Contrarian ThinkingReviews of contrarianthinking.co

Never knew ETA was a thing, no less a community, until I "ran into" Cody & Contrarian. The education, the camaraderie, and guidance is thoughtful, deliberate, supportive and practical. I am undoubtedly much better equipped to take on this next-chapter challenge in my entrepreneurial journey as a result of my Contrarian experience. Many thanks to the extended staff for providing both strategic and tactical support along the way!

As an operator-investor building an M&A platform focused on healthcare and cash-flow businesses, I've worked through a lot of programs, advisors, and frameworks. Contrarian Thinking sits at the top of that list. Codie Sanchez and her team have built something genuinely rare: a community and curriculum that treats acquisition entrepreneurship as a real craft, not a marketing pitch. The frameworks around deal sourcing, seller psychology, capital stack design, and SBA-aligned financing have directly shaped how I structure my own roadmap, from Deal Zero through larger platform plays. What sets it apart is the discipline behind the content. The advice is specific, the math is honest, and the strategic thinking holds up under pressure. I've found myself returning to the same frameworks repeatedly when stress-testing LOIs, evaluating seller notes, and sequencing a sub-$5M first acquisition before scaling into a platform thesis. For anyone serious about buying businesses rather than romanticizing the idea, Contrarian Thinking earns its reputation. It's been one of the highest-leverage resources I've engaged with on this journey.

I started my Contrarian Academy journey highly skeptical. The upfront investment felt steep, and I wasn't sure it would deliver real value beyond what I could learn independently. One month in, I was completely wrong. I've operated manufacturing businesses for 6+ years, and this program exceeded my expectations by a wide margin. Pros: Smooth onboarding — Clear processes, hand-holding at every step Access to elite deal coaches — Each has impressive operating track records. This level of coaching would cost thousands elsewhere Wall Street-caliber training — Recorded courses, live sessions, real operators to brainstorm with End-to-end deal support — From designing your deal box to closing and post-acquisition integration Community accountability — Regular nudging to step outside your comfort zone. The community momentum is real Structured weekly schedule — Deal prep, structuring sessions, deal teardowns. Think rigorous case-study analysis with live deals every week No stupid questions culture — Newbies can ask anything without judgment. This lowers the barrier to engagement significantly Comprehensive resources — Training guides, office hours with real operators, networking opportunities (you might find your next partner here) Culture of continuous improvement — Cody Sanchez empowers her team, and it shows. Recent updates to the website and deal calculators demonstrate ongoing investment ROI vs. traditional MBA — This knowledge would cost $100K+ and years of disappointment through a traditional MBA path If you're serious about buying and operating a business, there's no better program that I would recommend. Cons: Varied experience levels — Members are at different stages; it can feel overwhelming. Lean on coaches during live sessions Time investment required — This isn't instant gratification. Consistency and patience are essential. Some close deals in 30 days; most take longer Steep learning curve—Buying a business is hard. You'll become a generalist fast. Embrace the learning process Like anything, there's room for improvement, but leaders like Rylan Harvey actively seek opportunities to enhance the experience. The academy delivers real value for serious operators

Joined the CT community in February. Started looking into a HVAC franchise. While asking some questions regarding franchising, Rylan informed me the company had multiple lawsuits, and showed how the franchise was unproven. It is using a territory it converted and relaying that information to sell more territories. If it were not for the CT community and the knowledge it possesses, I could have slipped into a few hundred grand mistake! Big thanks to CT and Rylan!

Codie has been doing wonders for business advice. Savvy, on point and very tuned in. She doesn’t take you to glamorous, she takes you to no nonsense business ideas. The glamour will follow later. I really related to an email on the “ceiling”. I find this so timely in my business and give such needed direction. Well done!

I can’t fully describe what being part of the Contrarian Thinking community has done for me. When I first started exploring acquiring a business, I was overwhelmed and genuinely didn’t think it was something I could actually do. Through the academy courses, access to professional advisors, and a community of entrepreneurial, like-minded peers, that completely changed. I now feel more confident than ever. I have the ability to jump on Slack and crowdsource questions, dig into insights on virtually any topic related to business acquisition, and join advisor office hours multiple times a week—often getting direct, one-on-one guidance. There is essentially 24/7 access to knowledge, support, and real-world experience. I’m learning more every single day, and I can’t imagine making the moves I’m making without the guidance I’ve received from Codie and the community she’s built. This experience has been more valuable than any college course or Wall Street role—because it’s grounded in real operators and experienced professionals who are incredibly generous with their time and genuinely want to see you succeed.

Mind blowing....simple changes to pack a huge impact punch to my bottom line. To be surrounded by 100 other founders across different industries and approaches was incredibly powerful. Every moment of the three days was a learning opportunity. HIGHLY recommend!

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!