Exploring Life & Business with Josh Guerrieri of FitWit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Guerrieri.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my career as a high school teacher (through Teach for America) and coach because I loved helping people grow. I eventually realized I wanted to build something that could impact people beyond a classroom, so about 20 years ago I started FitWit in Atlanta.

What began as outdoor boot camps has grown into a community of thousands of members and a team of incredible coaches. Along the way, we’ve learned that fitness is much more than the workouts. It’s about helping people become more capable, more resilient, and more useful in everyday life. That’s still the mission that drives us.

Outside the gym, my wife and I are raising five teenagers. Becoming a dad has probably shaped me even more than becoming an entrepreneur. Parenting has become another place where I get to coach, learn, fail, and grow every day.

A few years ago, I started sending each of my kids one message every Sunday—a text, email, or voice memo with a story, encouragement, or life lesson. After more than 150 consecutive weeks, that simple habit has grown into another passion of mine: helping parents build stronger relationships with their tweens and teenagers through my Father Time 2.0 newsletter, my book Before They Leave, and the resources I create for families at JoshGuerrieri.com.

Looking back, I suppose the common thread through everything I’ve done—teaching, coaching, running FitWit, writing, and parenting—is that I really enjoy thinking about human development. I love helping people become better versions of themselves, whether that’s getting stronger in the gym, becoming a better parent, or simply making the most of the time we have with the people we love.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most entrepreneurs, I’ve had plenty of moments where I wondered if we’d make it. Plenty of 3 am wake-ups which led to pacing the living room, mind racing with “what ifs.”

We bootstrapped FitWit from the beginning, so there were years of long hours, financial uncertainty, and learning almost everything through trial and error.

One of the biggest challenges was learning that what gets a business off the ground isn’t always what helps it grow. I had to evolve from being the person who did everything to building systems, developing leaders, and trusting other people. That’s a difficult transition for a lot of founders.

Then came COVID. Overnight, we had to completely rethink how we served our members while trying to keep our team employed. It was one of the hardest seasons of my career, but it also reinforced what made FitWit special. People weren’t just paying for workouts. They really valued the relationships and community we’d built together.

Looking back, though, I wouldn’t erase those struggles. They’ve forced me to become a better leader, a better communicator, and, I hope, a better person. Most of the lessons I share today (whether about fitness, business, or parenting) came from getting something wrong first and learning from it.

We’ve been impressed with FitWit, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At its core, FitWit exists to help people become more capable, not just in the gym, but in life.

We’ve been coaching people in Atlanta for more than 20 years, and while we certainly help people lose weight, build muscle, and improve their health, those outcomes aren’t really our end goal. We believe fitness should make you better at the rest of your life. Strong enough to carry your kid or fit enough to hike on vacation or healthy enough to play with your grandkids.

What sets us apart is that we’ve never tried to be the biggest gym. We’ve tried to build the best coaching experience.

Every member is coached by someone who knows their name, understands their goals, and helps them make steady progress. We intentionally keep the focus on relationships, accountability, and education rather than intimidation. Whether you’re a former athlete or someone who’s never stepped foot in a gym, our goal is to make fitness approachable, sustainable, and even fun.

Over the years, that philosophy has expanded beyond the gym. We’ve built youth athletic development programs that emphasize long-term development over early specialization, helping young athletes become stronger, more resilient, and more confident.

More recently, I’ve begun sharing what I’ve learned as a father of five teenagers through Father Time 2.0—a newsletter, book, and growing collection of resources designed to help parents build stronger relationships with their kids before they leave home (joshguerrieri.com).

If there’s one thing I’m most proud of, it’s not the number of members we’ve coached or the years we’ve been in business. It’s that after two decades, we’ve built a community people genuinely want to be part of. Members become friends. Coaches stay for years, and families truly grow up with us.

And on a personal level, I’m proud that I’ve been able to help lead and grow this gym without sacrificing my own family in the process. I’ve been able to be present for my kids, coach their teams, show up for all the important stuff, and still build something I’m really proud of. That’s probably my favorite measure of success.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Absolutely.

First, my wife Erin deserves more credit than anyone. Though she doesn’t actively work in the company anymore, she was vital in helping us get off the ground and grow, and she even coached in the gym at one point. She’s also the first person to hear about all my new ideas—many of which, thankfully, never materialize. 🙂 Members, you’re welcome!

Our coaching team has also been incredible. One of the things I’m most proud of is that many of our coaches have been with us for years, and some for more than a decade. They’ve poured their hearts into our members and helped shape FitWit’s culture into what it is today. Truly our secret sauce.

Our members deserve a tremendous amount of credit, too. We’ve had people trust us with their health for 10, 15, even 20 years. That’s an incredible responsibility, and we’ve learned as much from them as they’ve learned from us. Their stories, feedback, and loyalty have continually pushed us to improve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fitwit.com/ and Joshguerrieri.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitwitnation/ and https://www.instagram.com/joshua_guerrieri/