I’m a blunt man, so I’ll say this straight: no fluff, no filters—this is going to land like a blow to the gut: I made my fortune with brains and balls.
There’s this myth floating around that if you see a guy who’s financially free, he must have been lucky, inherited a fortune, or cheated his way up. Let me set the record straight: I didn’t win the lottery, I’m rich because I used my brain and my balls. Nothing more, nothing less.
“I failed. Again and again. Then I succeeded.
For just one reason: I absolutely fucking refuse to give up. ”
— Johnny Nice
No one handed me a golden ticket. I started from the very scratch, just think that at 27 years old I was broke and sleeping on a friend’s basement sofa with over $200.000 in debt, and I climbed from rock bottom to achieve financial freedom.
And YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME.
I earned my financial freedom by making smart decisions, taking risks, and never letting fear dictate my moves. That’s what separates the ones who make it from the ones who don’t.
Let me be clear on it: I failed 80% of the time (this Pareto was so right). I started four businesses (FOUR!!!) in a row, and all of them failed. I kept going, refining my strategy, and pushing forward. Success didn’t come because I never failed; it came because I never quit.
Most people are too comfortable. They follow the script: school, job, mortgage, retirement—then die. Is this life? Do not follow the herd! I tore up that script a long time ago when I realized nobody got rich on a salary.
I built multiple income streams—rental properties, stocks, options trading, dividends, and business investments—because I saw early on that a single source of income is financial suicide. While others were saving for a retirement they might never enjoy, I was setting up a system where my money never stopped growing.
Some deals didn’t work out, but the ones that did paid for my lifestyle. Because I understood something most don’t: the biggest risk is doing nothing.
“The goal is to retire at 40 with
cash-flowing assets.
Not 65 with a pension.”
— Johnny Nice
This wasn’t just about knowledge; it was about having the balls to take action and risk.
Too many people are scared to take risks but risk Is the price of freedom. They’re afraid of losing money, looking stupid, or failing. I was part of that club too. Then I resigned, and I took my road.
I’ve lost money. A lot, millions. I’ve looked stupid. I’ve failed. Many times.
And guess what? I got back up. Every. Single. Time.
And now I don’t give a dime on other people opinions, they go work every day to pay bills why I enjoy my incredible, beautiful, fulfilled life.
And you should do the same.
The truth is, if you want financial freedom, you have to embrace risk. You need to invest when others hesitate. You need to make moves when others sit still. Playing it safe never made anyone rich.
Sacrifice Now, Win Later.
People want to be financially free, but they don’t want to do what it takes. They want the rewards without the grind.
I didn’t start with a lavish lifestyle. I cut unnecessary expenses, reinvested my earnings, and lived below my means when I had to. While others were financing cars and blowing cash on things that didn’t matter, I was building a financial machine. I bought my sports cars later, cash, while others were still paying off their station wagons. I retired at 43, healthy, wealthy and happy. Ready to enjoy my life with so much energy.
My mom told me “you’re a loser” when I was 25. She was wrong.
Now is your turn: Excuses Don’t Pay the Bills.
Some will read this and roll their eyes. “Not everyone can do that”, “I don’t have the time”, “It’s too risky”, “you’re just lucky”…
I call bullshit.
The truth is, most people don’t want to put in the work or take the risks. They say YES to distractions instead of move their asses. It’s easier to blame the system, the economy, the government, or some imaginary force holding them back. But no one is coming to save you. You either figure it out, or you don’t. In the end, is just your life.
If you’re still making excuses, enjoy your 9-to-5.
Not everyone has the privilege to fail repeatedly without severe consequences. Your story, while inspiring, may not be universally applicable
Privilege? If you lack the courage to step out of your comfort zone, don’t be surprised when life doesn’t hand you extraordinary results. Privilege is a word out of my dictionary.
Disagree! The notion that a single income source is ‘financial suicide’ overlooks the reality that most people don’t have the means to diversify their income streams
The book of excuses has few pages with me
Not everyone has the chance to change their life like you did, is not an excuse, it’s a fact
Johnny this is the kind of raw, unfiltered truth people need to hear. Success isn’t about luck at all, it’s about having the guts to take risks and the brains to make them pay off. Respect to those who think, act, and own their future!
Il talento e il coraggio sono importanti, ma ridurre il successo solo a questo è semplicistico. Ci sono anche fattori come il contesto, le possibilità economiche e la fortuna.
Forse, ma non agire ti farà perdere Il 100% delle opportunità che non cogli. La fortuna aiuta gli audaci
Non tutti possono permettersi di rischiare grosso senza perdere tutto. Non è questione di scuse, ma di realtà
Se vuoi andare in cima alla montagna, devi rischiare di cadere
You are right, this is a punch in the stomach. Respect
Oh right, so anyone who isn’t rich is just brainless and spineless? Let’s conveniently ignore things like privilege, circumstances, and a bit of luck. Brilliant insight!
Did I perhaps say this?
Jonny can you share more infos on how to start? I’m 32 and I want to be financially free in 15-20 years.
Please make some videos with tips and advises for us
I’m considering it, thank you
If I didn’t know you personally, I may have read this and leave a bad comment.
But because I do, I understand what choices you made in life and I know what kind of sacrifices you did to live the life that everyone dreams of.
One point that I have to emphasise is that, from the perspective of a “financially challenged person” like myself and many others, the theories and the lessons that you shared with us are almost incomprehensible. A person that never really took time to understand how money work and how loans work and how banks work, will never be able to fully understand what you mean by assets, passive income, and compound interest.
After meeting you in person and speaking to you several times I understood that I was lacking information. Of course you took risks and gambled and you got your rewards, but you were also hungry enough and challenged enough to achieve your goal.
There’s a famous quote that says: “most people don’t want to be free. want to be safe”
Anyway, another thing that doesn’t probably transpire from this Post and the many others that you wrote on your website is that you don’t waste money even today. That strategy that you embraced at the beginning of your career of not wasting money in a few tile stuff when you don’t have the financial capability to do so, is still within you. You are wealthy, but you don’t live in a massive mansion surrounded by servers and showcasing your money to everybody like most rich people will do. You still live relatively simply and you stay humble. You like to surround yourself with people that, like you, love a challenge and they are generous.
So, despite of the very director and straightforward Post, you are a great human being and most of all you are a kind hearted person.
And this is what, in my opinion, makes you truly a rich person in every way.
Paolo, wow! This is one of the most thoughtful comments I’ve ever received. First of all, thank you for having the ability to read between the lines, my intention was exactly to be provocative.
I truly appreciate that you see beyond the words and into the experiences that shaped my journey. I am sipping my coffee and reading your comment, twice. You’re absolutely right, financial knowledge isn’t something we’re all naturally exposed to, and without that foundation, concepts like assets, passive income, or compound interest can feel abstract or even out of reach.
I really like your point, and you’re right, I should refine my wording in future posts to be clearer and more accessible so that I can reach the right audience more effectively. You got the point bro. In the end, this is a blog of motorbikes, traveling and adventure, not a financial one. You opened my eyes, thank you.
As you know, I wasn’t born understanding these things either. In fact, I wasn’t just broke, I was arrogant, stubborn, and, let’s be honest, pretty stupid. Not exactly the best starting point, right?
And yes, I still live by the same principles I had when I started. Wealth, for me, was never about flashy displays. This is actually the first time I’ve shown myself with some of the many fancy cars I’ve had, again, just to be provocative. To me, real wealth is about freedom, experiences, and inspiring others. That’s the kind of ‘richness’ that truly matters.
Thank you for your kind words, they mean more than you know. If anything I share helps even one person rethink their financial future, then it’s all been worth it.
Condivido appieno il commento di Paolo. Johnny, i tuoi concetti sono straordinari come il tuo modo non convenzionale di vedere le cose. Però ti esprimi con un linguaggio a volte troppo tecnico e difficilmente comprensibile, almeno per me.
Io sono un piccolo imprenditore, ho una piccola ditta di elettriciste e per esempio quello che per te può sembrare un complicatissimo quadro elettrico, per me è come bere un bicchiere d’acqua. Quello che per te è la finanza, concetti a te estremamente semplici, per me sono davvero difficile da capire.
Io ho sempre delegato la mia banca per i miei investimenti che infatti non stanno andando bene e grazie ai tuoi suggerimenti, sto cambiando radicalmente.
Your post reeks of arrogance and survivor bias. Wealth isn’t just "brains and balls" it’s also privilege, luck, and circumstances. Dismissing others’ struggles is ignorant and insulting.
Raw, unapologetic, and refreshingly honest. Success often demands both intellect and courage, and your journey proves that taking bold risks with a sharp mind can lead to financial freedom. It’s inspiring to see someone own their path without sugarcoating the reality of what it takes to win
Bien que son récit soit inspirant, il est important de noter que son expérience est personnelle et que les parcours vers la réussite peuvent varier considérablement d’une personne à l’autre. La prise de risques financiers et professionnels peut ne pas convenir à tout le monde, et les circonstances individuelles jouent un rôle significatif dans la réalisation de tels objectifs.
Love the concept of making money from investments. How to start? Any tips, advice?
Make some videos! You can literally change someone else’s life
I love the unapologetic confidence! When you combine brains, boldness, and a dash of bravado, there’s no telling how far you’ll go. It’s proof that a little calculated risk, backed by smarts and sheer nerve, can be a winning combo