James Lawrence
James Lawrence, know as the Iron Cowboy, captivates his audiences with his combination of energy, humor, determination, and achievements and creates an inspirational, emotional and awakening phenomenon for all.
Known as The Iron Cowboy for the signature cowboy hat he wears while running races so his five kids can see him coming from far away, James Lawrence is an ultra endurance athlete who has pushed himself beyond what many doctors previously believed to be physiologically possible. In so doing, he has redefined both mental toughness and physical endurance.
Originally a high school wrestler, James spent a decade in the mortgage and finance business before losing it all in the financial crisis of 2008. At rock bottom, his career as the greatest endurance athlete on the planet started quite humbly, struggling to complete a local 4 mile fun run with his wife, Sunny. Inspired by that experience, on that day he learned a lesson that has served him well ever since.
Today, James is one of the most dynamic, inspiring, larger than life keynote speakers in the world, having shared his astonishing story in 50 different countries across the globe reaching millions of people. He is a best selling author and the subject of a critically acclaimed feature film. He continues to redefine the impossible in his own life, while teaching audiences around the world to do the same in their own lives.
REDEFINE IMPOSSIBLE
While James is an astonishing athlete, sport is really not what he talks about. He is a master of mindset, focus, and of managing self-doubt. This is what he teaches.
James talks about the incredible power of hope and teamwork. He speaks about accountability, both to yourself and to your team. He shows his audience how to remove excuses from their own lives in order to unlock more ability.
In one of the most moving sections of Redefine Impossible, James reflects on his time with Dayton Hayward, a boy with Cerebral Palsy who loved to feel the wind in his face. James teamed up with Dayton and pulled, pushed, and carried him through an entire Ironman race. During that race, despite the increased physical demands, James gained a deeper understanding of perspective and privilege. As James shares in his presentation, “I remember looking at him many times that day, thinking Dayton can’t swim, he can’t bike, he can’t run…but I get to swim today, I get to ride today, I get to run today. Despite the pain, all of that is a privilege.”
Whether speaking to a room full of C-suite leaders, an international sales team, a finely tuned military group, or any one of countless professional sports teams, James’ expertise is in teaching people to change how they think in order to remove self-imposed limits.
In all my years as a TEDx organizer I haven’t seen many people on stage with more power and passion, and at the same time have such a down to earth view on life. My mind was blown.
TEDx TWU
From start to finish, our P&G Experience with James was phenomenal. He absolutely electrified our audience.
Procter & Gamble
The story was crafted expertly (and I've seen many talks over the years!) - it was informative, inspiring, and touching. James' credibility with his accomplishments and passion definitely set him apart from other speakers we've had in the past!
Merck
James left us all inspired to dream big, to believe without a doubt, to push through adversity, and to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
Nike
James inspired our whole team with his message about the resiliency of the human spirit and the power our decisions can have over our circumstances.
Clif Bar
James blew our expectations away. We knew his story was amazing, but we weren't expecting such a polished, professional, and profound hour.”
Radix Sales
Iron Cowboy
