12/19/2025
Fi****ms Instructor Explores the Long Path from Training Concepts to Published Work
Fi****ms instructor and author Jim Shanahan has spent the past several years developing a body of written work that mirrors the same process-driven approach he applies to training.
Shanahan began writing On Demand Performance with a clear concept but an evolving structure. As the manuscript developed, several chapters emerged that required more depth or did not fit within the original framework. Rather than forcing those ideas into a single volume, Shanahan published 1of100: A Deliberate Responder, followed by Quantified Skills, a student-focused resource designed to support measurable performance standards.
The remaining material continued to develop independently, eventually forming the completed version of On Demand Performance, followed by Adaptive Movement. According to Shanahan, the progression reflects an intentional decision to allow ideas to mature organically rather than adhere to rigid publishing timelines.
“I don’t write to sell books,” Shanahan said. “I write to think more clearly about training. If the ideas help someone ask better questions or train with more intention, then the work has done its job.”
Respected fi****ms instructor Tom Givens has described Shanahan as having a “talent for writing,” recognition that comes at a time when traditional print publishing has increasingly shifted toward direct, community-driven distribution.
Shanahan encourages readers and fellow instructors to share chapters or excerpts that resonate with them, viewing the writing as a starting point for continued discussion rather than a finished product.
