We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jared Mishlove a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jared, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In high-school, before I got into working out, I was doing drugs, selling drugs and binge drinking consistently. I did all of this to get attention from people because I had a very low self esteem and low self confidence. I thought that the attention that I was getting gave me confidence.

Luckily, my parents being the amazing parents they are noticed I was going down a dark path and gave me an ultimatum. They said, you can either quit everything you’re doing and we’ll help you go to college or you stay doing what you are doing and you are on your own once you hit 18.

I had to make a decision for myself, what do I want my life to look like? At that moment, I knew I was made for more.

I quit everything. But I had to find a substitute for the drugs and drinking. That substitute was the gym. I became addicted. I instantly knew this is what I was meant to do. In the last 10 years, I have not gone more than 2 days without working out.

The same rush/confidence I got from doing/selling drugs and binge drinking was now replaced with pushing myself everyday to see what my body was capable of achieving. And I wanted to share that feeling with every person I came in contact with. I wanted to everyone to know not just how fitness can change your physical appearance, but how it can completely change the entire trajectory of your life.

I had to make it my lives mission to share this with as many people as I possibly could.

Fast forward 10 years, and I have become an elite ranked powerlifter, coached strength and conditioning in Australia, travelled to 17 countries documenting fitness around the world on youtube, opened up my own gym, transformed 3,000+ women physiques and lives, I have the most beautiful wife, and now a daughter on the way…. the biggest blessing of all.

10 years ago if you would have asked me what my life would look like in 10 years, I could have never fathomed this. But because I got into working out, my entire life changed.

So I urge you to not just think about the physical results that will come from working out, but the entire life transformation that can come from taking control of your health.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My journey into the fitness industry began during my senior year at Northern Arizona University, where I studied fitness and wellness. During my time at NAU, I became a certified personal trainer and founded the NAU powerlifting team. I started my career by training clients one-on-one at Insurgent Fitness, a local gym.

From the beginning, I was particularly passionate about helping women embrace strength training. I recognized the tremendous confidence that comes from taking control of one’s health and physique and becoming the strongest version of oneself. I also noticed many women lacked the knowledge and guidance needed to start strength training and understand the physical changes it brings. I wanted to be the guide to show them their true potential.

At our women’s-only small group private training facility in North Scottsdale, Arizona, we specialize in helping women aged 25-60 lose weight, build muscle, and achieve the best shape of their lives. We provide comprehensive programs that include personalized training, nutrition plans, and a high level of accountability to ensure our clients reach their goals.

What sets us apart is that we are the only women’s-only small group private training facility in Arizona. Our supportive and motivating environment creates a safe space for women to transform their lives through fitness. We are dedicated to providing the knowledge, motivation, and accountability our clients need to succeed.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I love sharing this story. When I first started my training company, I knew that having a presence on social media was going to be crucial. I enjoyed being on camera and creating videos, so I decided to start with form tutorials. However, I quickly realized that most viewers, especially women—my main client demographic—might not prefer watching a male trainer demonstrate exercises.

It became clear that I needed a female model for these videos. One day, while working out at EOS Fitness, I saw Rachel Price. We both attended Northern Arizona University, and I remembered seeing her at the gym often, though we had never spoken. Initially, I hesitated to approach her, but as I was leaving, something changed in my mind, and I knew I had to introduce myself.

We chatted briefly, exchanged Instagram handles, and I discovered that she had 200,000 followers. Realizing the potential, I decided to ask her if she would be interested in collaborating on videos. To my surprise, she agreed without hesitation. To this day, I am still amazed by her willingness to work with someone she had never met before, expecting nothing in return. It turns out, she is an incredible person.

Not only did Rachel agree to shoot videos with me, but she also informed me about a gym space available for rent, which ultimately became the foundation of my business. Without her, I might never have found that opportunity. For about a year, we met weekly to create and post daily videos. I became known for my unique video intros, such as jumping in or dropping from high surfaces, and for injecting humor into fitness tutorials.

As I posted more content and my client base grew, I noticed a lack of inquiries from men. Rachel suggested making the company women-only. After careful consideration, I decided to follow her advice, and it was the best decision I ever made. From that point on, all of our content was tailored specifically towards women.

My advice for anyone looking to build a social media presence is to be authentic and unique. For me, it was my energetic entrances and the comedic spin on informational videos. This approach not only set me apart but also showcased what training with Altered Athletics would be like—both entertaining and informative.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I often say, “We need to have multiple lines in the water at all times.” This means we should be marketing on all platforms simultaneously to ensure omnipresence and maximum visibility. While referrals will always be one of our largest lead generators, I wish I had understood the power of Google earlier. Treating our Google Business Profile like a social media page has been a game-changer. We now drive nearly as many leads from search engines as we do from referrals.

It’s crucial to maintain a presence on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Google, Yelp, and other platforms. Running digital ads, conducting cold outreach, and having a well-designed website are also essential. Being visible wherever potential clients might search for us is key to our success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alteredathletics.com
• Instagram: Altered_Athletics
• Facebook: Altered Athletics
• Linkedin: Jared Mishlove
• Twitter: None
• Youtube: Jared Mishlove
• Yelp: Altered Athletics
• Soundcloud: None

Image Credits

Gordon Ly (Lyvisuals)