From Construction Worker to Web App Creator

I can still recall the frustration that sparked the idea for DIY-it. Back when I was working as a construction worker, I’d often come home to tackle projects around the house—whether it was fixing something broken or creating something my wife had in mind. But every time I searched for a DIY project, I found myself bouncing between YouTube and multiple websites, trying to piece together a solution. And when I finally found something useful, it would be buried under a mountain of ads and pop-ups. That’s when the thought hit me: Why isn’t there a simpler way to find, create, and share DIY projects in one place?

That was the moment DIY-it was born, at least as an idea. But getting from concept to a working app was far from easy. The first version of my MVP? It was nothing like what I had envisioned. After a month of work, I realized it wasn’t going to cut it. Scrapping it and starting over felt like a huge setback, but I knew I had to, if I was going to build something worthwhile.

Without any mentors or guidance, I had to rely on my own determination. But that didn’t stop me. My motivation wasn’t just about building a successful app—it was about creating something that I could one day pass down to my children, and teaching them through my own experiences. That vision kept me moving forward, even when things felt overwhelming.

It helped to remember why I started this journey in the first place. Every morning, when I saw my wife and daughter, I was reminded that this was about more than just my own challenges—it was for them. They were the reason I pushed through, even when it would’ve been easier to give up.

Now that DIY-it is live, I’m especially proud of the Ask DIY-it feature. It allows users to upload a photo of any item they want to recreate, and the app generates a step-by-step tutorial, complete with a list of materials and tools. This was the feature I wish I had when I first started those home projects, and seeing it come to life has been incredibly rewarding.

Launching DIY-it has been a long journey, but the sense of accomplishment I felt when it finally went live made it all worth it. Of course, there are always improvements to be made, but for now, I’m taking a moment to appreciate how far it’s come.

If anyone else has experienced something similar—starting from scratch, facing setbacks, or launching their own product—I’d love to hear about your journey. Any tips on post-launch strategies are always welcome.