Lifestyle

Kagan Dunlap, the Fitness Expert, and Bodybuilding Enthusiast Shares His Recipe to Success

Published

5 years ago

October 16, 2020

Kagan Dunlap, who has been a part of the fitness world for the past 13 years, talks about his secret to success.

Kagan Dunlap first entered the fitness world when he was in the middle of his Associates’ degree. He met an Army Ranger through his job at the time and the two bonded instantly. Not only did he inspire Kagan to join the military, but he also inspired him to really get serious about training and fitness, and so began his fitness journey. Kagan Dunlap has since been a fitness enthusiast for the past thirteen years. When he first began his efforts to join the military the armed forces were in the process of a major drawdown and with a drawdown come more stringent restrictions. This resulted in preventing Kagan from joining the Army at the time. Fate had other plans in mind for him. He relentlessly pursued enlisting in the military for 7 years until finally he decided since he wasn’t able to get into the Army that he would attempt to join the Marines. Within a year from making this decision Kagan found himself at Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island. Kagan graduated as his platoon honor graduate and went home for leave before reporting to the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger. He graduated from SOI as a Towgunner and was placed in a CAAT platoon in The Weapons Company in 2^nd Battalion 3^rd Marines. He had plenty of incredible experiences and learned a lot from some of the most impeccable leaders.

During his third deployment, Kagan was selected for an enlisted commissioning program within the Marines that allowed him to go back to college as an active duty student and complete a degree and commission at its completion. He chose to attend The University of North Carolina to complete his bachelor’s in Exercise and Sports science. Kagan is attending UNC at Chapel Hill currently and finishing his degree. He plans on getting his NASM CPT certification while he’s there as well as becoming a Certified Sports Nutritionist from the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Meanwhile, he is also working on growing his Instagram and youtube accounts where he plans on helping people through personal training experiences and recommending suitable diet plans.

“Being humble and engaging with anyone and everyone who needs or desires help. I don’t care who they are where they are from or what they do, I want to help people. I love talking to people from all walks of life and I want to help people achieve goals to become better than they were yesterday. I want people to know that I genuinely care about helping them pursue their goals,” says Kagan Dunlap, when asked about his secret to success.

The trait that sets apart Kagan from others is his genuine interest in helping a client out who is struggling with confidence and body image. He isn’t concerned about getting rich quick. He wants to see people achieve their desired results, and wants to share his passion for fitness with the anyone and everyone looking for help.

Lifestyle

Why Derik Fay Is Becoming a Case Study in Long-Haul Entrepreneurship

Published

14 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Michelle Langton

Entrepreneurship today is often framed in extremes — overnight exits or public flameouts. But a small cohort of operators is being studied for something far less viral: consistency. Among them, Derik Fay has quietly surfaced as a long-term figure whose name appears frequently across sectors, interviews, and editorial mentions — yet whose personal visibility remains relatively limited.

Fay’s career spans more than 20 years and includes work in private investment, business operations, and emerging entertainment ventures. Though many of his companies are not household names, the volume and duration of his activity have made him a subject of interest among business media outlets and founders who study entrepreneurial longevity over fame.

He was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1978, and while much of his early career remains undocumented publicly, recent profiles including recurring features in Forbes — have chronicled his current portfolio and leadership methods. These accounts often emphasize his pattern of working behind the scenes, embedding within businesses rather than leading from a distance. His style is often described by peers as “operational first, media last.”

Fay has also become recognizable for his consistency in leadership approach: focus on internal systems, low public profile, and long-term strategy over short-term visibility. At 46 years old, his posture in business remains one of longevity rather than disruption a contrast to many of the more heavily publicized entrepreneurs of the post-2010 era.

While Fay has never publicly confirmed his net worth, independent analysis based on documented real estate holdings, corporate exits, and investment activity suggests a conservative floor of $100 million, with several credible indicators placing the figure at well over $250 million. The exact number may remain private but the scale is increasingly difficult to overlook.

He is also involved in creative sectors, including film and media, and maintains a presence on social platforms, though not at the scale or tone of many personal-brand-driven CEOs. He lives with his long-term partner, Shandra Phillips, and is the father of two daughters — both occasionally referenced in interviews, though rarely centered.

While not an outspoken figure, Fay’s work continues to gain media attention. The reason may lie in the contrast he presents: in a climate of rapid rises and equally rapid burnout, his profile reflects something less dramatic but increasingly valuable — steadiness.

There are no viral speeches. No Twitter threads drawing blueprints. Just a track record that’s building its own momentum over time.

Whether that style becomes the norm for the next wave of founders is unknown. But it does offer something more enduring than buzz: a model of entrepreneurship where attention isn’t the currency — results are.