Story & Lesson Highlights with Dr. Tarryn Hoff, PhD of Buckhead – Atlanta

We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Tarryn Hoff, PhD and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Tarryn, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — that nobody really sees — is the foundation of resilience, discipline, and faith that underlies everything I do. My business, GoTarryn! Health & Fitness, is visible on the outside with training sessions, presentations, and community outreach, but behind the scenes there’s a quiet, relentless commitment that keeps it all moving forward.

That foundation was built through years of overcoming obstacles, balancing family life with entrepreneurship, and staying true to my values as an exercise psychologist. People see the results — clients reaching their goals, seniors staying active, or students graduating with their doctorates — but what they don’t see is the daily dedication, the late nights of planning, the ongoing self-education, and the mental toughness it takes to keep showing up.

To me, the most meaningful part of my work isn’t flashy. It’s the invisible structure of perseverance and purpose that makes the visible success possible.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dr. Tarryn J. Hoff—though most people know me as Dr. T., The Prodigy of Exercise Psychology. I’m the founder of GoTarryn! Health & Fitness and Peachtree City Personal Training, where I’ve specialized for over 25 years in helping people not only get stronger physically but also mentally. What makes my brand unique is that I bridge exercise physiology with sport and performance psychology. I don’t just train bodies—I coach mindsets, which is where true transformation happens.

My journey has been anything but typical. I built my business from the ground up here in Atlanta, overcame obstacles along the way, and today I get to serve clients in their homes, at senior centers, and even in classrooms as a doctoral professor. My proudest work is helping people discover that they’re capable of more than they ever imagined—whether that’s a client in their 70s finding balance and independence again, or a doctoral learner defending their dissertation.

Right now, I’m especially focused on empowering seniors to live younger, longer, through interactive workshops on strength, balance, and fall prevention, and I’m also co-authoring a book on the responsible use of AI in higher education. At the heart of everything I do is my belief that health, learning, and growth are lifelong pursuits—and my mission is to help others embrace that journey with energy and purpose.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that I’ve had to release is the perfectionist who thought he had to have everything figured out before moving forward. For years, I carried the mindset that I had to control every detail, never make mistakes, and always present myself as having all the answers. That pressure fueled me in some ways, but it also held me back from enjoying the process and embracing growth.

What I’ve learned is that progress doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from persistence. Letting go of that old perfectionist mentality has opened up space for creativity, collaboration, and humility. Today, I’m much more willing to take risks, try new things, and even fail in front of others if it means I’m learning and serving people better. Releasing that weight has allowed me to lead with authenticity instead of fear.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience, humility, and empathy in ways that success never could. Success can make you feel unstoppable, but suffering reminds you of your humanity and your limits. It strips away ego and forces you to ask deeper questions—why am I doing this, who am I really serving, and what truly matters?

Through personal and professional struggles, I’ve learned how to sit with discomfort, adapt when plans fall apart, and keep going when motivation fades. That kind of resilience can’t be built in easy seasons—it’s forged in the hard ones. And it’s in those moments of pain that I’ve been able to connect most deeply with others, because they don’t just need to see my victories; they need to know I’ve walked through valleys too.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think a lot of smart people today get it wrong by overvaluing complexity and undervaluing consistency. In business, in health, even in education, there’s a tendency to chase the newest trend, the most advanced technology, or the most complicated solution. But the truth is, transformation—whether in fitness or in life—comes from showing up every day, doing the fundamentals well, and building habits that last.

Another area where smart people miss the mark is confusing knowledge with wisdom. Having information doesn’t automatically mean you know how to apply it. What matters is turning knowledge into action and aligning it with values that actually improve lives. That’s where real impact happens.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think the biggest misunderstanding about my legacy might be that it’s about me. On the surface, people may see the personal training brand, the presentations, the PhD title, or the years of coaching and think my story is about individual achievement. But my legacy has never been about building a name—it’s about building people.

What I hope isn’t lost is that every success I’ve had is really a reflection of the people I’ve worked alongside: clients who trusted me, students who persevered, and communities that allowed me to serve them. If anything is misunderstood, it’s that my legacy isn’t measured by the titles I’ve earned but by the lives that have been strengthened, encouraged, and empowered because of the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.GoTarryn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotarryn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtphd
• Twitter: https://x.com/GoTarryn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoTarryn
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gotarryn-atlanta
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Gotarryn