Meet Mandy B. Anderson

Hi, I’m Mandy B. Anderson! I’m the CEO of Big Blue Couch® Coaching – a life and business coaching company dedicated to helping people transform their relationships, careers, and lives. I’m a wife, a Coach, a Speaker, and the Author of the book that inspired this podcast – She Who Overcomes: Rising Out of the Ashes of Your Circumstances. I love coffee and I’m training to run my first half-marathon. Oh – and did I mention that I’m doing all of this while overcoming a life threatening illness called Cystic Fibrosis? Well, it’s true! And hey, if I can rise up, so you can you!

The number one question I am asked by the people I meet in person and online is, “How do you overcome _______.” They fill in the blank with things like fear, sadness, despair, tragedy, health challenges, low self-esteem, financial struggles, sickness, relationships problems, etc. Every week someone wants the answer to that question. And this is what I tell them: You can be an Overcomer in every situation that you face. It’s never too late to start becoming the person you dream of being! It is my honor to partner with them and help them get there.

Much love,

~Mandy

PROFESSIONAL BIO:

Mandy B. Anderson is the Co-Founder of Big Blue Couch™ Coaching, LLC. As a Certified Life & Business Coach, she helps people overcome negative mindsets, get better results with weekly accountability, turn their dreams into reality, and grow a deeper faith. She is also a Speaker and Author who vulnerably shares her story of overcoming the victim mindset of living with Cystic Fibrosis, as well as other deep losses and mistakes in life, to help encourage others to courageously live their lives to the fullest. She is a gifted encourager, an innovative business woman with a knack for product development, and a genuinely positive person. Mandy lives in North Dakota with her husband, Nate.

CREDENTIALS & CERTIFICATIONS:

• Co-Founder of Big Blue Couch™ Coaching, LLC
• Certified L.E.A.N. Health Coach through the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute
• Certified Christian Life Coach through Light University

BOOKS:

• In Sickness and In Health: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Cystic Fibrosis to Total Health
• Unashamed: Embracing Your Authentic Self in a Cookie-Cutter World
• She Who Overcomes: Rising Out of the Ashes of Your Circumstances

PERSONAL BIO:Mandy has been married to the man of her dreams for over a decade and a half. They live in North Dakota, and even though she has been a North Dakota girl her entire life, she only recently discovered a renewed appreciation of this beautiful state.

In her personal time, she loves coffee dates with great friends (virtual or in-person), books that teach her new skills, YA books that make her feel all the feels, and adventures that end with laughter and great memories. She also loves running and working out with her personal trainer to strengthen herself both physically and mentally.

Mandy is currently pushing herself way outside her comfort zone by writing her first fiction book. Based on a true story, it will be a raw look into the journey of learning to live a life of vulnerability and authenticity. It’s only through vulnerability that healing from the deep hurts of past relationships can take place. It’s only through vulnerability that a marriage can be healed. It’s only through vulnerability that forgiveness can happen. It’s only through vulnerability that broken hearts can be mended after deep loss. As Brené Brown says, “Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage. If we are going to find our way back to each other, vulnerability is going to be that path.”

If I were a shoe…

A black stiletto.

My favorite color is…

Teal (the color of our logo)

Favorite thing about my job…

Every day is different – I get to help people overcome and build the life of their dreams and I also get to be creative with writing and product development.

Favorite quote or Bible verse…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

Favorite book…

Usually whichever book I am reading at the moment. Also, The Hunger Games Trilogy, The Shadowhunters books, Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick, and Daring Greatly by Brene Brown.

How do you take your coffee?

Black. Or a Grande Caramel Machiatto with coconut milk from Starbucks.

What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

It’s a tie between going after my dreams and skydiving.

What is one useless fact no one would realize about you?

I was Miss Carrington 2000 and Miss State Capital 2001, which means I was in the Miss North Dakota pageant two years in a row.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

To be able to read people’s minds. Or super strength like Captain America.

Who is someone you admire and why?

Steve Jobs. I love his story of how he persevered to build Apple, how he still pursued new dreams when he was let go from Apple, and how he embraced personal growth and was able to eventually come back on board to the company he co-founded and revolutionized how the world interacts with each other.

If you could write a bio about your life…what would you want included?

That even though I was born with cystic fibrosis, it didn’t slow me down and it was only a small part of my story, not the end-all-be-all.