Welcome to the first edition of “From the Founder.” I’m Josh Anderson, the creator of DIY Active. You might be wondering why it took me seven years to write this first piece—well, it’s a bit of a story, but it boils down to dedication. To truly chase your dreams, you need to give it your all and be completely authentic.
So, last weekend, I was working on DIY Active as usual—checking emails, doing some outreach, and watching the Olympics. DIY Active started as Always Active Athletics, a way to help people get fit no matter where they were, especially for those who felt intimidated by gyms or just couldn’t go to one.
Over the years, DIY Active has grown into a full lifestyle site with hundreds of contributors, thousands of followers, and millions of readers. Our motto is “Home fitness for everyone.” We began with a mission to help people achieve their potential, reach life goals, and find real happiness. We’ve made strides in at-home fitness, but I feel we still need to work on that happiness part. I want to offer everyone the inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. It might sound idealistic, but that’s what makes me happy.
Back to the Olympics—an athlete had just completed a phenomenal ski run. The tension before the scores were revealed was palpable. When she saw she had medaled, the joy on her face was contagious. It was a moment of pure happiness, the kind of joy everyone deserves to feel.
That’s what I want for people: the feeling of working toward something and achieving it. This realization made me think about why I started DIY Active in the first place and what I may have lost along the way while trying to expand our reach. Watching the 2018 Winter Olympics helped me refocus on that missing piece.
To genuinely connect with others and help them find happiness, I need to let my guard down. I’ve never wanted to be the face of DIY Active, preferring to stay behind the scenes and let our authors and the brand shine. But to make that genuine connection, I need to step up and take a more visible role.
To truly help people and find success, I must be genuine and put myself out there. Here’s our plan: We will help you find the right programs to achieve your goals, even if it means directing you to resources outside of DIY Active. From nutrition and exercise to meditation and lifestyle tips, we’re here to guide you. Think of us as your personal concierge service for your goals—we’ve got you covered!
The takeaway here is, no matter where you are on your journey or how tough things seem, you’re on this path for a reason. Even if it doesn’t make sense now, your journey is helping you grow and preparing you for what comes next. And we are here to support you through it all. Enjoy the journey!
You might go off track—we all do. Just look at me; it took seven years to realize I had drifted from my dream! But you can get back on course with your support system and perseverance. Keep going!