Contrarian Thinking  Reviews 333

Contrarian first taught me how to buy a business; then they taught me how to run a business. I've learned an insane amount in a short period of time, and I'm making more money and have more flexibility than I've ever had before. Thank you, Codie, and your awesome Contrarian team!

My partner and I joined Contrarian Thinking because we got tired of business content that sounds smart but doesn’t actually change how you operate.

Two things Contrarian Thinking (More specifically - Growth Boardroom) already helped us with in a very real way:

Most recently it's helped us with lead generation. Contrarian thinking training helped us stop chasing random marketing tactics and start thinking like operators. We have a new relationship with distribution, leverage, positioning, and repeatable systems that actually bring in qualified leads.

Second is hiring, and honestly, this was the biggest win. During a critical hiring phase, Contrarian Thinking was there for us when we needed them. The team advised us on hiring incentives, equity allocation, recruitment strategies to attract the right kind of employees. They kept us from rushing, getting emotional, or hiring out of urgency. I genuinely believe it saved us from expensive mis-hirings.

The Growth Boardroom feels like someone who actually cares about your success is handing you the SOPs and keeping you accountable in your journey.

If you’re running a business and want to improve your decision making, it’s worth it.

My membership in Contrarian Thinking/Contrarian Academy was instrumental in my success in buying a business. The support I received throughout the process and the contacts I made with other members were invaluable. I have been part of three different coaching organizations, and this one is the standout. Since I had two different coaching experiences to compare it to (in different spaces - short term rental and self-storage acquisition), I knew what to look for this time and knew what was different the minute I entered. So well organized. So many opportunities for learning. So many ways to get one on one help without begging for it. Honestly, there was more help available than I even had time to access. The other thing that really stands out here is the way Contrarian seeks out honest feedback and then makes a concerted effort to address it, which has resulted in constant improvement on an already great product. I'm looking forward to jumping into the next step now - Growth Boardroom for business owners. I have no doubt I will experience the same level of support there.

This is like having a board of advisors full of experts in various fields. You learn just as much from the others members as you do from the mentors. If you're in a place to dedicate a few hours a week to working ON your business instead of IN your business, this is the place for you.

Had an absolute blast at the workshop in March. Got to meet a lot of different leaders from all walks of life & Codies team blessed us all with immense knowledge. Being able to be in a room with other leaders who have similar problems and/or solutions is one of the most unique ways to connect and I absolutely found that here.

Went to the Growth Accelerator Workshop and meet lots of great people. The workshop itself was also helpful. Came away with a lot to think about and go implement.

Most effective mastermind I have ever attended (and I’ve attended many). In just two weeks following the event, my business partner and I completely reshaped our business model, found $120k in savings, and pivoted toward what we think will be our most profitable offer.

This could not have happened without this event. The advisors were incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. The lectures were actionable and useful. And the other participants were just as knowledgable about what it takes to move the needle forward.

Anything Codie Sanchez does is sure to have the highest of quality. Run to anything she does.

Working on your business never stops and these guys lay the foundation to build your business has high as you want to take it. They helped me clear though the noise and focus on the things that matter to grow your business.

Anything Codie touches is gold!

I recently had the opportunity to attend a Contrarian Thinking 3-day workshop along 100 entrepreneurs and business operators/owners in Austin and the experience was action packed. "Money loves speed" and the entire team/speakers were very practical + dedicated to ensuring attendees walked out of the workshop with an actionable plan (vs concepts) and tangible "do this now" steps (vs. inspiration).

It was refreshing to be around a room of like-minded, growth-minded individuals from a variety of business genres; and, in the age of AI, Zoom fatigue and doom scrolling, you cannot beat human connection IRL (in real life).

Codie, of course, is awesome and inspiring--and the team she has built around her at CT is a reflection of her energy and character.

Adrian with the customer experience side of everything was particularly amazing -- he took the time to genuinely understand my business (functional medicine + gut health brand) and think even bigger!

The conference was absolutely incredible. I truly can’t stop talking about it to anyone who will listen. This room was built for entrepreneurs at their core, and I felt that the entire time I was there. I walked away with an abundance of knowledge, clarity, and direction that I know will help catapult my businesses forward. I’m especially excited to join the Boardroom and continue learning from Codie’s team as I step into this next phase of my entrepreneurial journey. Being surrounded by such driven, like minded people was inspiring, many of which are now friends. I’m already looking forward to being back in the room again.

Codie and her team truly know what they’re doing.

From creative direction to high-level strategy, from big-picture thinking to the fine-tuned details, they are operating on a level that blends cutting edge CRM systems, AI innovation, and what most people overlook… the money. The metrics. The real business backbone.

Over the course of her 3-day workshop, every single team member showed up with excellence and intention. The experience was not only educational, it was activating, inspiring.

One person who left a lasting impression on me was Adrian! A beautifully eager, sharp, and driven young entrepreneur who embodies the future of this space.

Being based in Austin, it meant a lot to connect both personally and professionally with members of her team. There’s something powerful about being in proximity to people who are building, thinking, and executing at that level.

Grateful for the room I stepped into and even more excited for the ones I’m building and creating with deep intention and purpose.

Actionable, great people, well-run workshop.

The Austin Growth Accelerator Workshop was absolutely worth my time.

This was not a fluffy event full of generic business advice. It was three days in a room with operators who are actually doing the work, talking through real numbers, real problems, and real decisions. The conversations were practical, honest, and high-level at the same time.

What I found most valuable is that I didn’t just leave inspired. I left with real clarity and a 90-day plan I actually believe in.

A few of my biggest takeaways were around sharpening and communicating my vision more clearly, pushing my leaders to own the most important priorities on a weekly and monthly cadence, auditing my calendar to eliminate or delegate energy-draining meetings, and building a stronger organization that can drive excellence and the future without everything depending on me directly. It also pushed my thinking on leadership development, core values, hiring, and customer clarity.

That’s what made the Austin workshop so useful: it created space to think bigger, but also forced me to turn that thinking into concrete action.

If you are a business owner who wants substance instead of hype, this workshop delivers.

This is a fast moving high end educational experience. They are doing their level best to push and educate within a modicum of risk. The trainers are top notch and multi business owners.

We have bought and sold 2 other businesses over the years and would have LOVED to have this organization on our team. We would have possibly got this done on our own but not nearly with as much certainty and confidence.

I was a member of Contrarian Thinking for about 1.5 years and ultimately was able to purchase a business. CT provides all the necessary education to acquire a small business as well as a helpful community to provide guidance, support and accountability. There are many courses these days of varying quality but CT is one of the legitimate ones.

Everyone I have spoken to so far has exhibited real care and concern for helping me move my business forward, especially Alex Hooper. He is patient, extremely responsive and genuinely cares about helping me get answers and information. His insight has already helped me to push my ad agency to do more with less. They were asking me to double my marketing budget! Alex was able to cut through the nonsense and provide me with a framework that would force the agency to be far more efficient and effective with a forecasted result of doubling my lead volume with ZERO budget increase. I did not know what information I was lacking, so I was not equipped to ask the right questions. Alex is helping shed light on all the areas I need to get more informed about. Thank you Alex and Contrarian!!

I have zero regrets about joining the Contrarian Thinking community. Acquisitions are a complex topic, but what impressed me the most is their ability to simplify everything and proactively answer questions before you even realize you have them. I never felt lost at any point. Whenever I had a question, it was answered, and the guidance was always clear.

The structure and organization of the community are excellent. Everything is laid out in a way that is easy to navigate and understand. It is simple, yet packed with an incredible amount of value. You cannot get confused because the process and resources are so well organized.

Most importantly, I was able to successfully acquire a business thanks to this community. I honestly have no idea how I would have done it without them.

Contrarian Thinking gave me the tools and support to buy a business. It was engaging, informative and helped connect me to resources I needed. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to buy a business. You will still need to put in the work.

I (along with my husband) joined Contrarian Thinking about a year ago after being laid off from my fintech career of 30 years. I’ll be honest—I was skeptical. I assumed it might be “another one of those weekend events” that tries to pull you into something.
A year later, I’m thrilled to say I was wrong!
I closed on my first small business in February of 2026 and I couldn’t be happier. CT gave me the confidence, the tools, and the community to make the leap from corporate life into ownership.
Codie is classy, genuine, down‑to‑earth—and clearly an exceptional leader. The value we’ve received has far exceeded the cost. I’ve learned a ton and continue to learn every single day.
Additionally- my husband, who was in fintech for 24+ years, quit his W2 and started (as opposed to acquiring) his own small business with 2 partners- also thanks to CT!
Goodbye, corporate life. Hello, small‑business ownership.

Codie and her team at Contrarian Thinking have been a welcome voice of support, inspiration, and challenge for me as I look to run my business and lead my team in the best way. There is no question too big or too small and the shared experience is incredibly valuable. My thoughts and habits are brought to the light and scrutinized and then can be improved. The CT experience has been a great addition to our company!