Lifestyle

Entrepreneur Johannes Larsson says slow and steady wins the race

Published

3 years ago

September 13, 2022

Entrepreneur Johannes Larsson built his success step by step.

As the founder and CEO of Financer.com, a comparison engine for personal finance that is operating in 26 markets, Larsson said being successful isn’t about how much money you can make overnight or how fast you can grow your business, but rather how strong of a foundation you can build in a methodical, sustainable way.

“It has always been very gradual for me. When I opened Financer.com, things were going very slowly for the first three years. We stuck with it anyway,” he said. “Then, we had our breakthrough and were able to increase our revenue tenfold. And that momentum kept with us, so much so, that we were able to increase our revenue another 10 times the next year.”

That commitment has always been a part of Larsson, who was born in Sweden and moved to Malta at the age of 19. Having lived abroad the majority of his adult life, he currently spends most of his time in Cyprus, where his company is headquartered.

“I’ve always been a fan of being location independent, and because of that, I have built my business on the remote model, which allowed me to travel across 60 countries while building my business,” he said. “Our team consists of 54 intrapreneurs, who all have complete location independence and work from every corner of the world.”

Understanding the needs of his employees is an important aspect of his business, Larsson said, noting that his team consistently ranks work satisfaction as a nine out of 10.

“I really value having great people, but more so, that those people love working in our company,” he said. “Our average work satisfaction is almost at an all-time high, which has been one of the company’s milestone achievements.”

Perhaps the biggest tell-tale sign of employee dedication at Financer.com came during one of the most turbulent times in global history, the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with an 80% drop in revenue, Larsson said the company was hit from many different angles and left him with some big decisions to make.

“We were bleeding money and the ‘right’ business decision would have been to let go of people,” he said. “Instead, we innovated ourselves out of it.”

Larsson said in addition to pivoting to new verticals that would prove more lucrative for the business during the global pandemic, he also asked his employees to take a temporary pay cut so that the company could keep everyone employed.

“They were all willing to do so, and we lowered our costs significantly for a period of time when we were really down,” he said. “We did not have to fire a single person.”

Larsson said the ability to count on his team he believes stems from the company culture he fosters to enable employees to live a life they genuinely love.

“I have always wanted to make work not feel like work, but rather, see it as living out a purpose. This is something I have already achieved personally. I love working, and I have no schedule whatsoever,” he said. “Not many people have the opportunity to create the exact job they want for themselves or live every day on their own terms. I don’t take that for granted. I want my team to have the same set up and feel like they’re doing something meaningful.”

Connect with Johannes Larsson on Instagram or at his website: www.johanneslarsson.com.

Lifestyle

Derik Fay: The Quiet Power Broker Who Scales Empires and Empowers Generations

Published

23 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Michelle Langton

At 46 years old and standing at an impressive 6’1″, Derik Fay is more than an entrepreneur—he is the architect behind a network of thriving businesses and a digital mentor for thousands. His journey from a single neighborhood gym in Florida to holding stakes in over 40 companies spans decades of strategic vision, discipline, and authenticity.

From Modest Beginnings to a Marketplace Maven

Born on November 19, 1978, in Westerly, Rhode Island, Fay’s early environment offered little in the way of nepotism or crutches—but plenty of lessons. He dropped out of college after just one semester and embraced the grind. At just 22, with lean resources and fierce determination, he launched his first gym. That venture would eventually grow into Florida’s most successful independently owned fitness chain before being acquired by a publicly traded company.

This early win became the foundation for 3F Management, the private equity firm Fay launched post-exit. Today, 3F powers brands across sectors—from fintech and residential infrastructure to combat sports, entertainment, and beauty—each elevated through Fay’s hands-on approach to ownership and operational excellence.

Visibility as Strategic Leverage

Fay’s ascent into public consciousness was not staged. He built his online presence—now over 1.4 million followers strong—through honest, unfiltered takes on business, failure, leadership, and growth. His content resonates because it isn’t rehearsed; it’s earned. Followers tune in not for spectacle but for insight, often quoting “He doesn’t just invest—he builds your belief,” reflecting Fay’s authentic support.

Building Brands, Restoring Hope

Among his notable ventures is Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)—a testament to his willingness to enter unorthodox sectors with strategic clarity. In other less obvious arenas, Fay reinvigorated a faltering beauty company by pairing it with Hollywood cachet and narrative-driven marketing. In another case, an AI startup saw its valuation ascend tenfold in under a year after Fay contributed not only capital but also storytelling structure and vision.

Estimated Net Worth & Long-Term Vision

Although Fay maintains a discrete public profile, credible industry estimates place his net worth somewhere between $100 million and $250 million. This valuation comes from his diverse equity stakes, successful exits, real estate investments, and his firm’s consistent growth and reinvestment cycle.

Personal Life Anchored in Legacy

Off-screen, Fay is a devoted partner to Shandra Phillips (since 2021) and a hands-on father to two daughters: Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay. He’s more than a mogul—he’s a mentor. An embodiment of “If I can do it, anyone can,” his presence in DMs or quick coaching call is not rare, but intentional.

Rerouting the Model of Modern Wealth

Unlike today’s entrepreneurs who prioritize visibility and virality, Fay applies visibility as a lever—not an objective. He quietly scales, confident that his systems and culture will outlive the trends. He mentors, not performatively, but tangibly. For him, success isn’t a moment—it’s a long-term ecosystem amplified through structure, not spotlight.