About the Author, Jared Thomlinson
When I first stepped into the fitness industry, I thought it was all about hard training, looking the part, and grinding every session. Fast forward 20 years, and I’ve learned that real progress has nothing to do with chasing the mirror and everything to do with building a body that performs, lasts, and adapts.
If I could go back and talk to the younger version of myself, these are the lessons I’d drill into
his head from day one.
Train for Performance, Not Just Aesthetics
Looking strong and being strong are not the same thing.
I spent too many early years chasing the pump, the mirror, and the visible abs instead of focusing on what the body could actually do. When you train for performance — speed, strength, endurance, power — the physique follows. But when you train only for aesthetics, performance often breaks down.
After all; “Physical appearance is a bi-product of physical performance”.
Don’t Just Train Your Clients — Educate Them
Your job isn’t just to make people sweat.
Teach your clients why they’re doing what they’re doing. Teach them how to move properly.
Teach them how to problem-solve when life gets messy.
A well-educated client doesn’t just get results — they keep them. And a client who understands the process becomes a lifer, not a dropout.
If You Prescribe It, You Should Have Lived It
If you make your client do something you dam well better know how it feels. Never coach from theory alone. Research, and apply practically prior to prescription.
If you’re telling clients to follow a protocol, lift a certain way, or live a certain lifestyle, you
should have tested it yourself. Not once. Not half-heartedly.
You don’t need to be perfect, but you must be credible. Clients can smell hypocrisy instantly.
Keep Studying — Build Your Coaching Toolbox
The best coaches never think they’ve “figured it out.”
Courses, certifications, workshops, mentors, books — they all add tools to your kit. Early on, I thought effort was enough. Now I know knowledge multiplies effort.
The more you learn, the more adaptable you become. And adaptable coaches don’t get
replaced.
Compete in Sport While You Still Can
This one hits hard.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to compete — in powerlifting, bodybuilding, CrossFit, martial arts, team sport — do it early. Don’t postpone it. Don’t wait for the “perfect time.”
Your body recovers faster when you’re young. Your obligations are fewer. And once that window closes, it’s hard to reopen.
You don’t want to feel that itch when your best physical years are already behind you.
Mobility and Flexibility Aren’t Optional
I treated mobility like a warm-up. Or worse — like something you only do when you’re
injured.
Big mistake.
Stiff joints and limited ranges of motion don’t just reduce performance — they shorten careers. Daily movement quality, soft tissue work, and flexibility should be part of your base training, not an afterthought.
Longevity is built between the heavy sets.
Consistency Beats Intensity — Every Time
I thought going “harder” was the answer to everything.
Reality? Consistency wins.
Perfect weeks don’t build elite bodies — good enough weeks repeated over years do. The
workouts you don’t skip matter more than the workouts that destroy you. You don’t need to be extreme. You need to be relentless.
Experiment With Nutrition — Learn Your Own Body
No nutrition course will teach you what real self-experimentation will. Try different approaches:
- Higher carbs vs lower carbs
- Calorie cycling
- Intermittent fasting
- Whole food focus
Not to follow trends — but to understand your own physiology. When you know how your body responds, you become a better coach and a smarter athlete.
Final Thought
Looking back, the biggest lesson is this:
Fitness isn’t about shortcuts, hacks, or hype. It’s about building a capable mind and a resilient
body over time.
If I’d known these lessons earlier, I would’ve trained smarter, coached better, and wasted far less time chasing things that didn’t matter.
But that’s the point of experience.
You don’t earn the knowledge without the reps
Jared is a Fitness Trainer and Assessor, Educator, and Personal Trainer with over 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry and 30 years of boxing expertise. He is the founder of Further Your Fitness, created to support the professional development of fitness coaches and trainers.
He specialises in personal training and coach education, with expertise across boxing, calisthenics, handstands, kettlebells, mobility, suspension training, and battle ropes. Jared delivers both in-person and online education, working with fitness professionals nationally and internationally, and remains committed to ongoing professional development and industry best practice.