Codie A. Sanchez

Investing millions in Main St businesses & teaching you how to own the rest | HoldCo, VC fund, Founder

On a mission to create financially free and free-thinking humans.I founded a advisory and investment company called Contrarian Thinking that helps owners buy and scale businesses.Our newsletter has over 1M+ weekly readers, here → contrarianthinking.biz/liOur community has taught 9,000+ members biz buying, biz growing, and doing deals. We value experience over degrees.Betting on yourself over building someone else's dream.Main Street over Wall Street.My mission is less suits, more boots. Meaning: we the people holding the power… and the purse strings.🔗Join 1M+ others who get our free newsletter: contrarianthinking.biz/li🔗YouTube: @CodieSanchezCT🔗Instagram: @codiesanchez🔗Twitter: @Codie_Sanchez🔗Weekly business-buying newsletter Main Street Minute: contrarianthinking.biz/minute-li

Founder

We help free minds and build bank accounts.

Investing millions in Main St businesses & teaching you how to own the rest | HoldCo, VC, Founder | NYT best-selling author

My husband said five words to me that made my worldview flip on never missing a chance to see a loved one: “Measure in times, not years.”

We were debating whether to go home and see our family for Thanksgiving and my husband said...

If your parents are 65, it’s not 20 or 30 years you might have with them, it’s maybe 20 or 30 visits you get with them.

One in four Americans don’t live in the same hometown as their family. How would you change your decisions if you’d only get to see your loved ones for 20 or 30 more days?

You’d change everything to be with them, wouldn’t you? Same if it was six months. And yet when those days are separated by years we let them slide through our fingers.

Next time don’t count the years, remember the days… and treasure them.

3 harsh truths I've been thinking about a lot lately...

1. Most successful people I've met aren't that smart. They move fast, they take risk, they work a lot. That's it.

2. The world is run by C students & failed employees. You can't underestimate yourself.

3. Managing what you choose to sell, do and focus on is more important than how hard you work or how smart you are.

Example:

You can, for the next 40 years:

- Climb up the corporate ladder
- Grind for a mission you don't believe in
- Spend 50hrs/wk+ away from your family

All for a 401k and a white picket fence at the end to show for it.

OR

You can learn how to buy a business and:

- Own a cashflowing biz in your community
- Touch your work with your own two hands
- Disconnect your money from your time
- Spend more time on the things that matter
- Become one of the few... an Owner.

Ownership is not for everyone.

But it could be for you.

I don’t blame you if you're nervous to take the first step on your own.

If that’s you, I’m hosting an event that's just what you need to start acting on business-buying…

Get details & sign-up here → https://lnkd.in/g3V6NrTZ

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Arfan Iftikhar

A hard truth I've learned in business.

It's always who not how.

1. There's only so much time in the day.
2. There's always going to be someone smarter and better than you.

These aren't problems. They're levers.

Every time you struggle with an issue, don't try to figure out how to solve it. Instead, ask yourself what type of person could solve it for you.

You don’t have a HOW problem, you have a WHO problem.

Solve that and you solve everything.

↓ ↓ ↓

This is a strategy I think of as “stealing someone’s 10,000 hours.”

And I’m letting you take my 10,000 hours for free at my Main Street Millionaire Live Event…

I’ve bought & sold 20+ small businesses. I’ve failed a couple, scaled several, and I’m sharing a condensed version of how to buy a biz over 3 days. 

It’ll be beginner-friendly and perfect if you're still in your 9-5.

Save your spot here today → https://lnkd.in/g7mjjqYQ

My coworker got the promotion over me.

Numerically worse at the work. Great at politics.

I brought in deals. Fixed messes. Hit all goals

He was 10x better than me at managing up.

He got the title. I got “keep doing what you’re doing.”

It took 10+ years for me to click that most companies reward politics, not performance.

So I left. Started buying boring businesses and building my own thing.

Now I make many times what my old bosses did. No corporate games.

The best operators don’t usually climb the ladder. They are the ladder everyone else climbs.

Corporate optimizes for compliance. Owners optimize for competence.

If you’re elite at the work but trash at politics, don't give up, I was just like you.

Take the risk in 2026.

↓↓↓

If you want to learn how to buy a business in 2026 and become an owner, I’m doing this 3-day virtual workshop for you: https://lnkd.in/dYP5dr-T

21 tips to be the first gen wealth builder in your family:

1. The Law of Two Hours: 2 hours of dedicated work is worth more than most people’s 8 hours.

2. How to never fail with a business: Start as a side project. Keep your job. Use your salary to fund. Quit when you have enough cashflow.

3. It's not about time. It's about the F word. Focus. You don’t need 24 hours a day to build a business.

4. Think about your salary like a Silicon Valley investor. Treat every single dollar you give to your side business like an investor would.

5. Hope is not a strategy. “Pray like it’s up to God, but work like it’s up to me.”

6. You don't need more time, you need a deadline.

7. Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Money loves speed. Poverty loves waiting.

8. Small & consistent beats big & sporadic. Long hours at a desk is counterproductive.

9. If you want to make more money, be more useful to people who have more money.

10. It is very hard to change the world when you are broke. So don't apologize for chasing money.

11. Nobody cares about your life...They think about you for one second and then think about themselves again. So you might as well do what you want.

12. You must be just dumb enough to believe in yourself, just smart enough to execute.

13. If you say you will do a thing, then actually do the thing. 90% do not do this.

14. No one is coming to save you. You want a better life, go build it.

15. You must learn to be disliked or you’ll find yourself stuck in a prison of other people's desires.

16. Tasting freedom can make you unemployable. Get that initial momentum, and watch your life start to change.

17. You are paid exactly as much as the problems you solve are worth. Bigger problems = bigger $$$

18. Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the available time. Just because you quit your job doesn't mean you'll magically have all of these hours.

19. If you're not currently doing whatever that thing is inside of you, you're not going to do it after you quit your job.

20. Startups are for masochists. If you want that life, I commend you. If you want a slightly less rocky path to ownership, buy a business instead of starting one.

And lastly, there are 2 types of people:

Those who build wealth through ownership. and those who work to make others wealthy.

The dividing line isn’t talent or luck. It’s action.

↓↓↓↓

P.S. If you have yet to take action in 2026 but are interested in becoming an owner...

Come to my business buying masterclass tomorrow. 

It's free. 90 minutes long. And walks you through how to find the right business for you.

Find all the details here: https://lnkd.in/g3V6NrTZ

I sometimes pinch myself. I don't deserve this life.

Knew nothing about finance.
Public schools.
Parents who worked nonstop.
Party school for undergrad.

But my family taught me about hard work, God, responsibility, and never quitting.

It makes no sense, except for the grace of God. Grateful.

I’m 39.

27 lessons I wish I learned in my 20s: 

1. As soon as you hit your 30s, you’ll understand... Your 20s actually suck. If you feel like it sucks right now, guess what? It’s supposed to. It gets better.

2. Your first job is like the DMV. Awful. Everyone’s mad. Nothing works. But the key is.. You are not supposed to stay there.

3. It is very hard to change the world when you are broke. So don't apologize for chasing money.

4. Meet everyone. Say yes to everything. You narrow the field later.

5. Do it all. Because you’ll die eventually and life will make you slow down. But up until then, eat the world.

6. You are not everyone’s cup of tea, that’s a good thing.

7. The most lucrative things you can do in your 20s: 1) learn how to invest, 2) apprentice in PE, real estate, or venture.

8. If they’re not interesting when you’re sober, don’t drink until they become it.

9. Never buy to impress. Being wealthy > looking wealthy… even when that first big-kid check hits your bank account.

10. The most important question you can ask yourself often: Does this bring joy?

11. Do favors, don’t take them. There’s often a hidden price.

12. If I was in my 20s, I’d try to work for one type of company… One where they reward outcomes not hours. Winning > running really hard for a really long time.

13. Seed is only as good as its soil. Where you live during your 20s matters. Take some time away from your hometown.

14. If you feel cynical about the world… I don’t blame you. But always remember the number one superpower for your generation is HOPE.

15. If you’re prone to loneliness and isolation.. do NOT work a remote job. A small team with sleepless nights and shared goals is a powerful thing.

16. Touch grass. A walk outside will be better for your brain than anything you find on your phone.

17. Burnout doesn’t come from working too hard. Burnout comes from working too hard, on things that don’t light you up.

18. Learn how to save now, but understand that saving isn’t what makes you rich.

19. If you want to make more money, be more useful to people who have more money.

20. You must learn to be disliked or you will find yourself stuck in a prison of other people's beliefs.

21. Most successful people I've met aren't that smart. They move fast, they take risk, they work a lot. That's it.

22. If old you doesn’t make you cringe, you haven’t grown enough.

23. Do something hard every day. Then watch that “something” evolve as you become stronger and stronger.

24. If you haven’t done it, you just have an opinion.

25. Marrying well is the biggest life hack of all. Marrying poorly is a costly path to misery. Choose wisely.

26. Working smarter not harder is a beautiful lie. You will not know how to work smart until you've worked very hard for an irrationally long time.

27. Take notes from old people… Waking up early, being married, reading books, going to bed at 10pm, and drinking less is actually amazing.

Ramota Oladejo

There’s no such thing as the right or wrong business.

There’s only the business that’s right or wrong for you.

One of the most common DMs I get is:

"Should I buy a laundromat, car wash, or storage units?"

But that's totally the wrong question to begin with...because everyone has different goals.

That’s why I created the Contrarian Deal Clarity Framework to help first time owners buy a biz.

You need to define 5 components:

1. Your Ideal Owner Experience

Saying “I want to leave my 9-5” is too wishy-washy.

To trade in your W2 form, your vision board needs to be specific on three things:

- Personal goals (do you want more family time or grind for yourself)
- Income goals (replace your $75k salary or build an empire)
- Business goals (be a hands-on operator or absentee owner)

2. Your Zone of Genius

Think of this as the intersection between:

- Passion (what you love)
- Skills & Experience (what you’re good at)
- Network (who you know)

Most people ignore this and buy businesses they eventually hate running.

Don’t be most people.

3. Business Size

It’s easy to fantasize about buying a Fortune 500 company.

But we’re not playing the billionaire game here.

As a first-time time buyer, look for micro acquisitions:

- <$1M cost
- $50K-$200K profits
- 1-3X multiples

Less competition, more opportunity, fewer headaches.

4. Profit

Remember...you’re not just buying a business for the sake of it.

Your acquisition MUST be an income stream that can cover:

1. Debt service
2. Operator salary (if relevant)
3. Growth/working capital
4. Your earnings

Use these two tests to evaluate if a deal is worth looking at:

The SOWS Test

Before I buy anything, I ask if the business is:

- Stale - Does the owner still use fax machines
- Old - Is it 5+ years old with repeat customers
- Weak - Does competition suck at marketing
- Simple - Can an 8-year-old could understand it

The more boxes it checks, the better.

The BRIT Test

Then I check to see if it’s BRIT:

- Buy - Must be a cashflow, not cash-suck businesses
- Resist - Recession-proof
- Increase - Can I raise prices (most owners undercharge by 30%)
- Tech - Can I add simple technology to improve it?

5. Industry

There are certain industries you should avoid for your first biz.

Think restaurants or hotels...

On the flip side, these are my favorite businesses for first-time buyers:

- Digital Businesses (build once, sell forever)
- Home Services (roof repair / lawn care)
- Professional Services (e.g CPAs)
- Real Estate Enhanced (laundromats/car washes)

Once you get clear on your Deal Box, you stop wasting time on deals that don’t fit your criteria and get closer to buying the biz that FEELs right.

↓↓↓

Want to go even deeper than this post did?...

Next week, I'm running a Masterclass breaking down exactly how to buy the perfect business for YOU. 

Check it out: https://lnkd.in/g3V6NrTZ

6 other traits of rich people no one tells you:

1. Rich people want you to sell them something.

2. Something 99% of rich people have in common: they own. Most often, they own businesses & real estate.

3. Most people complain about taxes, then pay them. Rich people study taxes then outsmart them.

4. In my experience, almost all successful people are competitive. More competitive you are, more likely you are to succeed.

5. Most rich people I know don't care about their title at all. Business owner > visionary, industry disrupter, startup CEO

6. You'll learn the most from asking rich people this question: "When did you almost lose it all? What did you learn?"

💥 For more like this, feel free to follow me → Codie A. Sanchez

Story from my dad today.

If you’re a business owner, it may hit you as deeply as it hit me...

He said, you know you’ve met another builder or doer when they’ve felt that flinch at the second Friday of the month.

My father has never bounced a check.

But he remembers this…

It was payday, his business was owed money, and they couldn’t bridge the gap between the two in time.

He could just picture the guys’ faces.

Those last two workers, who had done more than anyone else, stayed later than anyone else…

And they were about to be punished for that by not getting paid.

So he called up his banker, told him he needed a line of credit, and pulled out $100,000 give or take to make sure that every single one of their checks cleared.

At the time, my dad had a business partner who was a different type of guy.

He was the sort to make excuses, pay himself first, and not particularly care if everyone else’s checks cleared as long as he got his.

That partner has since had many businesses fail - and many more employees go without a paycheck.

And my dad has never in all these years had a business fail, or lost anyone a dime.

He often attributes his business success to the fact that he would never let his hardest working guys go hungry...

People will always be your biggest struggle and your greatest gift in business. Treat ‘em right.

↓↓↓↓

P.S. I’m hosting a free masterclass next week covering 4 practical growth levers that help maintain healthy cash flow and predictable payroll.

Sign up here (for free): https://lnkd.in/gSfvX_AF

Nish Thakker

If you have had:

• a terrible boss
• workplace ptsd
• a bankruptcy
• a huge failure

GOOD.

Chips on shoulders > easy roads.

The more you do hard things, the more you'll get what you want.

Because doing hard things, makes hard things easier.

If you're doing it right, the failure that leveled you last year, won't even register this year.

↓ ↓ ↓

If you're ready to seek out your next hard thing, let's buy a business this year ;)

Here's a list of 130 boring biz's I'd start with → https://lnkd.in/eGpHZtx3

You aren’t here to be liked.

You’re here to be respected.

Don’t be easy. Be hard.

Be righteous in what you do and believe.

Don’t be less for other people.
Don’t let them bend you or break you.
Don’t be a doormat walked upon.

Be a f*cking pointed nail… they’ll remember you.

If you’re bringing this energy into 2026, feel free to repost this.

And if the way you want to do it is by trading in your 9-5 for financial freedom without starting from scratch? Come to my Main Street Millionaire Live next month. 

All you need is determination & desire…. and 72 hours of your time.

You’re invited, just reserve your spot here → https://lnkd.in/gf6hPHdF

This is the hiring framework most small business owners never figure out:

Unicorns vs Donkeys

Unicorns = A players, high performers, self starters... aka, the person you WANT to hire for every role at your company.

Donkeys = B and C players, lacking initiative, unmotivated, task-oriented.

The truth every business owner knows but hates to face:

Donkeys are common.

Unicorns are rare.

Unfortunately, MOST people are donkeys. And as a smaller-level business, it's very hard to build the profit needed to attract unicorns.

So you're left with 2 options. You can either:

1. Build a business that can actively search for unicorns.

2. Build processes so good that donkeys can win the race.

Many problems in your business are a WHO problem. But you'd be surprised that solving the HOW often enables the people you have now to succeed.

Processes are your secret weapon.

Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done.

Money loves speed. Poverty loves waiting.

How I like to start my week.

The 1 in 60 Rule:

↓ ↓ ↓

Feel free to follow me Codie A. Sanchez if you found this useful.

This Routine Will Change Your Life

How to never fail with a business:

- Start as a side project
- Keep your job
- Use your salary to fund
- Don't use debt
- Quit & go all in ONLY when enough cashflow

15 years of biz & life lessons in <500 words:

↓ ↓ ↓

1. Marrying well is the biggest life hack of all.

2. Be the type of person who reaches out to others... when you don't need something.

3. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency.

4. Most successful people move with this mindset: Entitled to nothing, willing to earn everything.

5. Pray like it's up to God. Work like it's up to you.

6. You don't need more time, you need a deadline.

7. The success you are looking for is waiting for you in the work you are currently avoiding.

8. Biographies of billionaires teach you more than self-help books.

9. Your lack of focus will kill you before your competitors ever get a chance.

10. Winning isn't an accident, it's earned.

11. Underrated superpower: Just dumb enough to believe in yourself, just smart enough to execute.

12. Complexity makes you seem smart. Simplicity makes you money.

13. Surround yourself with owners, the conversation is just different.

14. The more you learn about money, the more you realize most of us play with Legos while the really rich play chess.

15. Beginners do too much. Pros do only what's needed.

16. Underperformers want ease. Midperformers want credit. Winners want pressure.

17. Your most expensive mistake will be a "who," not a "what."

18. If you've survived this far, the odds are actually are in your favor.

19. The formula is: keep going after it gets hard.

If you liked this post and you're NOT signed up for my newsletter... you're seriously missing out. Get it here → https://lnkd.in/ggN9g-BX

The greatest muscle you can build is urgency.

Shrink your timelines...

When you say next quarter, push for next 60 days.

When you say next month, push for 2 weeks.

When you say next week, push for 24 hours.

Not everything will get done on the new timeline, but you'll build a habit that will make you more successful than other people.

Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Everything changes.

↓ ↓ ↓

If you want to push forward serious financial goals in 2026, you should look into this…

It’s live event on what I think is the single greatest skill you could learn this year to change your financial future forever.

It’s called a 3 day live event called Main Street Millionaire where we’re going deep on exactly how to find, buy, run, and scale a profitable small business.

If this sounds remotely interesting, save your spot here → https://lnkd.in/gf6hPHdF

The #1 killer of businesses is bad cashflow.

15 other harsh business truths for you:

1. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency. Bureaucracy is business poison.

2. Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Everything changes.

3. Never sacrifice reputation in the name of business. You can always start another company. You can never create a new reputation.

4. Long-term games and long-term people compound. Resist shiny objects.

5. Hire smart people, pay them well, set them up for success... Then leave them the hell alone.

6. “There’s nothing worse than being sick, fat, tired and trying to run your business.” - Dana White

7. The highest ROI investment founders & owners can make is in themselves. Health shapes mindset. Mindset shapes action.

8. You're better off learning negotiation than financial modeling. Business is less spreadsheets than words.

9. The best business of all time has only you, a computer, and the send button.

10. Every additional employee increases complexity. Hiring is a last resort.

11. The best advice comes from those just a couple steps ahead of you. These people still vividly remember the problems you're facing today.

12. Sell painkillers, not vitamins. There's more money in needs than wants.

13. No discounts. Compete on value, not price. Any biz with $$$ can enter your market and bleed you out. Differentiate beyond commodity.

14. A happy customer is the most powerful marketing. Prioritize reviews. Humans are social animals.

15. If no one thinks you’re crazy, you’re too late. If everyone thinks your idea is good? Even worse. Outsized returns lie in non-conformism.

↓↓↓↓

P.S. I'm running a free masterclass for business owners (next week).

What we'll cover? 4 growth levers to increase cash flow in your biz. 

Grab your spot here (for free): https://lnkd.in/gSfvX_AF

Steven Yeh, EIT

CEO at C-Serv | Helping tech companies generating $100M+ in ARR build, scale and expand high-performing teams globally

👋 Hi, I’m Amy, CEO of C‑Serv. 

We partner with technology leaders building world-class solutions across networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI- delivering expert teams and consulting support in 50+ countries.

From billion-dollar enterprises to ambitious startups, we help high-growth companies scale faster and overcome complex delivery challenges with confidence. Whether you’re launching in a new region, driving transformation, or need embedded delivery support, we bring the technical firepower and operational strategy to make it happen.

What sets us apart: 
-       Partnership-driven approach
-       Specialized tech & consulting expertise
-       End-to-end international workforce solutions
-       Global reach, local insight
 
We built this company on empathy, kindness, and integrity.

I believe in leading with honesty, putting people first, and working with innovative companies that value culture and want to make a difference.
 
Who we are: 
 
💎  A team of A-players who care about exceptional work
🤝  Ethical and kind: no politics, no ego
🚀  Growth-oriented: we move fast and raise the bar
 
Besides being a CEO, I share insights on leadership, business growth, and building high-performing teams.

Amy Gibson

A group of people sharing a room isn't a team.

A truly cohesive team forms when:

People face challenges together.
They trust enough to be honest. 
Respect enough to listen. 
Care enough to sacrifice.

I've seen brilliant individuals fail as a team because:

→ They only cared about themselves
→ They kept important things secret
→ They blamed instead of helping
→ They avoided tough talks

And others achieved extraordinary results because:

→ They were happy when others grew
→ They shared the wins and took the blame
→ They supported each other no matter what
→ They stayed strong together during hard times

Want to transform a group into a real team?

✅ Take time to connect
✅ Make sure everyone feels safe
✅ Model the kind of trust you want
✅ Notice effort as much as outcomes
✅ Talk about problems kindly and clearly

My biggest lesson as a leader:

Success isn’t about what your team does for you.
It’s about how you all show up for each other.

Because when people truly trust, respect, and care for
each other, the impossible suddenly becomes possible.

Are you building a group that works together?
Or a team that stands together?

♻️ Find this helpful? Repost for your network.
📌 Follow Amy Gibson for practical leadership tips.

CEO at C-Serv | Helping high-growth companies build and scale world-class tech teams.

Sometimes the waiting feels endless, doesn't it?

I see you.

The one who celebrates others
while your inbox stays quiet.

The one who shows up
even when no one notices.

I've been there too.

Watching everyone else win.

Wondering when my turn would come.

But here's what I learned:

The waiting room is where
leaders are made.

Every time you choose:

→ Grace over jealousy
→ Support over silence
→ Growth over bitterness

You become someone different.

Someone ready.

So if you're waiting right now,
remember this:

Your character is being built.
Your strength is growing.
Your time is coming.

Keep showing up.
Keep celebrating others.
Keep becoming who you're meant to be.

Because one day soon,
the people you cheered for
will be cheering for you.

And you'll be ready.

Not just for the success.

But for who you've become
along the way.

♻️ Repost for someone in your network who needs it.
📌 Follow Amy Gibson for more leadership insights.

Meetings shouldn’t drain your team.
They should drive momentum.
If that’s not happening, it could be time to review.

I’ve been thinking about what makes some
meetings energizing…

While others feel like watching paint dry.

It’s not the agenda.
Not the room.
Not the tech, or even perfect timing.

I think it’s what people walk away with that matters:

• Do they leave feeling heard, or overlooked?
• Clear on priorities, or more confused than ever?
• Energized about what’s ahead, or dreading what’s next?

Great meetings don’t just share updates.

✅ They build trust.
✅ They create clarity.
✅ They move things forward.

Here are 5 types I use with my team to keep our meetings working for us, not against us:

1. Weekly Team Syncs

→ Simple and fast
→ Green, yellow, red status updates
→ Reds followed up within 24 hours

⏱️ 30 minutes max

2. Monthly One-on-Ones

→ When people feel seen, performance follows
→ Talk growth, not just deliverables
→ Let them set the agenda

⏱️ 45–60 minutes per person

3. Monthly All-Hands

→ Keep everyone rowing in the same direction
→ Share wins and failures
→ Always end with what’s next

⏱️ 60 minutes

4. Quarterly Strategy Sessions

→ Reflection fuels clarity and growth
→ Teams present their own results
→ Set commitments, not just assignments

⏱️ 2–3 hours

5. Annual Culture Touchpoints

For us? It’s our annual holiday party, always during work hours.

→ Memories matter more than metrics
→ Mix departments intentionally
→ Build belonging, not burnout

⏱️ Half-day

People tolerate ineffective meetings because they think that’s just how work works.

But show them what a great meeting feels like?

It can create change.

Your team start:
→ Expecting more.
→ Asking better questions.
→ Bringing more energy.

A well-run meeting is more than a productivity tool.
It’s a culture-building moment.

Design them like they matter —
Because they do.

♻️ If this resonates, repost for your network.
📌 Follow Amy Gibson for more leadership insights.

Earlier in my career, I overheard my boss give negative feedback to a colleague. 

What my colleague did next changed how I think about criticism.

❌ She didn’t argue.
❌ She didn’t defend herself.
❌ She didn’t shut it down.

She simply said:
“I need to think about this.”

The next day, she came back with thoughtful questions.

She didn’t agree with everything.

But even in feedback that might have felt unfair, she looked for what might be true.

And she grew from it.

That moment stayed with me.

Because I realized something important:

How we respond to feedback often matters more than the feedback itself.

It would’ve been easy to label the conversation as negative.
Instead, she chose to create something constructive from it.

There’s a framework called RAIN that can help with these situations. 

Here’s how it works:

R – Recognize
↳ Notice what you’re feeling. 
↳ Name it, quietly.
↳ "I'm feeling defensive right now."

A – Allow
↳ Let the feeling be there.
↳ You don’t have to act on it.
↳ Just give it a little space.

I – Investigate
↳ Get curious.
↳ Where is this landing in your body?
↳ What’s underneath the first reaction?

N – Nurture
↳ Treat yourself with grace.
↳ Offer yourself the same kindness you'd offer a friend.
↳ “This is hard. And I can handle hard.”

Growth doesn’t begin when we get it right.
It begins when we’re willing to sit with what’s hard.

Agree? Disagree? 
Let me know what you think in the comments. 

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Being a great leader isn’t about being liked.
It’s about being respected.

The traits that make you popular
aren’t always the ones that make you effective.

Here’s what I’ve observed about leaders who are liked:

→ Take credit to look good
→ Apologize for having expectations
→ Say yes to everything to stay popular
→ Make decisions based on who will be upset
→ Avoid hard conversations to keep the peace
→ Change standards when someone pushes back

Leaders who are respected:

→ Have hard conversations because they care
→ Hold the line even when it’s uncomfortable
→ Say no when needed to protect the team
→ Make decisions based on what is right
→ Apologize when they make a mistake
→ Give credit to build others up

When teams respect their leaders:

They bring problems forward
instead of hiding them.

They take on harder challenges
because they trust the support.

They stay longer
because they’re growing.

Being liked might feel good in the moment.

But respect helps to build teams that last.

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The smallest gestures often create the loudest impact.

Not the grand announcements.
Not the company-wide initiatives.

But the small, human moments, when someone
truly sees you.

Like when your manager sends a text before your
big presentation.

Because they remembered how much this means to you.

Or when a colleague quietly takes the worst task off
your plate.

Because they noticed you were underwater.

These tiny acts ripple through teams in ways we rarely measure.

What I've discovered about kindness at work?

• It multiplies when witnessed
• It costs nothing but changes everything
• It builds trust faster than any team exercise

The most powerful leaders I know don't talk about
kindness.

They just live it.

They're the ones who:

→ Block their calendar to help you grow
→ Step in silently during your crisis
→ Share credit like it’s infinite

They understand this:

People forget your achievements.
They forget your titles.
They even forget your mistakes.

But they never forget how you made them feel during
their hardest days.

That’s when kindness becomes legacy.

When your actions echo long after you’ve left the room.

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1 in 3 employees quit because of toxic team culture.
What separates toxic from thriving teams?

It shows up in how people treat each other every day.

Toxic teams:

❌ Just want to make themselves look good
❌ Talk about people behind their backs
❌ Blame others when things go wrong
❌ Hide problems and pretend it's fine
❌ Interrupt and talk over each other
❌ Shut down new ideas right away
❌ Focus only on what went wrong
❌ Hide information to keep power
❌ Work alone without checking in
❌ Fight each other for attention

The result is often low trust and high turnover.

Thriving teams:

✅ Cheer for each other's wins
✅ Work together and ask for help
✅ Listen fully before they respond
✅ Notice and name what went right
✅ Stay open to different ways of thinking
✅ Share what they know to help everyone
✅ Share struggles and support each other
✅ Own their mistakes and learn from them
✅ Give feedback directly and with kindness
✅ Focus on work that helps the whole team

Teams that thrive create environments where:

🤝 People feel safe
🌱 Growth happens naturally
💡 Everyone contributes their best

The shift from toxic to thriving doesn't happen overnight.

But it starts with how your team shows up
in the everyday moments.

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(Stat Source: SHRM)

Teams that stay typically have 1 thing in common:
Leaders who make them want to.

Here's how to build a team that stays:

1 / Listen first, then lead
→ People often know what they need
→ Ask "what would help?" then make space to hear it

2 / Show up consistently
→ Trust builds through small repeated moments
→ Respond calmly when things get messy

3 / Create psychological safety
→ Teams thrive when people can share unfinished ideas
→ Admit when you're unsure to make it safe for them too

4 / Invest in personal growth
→ Ask what they want beyond their current role
→ Help them build skills that matter to them

5 / Recognize effort and progress
→ Notice the struggle, not just the results
→ Say "I see how hard you're working" out loud

6 / Clarify roles and ownership
→ Confusion drains energy from teams
→ Make sure everyone knows who decides what

7 / Define what matters most
→ People stay when they know why their work matters
→ Tell them how their work connects to the bigger goal

People don't stay for perks.

They stay for leaders who see them, support them, and help them grow.

Be that leader.

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Most people react under pressure.
Emotionally intelligent people respond with intention.

I've watched stressful moments reveal who people really are.

Credit to Chris Donnelly for this graphic.

It shows how the right phrases help you respond with emotional intelligence instead of just reacting.

Here are 6 shifts that make the difference:

❌ "We need to fix everything right now."
✅ "Let's focus on what we can control right now."

❌ "I'll get back to you later."
✅ "I need a moment to process this before responding."

❌ "Just figure it out."
✅ "What do you think is the best approach here?"

❌ "What's the problem?"
✅ "What's your biggest concern about this?"

❌ "This is too big to handle."
✅ "Let's break this down into smaller steps."

❌ "You need to handle this alone."
✅ "How can I support you right now?"

The words you choose under pressure don't just solve problems.

They show people how you lead when things get hard.

Emotional intelligence isn't about having all the answers.
It's about responding with intention instead of reaction.

One phrase at a time.

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Co Founder of Searchable.com | Follow for posts on Business, Marketing, Personal Brand & AI

Barbara Završnik

Leadership isn’t just about managing work.
It’s about protecting the people doing it.

That protection means actively shielding your team
so they can do their best work.

Thanks to Jitender Girdhar for this graphic about
leaders who protect their teams from toxic culture.

Here are 7 things I’ve noticed great leaders shield their teams from:

1️⃣ Unrealistic expectations
→ They push back on impossible deadlines
→ They work out timelines that make sense

2️⃣ Micromanagement
→ They give their team space to make decisions
→ They trust instead of controlling every detail

3️⃣ Communication chaos
→ They turn confusing priorities into clear direction
→ They filter the noise so the team knows what matters

4️⃣ Distractions
→ They protect focus time on the calendar
→ They say no to meetings that waste time

5️⃣ Toxic work environments
→ They fix problems early before they spread
→ They create safety where people can speak up

6️⃣ Office politics
→ They stay fair and honest in every interaction
→ They stop gossip and drama when they see it

7️⃣ Blame culture
→ They own mistakes in public when things go wrong
→ They work on solutions in private with the team

Leadership isn’t about having the title.

It’s about using your position
to make your team’s work life better.

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8 hard truths about leading people
(I wish someone had told me sooner):

1️⃣ People leave managers, not jobs

• Build real relationships with your team
• Address problems before they start looking

2️⃣Your worst days often define your reputation

• Stay calm when things fall apart
• Your response in crisis builds or breaks trust

3️⃣ You can't change people who don't want to change

• Create conditions for growth, not demands
• Let go of people who resist change

4️⃣ Your team mirrors your energy

• Check your energy before team interactions
• Show up with the mood you want reflected

5️⃣ Waiting to give feedback hurts your people

• Give feedback within 24-48 hours
• Make it specific while it's still fresh

6️⃣ Being liked doesn't always mean you're leading well

• Make the right call even when unpopular
• Prioritize effectiveness over popularity

7️⃣ Trust breaks faster than it builds

• Protect trust like your most valuable asset
• Admit mistakes immediately when they happen

8️⃣ Leadership is lonely

• Build your support network outside your team
• Accept that some decisions you make alone

These truths aren't easy to accept.

But knowing them changes how you show up.

You become more intentional with your energy.
More careful with trust.
More honest in your feedback.
More comfortable with hard decisions.

Leadership doesn't get easier when you realize these things.

But you get better at it.

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The words that we use with our teams matter deeply. 

Words shape how safe people feel, how open they are with us-
And how willing they are to stay through the hard moments.

Here are 12 phrases that build lasting trust:

1️⃣ “I changed my mind after hearing your perspective.”

→ Shows changing your mind is strength, not weakness 
→ Makes it safe for others to evolve their thinking too

2️⃣ “Tell me more about what’s really going on.”

→ People rarely say everything in the first answer 
→ Going deeper shows you actually want to understand

3️⃣ “What do you need from me to make this work?”

→ Shifts from telling to asking 
→ Puts them in control of the solution

4️⃣ “I hear you. Let me sit with that.”

→ Not every problem needs an immediate solution 
→ Sometimes being heard is enough

5️⃣ “That’s on me. Here’s what I’m going to do differently.”

→ Ownership without excuses earns respect 
→ Saying what you’ll change makes it real

6️⃣ “You’ve earned the right to make this call.”

→ Trust given explicitly feels different than assumed 
→ Names their growth out loud

7️⃣ “You’ve seemed a bit off lately. Everything okay?”

→ Noticing early prevents bigger problems later 
→ Shows you pay attention beyond the work

8️⃣ “What would make you feel more supported right now?”

→ Support looks different to everyone 
→ Asking prevents guessing wrong

9️⃣ “I don’t have all the answers, but I trust us to figure it out together.”

→ Uncertainty without panic builds confidence 
→ “Us” removes the pressure of solving alone

🔟 “Let’s slow down. I want to make sure everyone’s voice is in the room.”

→ Speed often silences quieter voices 
→ Slowing down shows who you prioritize

1️⃣1️⃣ “I’ve got your back if this doesn’t go as planned.”

→ Fear of failure stops most innovation 
→ Permission to fail unlocks trying

1️⃣2️⃣ “Thank you for pushing back on that. I needed to hear it.”

→ Rewarding disagreement makes it safe next time 
→ Shows you mean it when you ask for honesty

Loyalty isn’t built through grand gestures.

It’s built in the small moments when your words show someone they matter.

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In 10 years, they won’t remember your title.
But they’ll remember if you were kind.

It’s one of the most overlooked ways
to build a sustainable business.

When you lead with kindness:

➟ It transforms your work culture
➟ It inspires others to lead with care
➟ It builds trust that fuels performance
➟ It helps your business grow without burnout
➟ It attracts talent who value purpose and respect

Want to lead with more kindness at work?

Here are 5 simple ways to start:

1️⃣ Check in when someone seems off
Not because it's your job, but because you care.
Try: "Hey, just wanted to check in.
You've seemed a little quiet. Want to chat?"

2️⃣ Give feedback with empathy
Be direct, but never judgmental.
Try: "I've been in your shoes before.
Mind if I share what helped me?"

3️⃣ Invite quiet voices in
Hold a room in meetings for everyone.
Try: "Let's pause for a sec. [Name],
I'd love to hear your take."

4️⃣ Lead with understanding
Remember that life happens to everyone.
Try: "Is there something I can do
to support you right now?"

5️⃣ Normalize appreciation
Say "thank you" and "how can I help?" often.
Try: End one meeting this week
highlighting a teammate's contribution

Kindness isn’t about grand gestures.

It’s about daily choices to care.
To pause.
To listen.
To lead with humanity.

People may forget your words,
but they won’t forget how you made them feel.

When someone feels seen, they show up with more heart.

No title makes you too important to be kind.
Lead the way especially for those who need it most.

What’s one small act of kindness you’ve seen at work?

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Your team's loyalty isn't built in one moment.
It's built in hundreds of small ones.
Here are 11 small acts that build team loyalty:

1 / Check in with them when they go quiet
→ Hard moments show who really cares
→ Ask "how are you really doing?" when you notice stress

2 / Have their backs even when it's hard
→ Support them in public when others disagree
→ Back them first, talk about concerns privately later

3 / Keep confidential information private
→ Breaking their trust once destroys it forever
→ Treat every conversation like it could be repeated

4 / Be transparent and honest, even when the news is bad
→ Being surprised feels worse than the bad news itself
→ Share what you know as soon as you know it

5 / Own your mistakes before anyone asks
→ Leaders who blame others teach their teams to do the same
→ Take responsibility before anyone has to ask

6 / Mention their contributions when talking about the work
→ Recognition matters most when others are watching
→ Say who did the work every single time

7 / Follow through on every commitment you make
→ Broken promises add up to broken trust
→ Write down what you promise and check it off

8 / Get their input before announcing changes to their work
→ Asking after you've decided feels fake
→ Include them while you're still deciding

9 / Say 'I don't know' instead of pretending you do
→ Faking it creates doubt, honesty builds trust
→ Say "I need to find out" instead of guessing

10 / Explain your reasoning when you say no
→ "No" without an explanation feels dismissive
→ Share why you made your decision

11 / Listen to understand, not to prepare your response
→ People can tell when you're just waiting to talk
→ Pause after they finish before you respond

Loyalty compounds over time.

Small acts repeated consistently matter more than grand gestures done once.

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Valeriia Kiseleva

High IQ doesn’t always mean high EQ.
9 EQ mistakes even the most intelligent people can make:

1 / Taking Things Personally
→ Making feedback about themselves, not the work
→ Treating it as data separates ego from improvement

2 / Hiding Uncertainty
→ Acting like they have all answers creates distance
→ Admitting doubt builds trust

3 / Dismissing Emotions
→ Focusing only on logic ignores half the picture
→ Acknowledge feelings before problem-solving

4 / Reacting Too Quickly
→ Responding immediately escalates tension
→ Taking a breath creates better outcomes

5 / Solving Before Listening
→ Jumping to solutions shuts people down
→ Ask questions and understand first

6 / Avoiding Difficult Conversations
→ Staying quiet lets resentment build
→ Address tension early

7 / Ignoring Their Limits
→ Pushing through exhaustion depletes capacity
→ Rest is part of performance

8 / Forgetting to Check In
→ Assuming people are fine misses warning signs
→ Regular check-ins prevent issues from growing

9 / Not Following Up After Conflict
→ Moving on quickly leaves things unresolved
→ Reconnect and restore trust

High IQ doesn't always mean high EQ.

Being smart helps you solve complex problems.

Being emotionally intelligent helps you solve people problems.

Great leaders develop both.

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I can't stop thinking about this Simon Sinek clip.

As a leader, it's common to feel like you need to
have all the answers.

To appear invincible.
Never show vulnerability.

I used to think that way too.

But over time, I learned something important:

The best leaders don’t lead in isolation.
They lean into connection.

Think about it:

We're wired for connection.
Built for community.
Designed to support each other.

Yet somewhere along the way, a myth emerged that
strong leaders don't need anyone.

And now I recognize that:

→ Every mentor I admired had their own mentor
→ Every "overnight success" had a silent support team
→ Every resilient leader has someone they can be real with

Having just one person who sees the real you—
who you can be completely yourself with—
changes everything.

Maybe it's a mentor who's been there.
Maybe it's another leader who gets your struggles.
Maybe it's someone on your team who earned your trust.

We don't have to carry it all alone.

Find your people.
Build your circle.
Be real with someone.

Because success isn't about standing alone at the top.
It's about bringing people with you on the journey.

Who's that person for you?

Thank you, Simon Sinek, for this powerful reminder.

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Teams with high EQ leaders are 3x more connected. 

Yet only 36% of employees say their manager shows it.

And in my experience, that kind of gap doesn’t just 
affect performance.

It affects people.

And the best leaders I know?
They never lose sight of that.

So, if you’re working on becoming a more emotionally 
intelligent leader, this is a fantastic place to start: 

1. Serve your team.
↳ Take the pressure when it’s heavy.
↳ Pass the spotlight when things go well.

2. Know your triggers.
↳ Not to avoid it or shame yourself for it.
↳ But to meet it with a little more grace.

3. Read the room.
↳ Energy speaks, even when people don’t.
↳ Tension has a way of making itself known.

4. Pause before reacting.
↳ It doesn’t seem like much.
↳ But it often changes everything.

5. Listen to understand.
↳ Not to fix. Not to defend.
↳ Just to really understand.

6. Welcome honest feedback.
↳ Even when it’s hard to hear.
↳ Especially then.

7. Own your mistakes openly.
↳ No deflecting. No spin.
↳ Just honesty, and a clear next step.

8. Make hard conversations easier.
↳ Lead with truth.
↳ Wrap it in respect.

9. Share credit generously.
↳ Recognition costs nothing.
↳ But builds loyalty that lasts.

And the thing is…

Most of them wouldn’t describe themselves as
“emotionally intelligent.”

They’re just paying attention.

To their people.
To themselves.
To the kind of space they’re creating.

And teams feel the difference.

Do you know a leader with high emotional intelligence?
What stood out most about the way they led?

Drop it in the comments below. 👇

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(90%, 36%, 3x Stat Source: Harvard Business Review, TalentSmart, Gallup)

The toxic manager who made others cry.
The leader who made them soar.

Only one still matters decades later.

Your impact outlasts every promotion.
Every reorganization. Every exit interview.

Lasting leadership isn’t written in performance reviews.

It's written in the careers you launched,
the confidence you built,
the potential you unlocked.

Want to be remembered as a leader who mattered?

Start with these 5 steps:

1/ Champion people before they believe in themselves

See their potential when they can't.
Give them stretch assignments that scare them.
Then stand behind them when they stumble.

2/ Make your 1:1s about them, not you

Ask about their dreams beyond this job.
Talk about their growth, not just their tasks.
Remember what matters to them personally.

3/ Share credit like it's unlimited

Because it is.
Your team's wins are your wins.
But their recognition should be louder than yours.

4/ Apologize with the same energy you celebrate

Publicly own your mistakes.
Show them that leaders are human.
Model the growth you expect from them.

5/ Fight battles they don't even know about

Protect their time from pointless meetings.
Challenge unfair criticism behind closed doors.
Be their advocate when they're not in the room.

20 years from now, they won't remember your title.

But they'll remember the leader who believed in them before they believed in themselves.

That’s the kind of leadership people carry with them for life.

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I've declined hundreds of requests as a CEO.
(Here's what nobody tells you about saying no)

A firm boundary doesn’t have to come at the cost of kindness.
You can say no - softly, kindly, and without damaging the relationship.

Here are some things I've learned about declining respectfully:

💡 Sometimes the boundary alone is enough
→ “I’m going to have to decline” can stand alone
→ Over-explaining often weakens what you’re saying
→ I’ve found clarity lands better than lengthy reasons

💡 A partial yes might serve you both
→ “I can’t do all of this, but I could help with [specific part]”
→ You stay helpful without overcommitting
→ They get support, you keep capacity for what matters most

💡 Honesty often builds more trust
→ “I wouldn’t be able to give this the attention it deserves”
→ You’re protecting their outcome, not just yours
→ This tends to show respect for their work

💡 Redirection can be its own form of support
→ “I can’t take this on, but have you tried [name]?”
→ You’re still contributing to their path forward
→ The relationship continues even when you step back

💡 Encouragement softens what might feel hard
→ “It’s a no from me, but I’m rooting for you”
→ Your belief in them stays visible
→ The door remains open even as you decline

💡 Time might create the possibility you both need
→ “My plate is full through [date], let’s reconnect then”
→ You’re not rejecting them, just the timing
→ Future collaboration stays possible

The leaders I admire most say no often.

Because they protect their capacity to show up fully where they commit.

Your boundaries don’t have to come with apologies.
They can come with clarity and care instead.

♻️ If this resonates, repost for your network.
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Letting go isn't giving up control.
It's gaining trust.

Here's how to let go and start leading:

1 / Stop requiring approval for everything
→ Constant sign-offs slow everyone down
→ Trust builds when you step back

2 / Let them solve problems without you
→ Jumping in robs them of growth
→ Struggle creates capability

3 / Give them time to struggle through challenges
→ Quick rescues prevent learning
→ Working through hard things builds confidence

4 / Share the why behind decisions
→ Context creates better judgment
→ Understanding drives ownership

5 / Stay out of meetings they can run
→ Your presence changes the dynamic
→ Leading means letting others lead

6 / Stop redoing their work your way
→ Different doesn't mean wrong
→ Your way isn't the only way

7 / Recognize when you're micromanaging
→ Checking everything signals distrust
→ Awareness is the first step to change

8 / Check in at milestones only
→ Constant updates interrupt flow
→ Trust the work is happening

9 / Celebrate when they take initiative
→ What you reward, you get more of
→ Independence grows through recognition

10 / Ask what support they actually need
→ Assuming creates the wrong help
→ They know better than you do

Letting go doesn't mean caring less.

It means trusting more.
Leading well.
And watching your team grow stronger.

Which of these resonates most with you right now?

♻️ If this resonates, repost for your network.
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