Four years ago, a young Austin Dunham began his calisthenics fitness journey, and recorded his progress to put on YouTube. Calisthenics is the art of working out solely with one’s bodyweight, such as with push-ups and pull-ups. The idea of using one’s bodyweight and being able to exercise in almost any location intrigued him. Dunham was 5 foot 10 and weighed around 150 pounds when he began uploading, slightly on the smaller side. Still, he posted video after video of his progress and slowly became a master of some very difficult moves, all while going through college.

His YouTube channel steadily gained a following, and currently has amassed an audience of over 784,000 subscribers. Although he was not a masterful instructor when he started, Dunham’s passion for calisthenics and his consistency made it easy for people to support him and want his success. Eventually, he learned tricks and techniques that he was able to share with his audience, adding value to their calisthenic journey. Dunham also set himself apart by incorporating weighted calisthenics into his routines. Typically, calisthenics athletes are smaller and lean like Austin was when he started. However, Dunham now sits at around 175 pounds with just 10% body fat. By achieving this physique, he countered many common beliefs about calisthenics and showcased its value in a new way. After reaching a substantial following and proving himself to be one of the top calisthenics athletes on the YouTube platform, Dunham decided to further monetize his abilities by establishing the AD Workout brand where he would sell workout plans, equipment, and apparel. By starting this business, Dunham was able to turn his passion into a company. His loyal fan base became loyal customers, and continued to support him in his endeavors. Austin Dunham is a prime example of an entrepreneur who saw success by putting in hours of hard work into something he cared about.