hoped that one day I would be able to complete an Ironman Triathlon. In the past couple of years, I decided that it was time for a physical transformation and I used all the mental tricks I’d developed in the past to stay consistent and focused in my training. I finished my first Ironman in 2023 feeling like I could run another one the next day, and I am now working toward longer races while also working on my strength through CrossFit. Most importantly, I changed my relationship with sports and the narrative of what my body is capable of.
From dealing with PTSD symptoms to finding peace and mental strength.
In 2011 I was stabbed in Vancouver by someone who also tried to rob me. This happened while I was studying full-time as an international student while working in construction to pay for my tuition and living expenses. The trauma from the attack, combined with the pressure from my precarious position and a lack of community, led to a host of PTSD symptoms: tunnel vision, panic attacks, shortened breath, waking frequently from violent nightmares. For months I felt like I was in a tunnel at the bottom of the ocean, feeling the pressure of the water without seeing any light at the end.
That painful period ended up being the beginning of an awesome inner journey. Combining my experience in meditation with lucid dreaming, I not only took control of those nightmares but created a beautiful space I could visit and explore at any time, allowing me to heal and pursue my goals and enjoy life again. Over time, I added new and revisited old techniques to build a lifestyle where mental and physical health reinforce each other.
From shepherding goats on a remote Greek island to meeting the Secretary General of the United Nations
At the end of high school, my parents got divorced and we lost almost everything. I left the big city and moved to a small, remote island doing random jobs, including taking care of over 100 sheep and goats. My family and friends thought I'd lost it, when in reality I was trying to find myself. In my mid-20s, with no university education and few other options, I moved to North America to pursue further studies. Since then, my educational journey, almost always accompanied by full-time work, helped propel my career in astounding ways: While interning at the United Nations in New York City, I had the pleasure of meeting Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the UN. While pursuing my PhD in political science, I have worked as an advisor on issues around emerging technologies and had the opportunity to travel across North America and East Asia to meet with many executives in the private and public sectors.
While this work has been intellectually stimulating, I knew that I wanted to focus on my skills in talking and listening to people and translating information into tangible outputs, and to have more direct impact on the well-being of others. Becoming a coach has now completed this circle in me, as I can now help others achieve their dreams.
From experiencing the total destruction of my family to building my own loving family.
I grew up in a loving family, which despite its issues provided me with a healthy and happy environment to grow up in. Things changed rapidly when my parents got divorced in my teens. Within a short time I experienced the loss of our resources and social support, verbal abuse from my loved ones, and other things no one should ever experience. I then spent years looking for that sense of family -- role models, warmth and caring, easiness. I spent the last two decades searching for that feeling only to realize that I had to first redefine my relationship with family and be ready to give before receiving. I am now happily a husband and a father, roles that I see as everlasting works in progress.
From lining up at food banks to owning a home in one of the most expensive cities in the world and being an investor.
As an international student relying on low-paid manual labor to finance my studies, I faced significant financial challenges during my first few years in North America. I often had to decide between paying tuition fees, covering basic needs, or going into debt. For a short period of time, I found myself lining up at food banks before things started getting better – I worked more shifts, got a better job. For over a decade I have worked and studied full time, building savings while competing successfully for national scholarships and professional jobs. I was then able to design, pursue, and live the life I've been dreaming, purchase a property with my wife, and invest in companies that align with my values.