Meet Joshua Becker | Founder of Becoming Minimalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua Becker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, what is the most important factor behind your success?
When people hear Becoming Minimalist, they most often think of the blog — but over the years, it has grown into far more than that. Today it includes Books, Speaking, Simplify Magazine, Simple Money Magazine, The Minimalist Life community, our YouTube channel, Becker Method Professional Training program, online courses, and our nonprofit work through The Hope Effect. So my work and brand is a wide range of projects nowadays, but they all flow from the same heartbeat.

And honestly, I think that’s the real reason the brand has succeeded.

From the very beginning, I wasn’t trying to build a business. I loved my previous career and thought I’d do it for my entire life.

So Becoming Minimalist was never about chasing metrics or dreaming about platforms. I was simply trying to help people own less and live a more intentional life. That was my only goal — to share something that had changed my life in a meaningful way.

Over time, the better I became at helping people, the more the business grew. The opportunities, the revenue, the audience — all of that came as a byproduct. I’ve tried to keep that order intact ever since: serve first, help people first, make a difference first. If that stays at the center, everything else tends to take care of itself. Or, as I like to remind the team: Genuinely help people and the money will follow.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At its core, my entire business is about helping people live intentional lives by owning less so they can focus more on their values. In that way, I don’t sell minimalism as the goal—it’s the path that frees up our time, money, and energy for what matters most. If I had to summarize it, I’d simply say: When we remove what we don’t need, we create more space for the things truly satisfy. That is the essence of the Becoming Minimalist brand.

And I think that focus is what sets our work apart from simple conversations about decluttering. Everything we create — the blog, books, courses, magazines, community, even our nonprofit — flows from that mission.

Along the way, I’ve learned that people are far more alike than different. We all desire the same things: meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose, faith for many of us, and the chance to make a positive difference. The distractions just look different from person to person. But removing them (minimalism) benefits all of us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had an entire week to show a friend around Phoenix, I’d make sure we got out of the city for at least a day or two. Arizona’s natural beauty is too stunning to miss. We’d visit Sedona, drive up to the Grand Canyon, stop through Jerome, and spend some time in Flagstaff. Even one night outside the city can give someone a whole new appreciation for the desert.

In Phoenix though, given my love for amazing food, most of my itinerary would revolve around it. I’d take them to my favorite Mexican spots — Rio Mirage Café, Barrio Queen, and Cocina Madrigal. My family loves brunch, so Original Breakfast House and Brunch! in Cave Creek would definitely make the list. And I’d make sure we had dinner at Lom Wong at least once.

Because both of my kids went to local universities (ASU for my son and GCU for my daughter), we’d tour both campuses. It’s a fun way to see the city through their eyes.

And of course, no trip is complete without a hike. I’d make sure we got at least one good climb up Camelback Mountain. It’s a workout, but the views at the top are worth every step.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, all good things in my life direct me to give credit to God. I’ve always felt like I’m just trying to be faithful with what I’ve been given.

The second shoutout absolutely goes to my wife and kids. None of this would be possible without their encouragement, their patience, and their willingness to walk this path alongside me and jump in to help me over and over again—even to this day my wife is involved in the business and my son is now too..

Beyond that, I often mention Leo Babauta (zenhabits.net) as my greatest online mentor. His writing on minimalism was incredibly influential in those early days. But he also modeled a posture online that resonated with me—one that wasn’t salesy or manipulative, but genuine, calm, and helpful. Also, he showed me that a website can become a business without putting ads on it. His example gave me permission to show up online in a way that resonated with my heart.

There are countless others, of course, but those three influences shaped both the person I’ve become and the work I get to do today.

Website: https://www.becomingminimalist.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshua_becker/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becoming-minimalist/

Twitter: https://x.com/joshua_becker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becomingminimalist

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaBecker

Other: https://simplifymagazine.com

Image Credits
Gabriella Tamney

(just for the two distinct headshots)