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 media company called Contrarian Thinking that teaches people to think critically and cashflow unconventionally with boring businesses.

Our newsletter has over 1M+ weekly readers, here → contrarianthinking.biz/li

Our 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.

5 uncomfortable truths about success:

1. You can't be a real leader and a people pleaser.

2. One day they'll go from judging you to bragging how they know you.

3. You win in life by being ok with people: not liking you, disagreeing with you, and wishing you'd fail.

4. It’s supposed to be hard, and you’re supposed to do it anyway.

5. The underrated part about being rich... you get to do what you want, say what you want, and people unfollowing or not agreeing matters ZERO.

Hope this one puts a little air in your tires today 😉

Btw - feel free to follow me Codie A. Sanchez if you haven’t yet

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

Formula is do, fail, learn, fail, do again.

Codie Sanchez

3 more harsh truths about success:

- You only have to be right ONCE. One big right move can erase a lifetime of wrong ones.
- You can't be upset at the results you’re not getting from the actions you’re not taking.
- The successful don't wait for someone to come save them. You want a better life, go build it.

If you needed to hear this today, feel free to share for next person who needs it ♻️

Don’t be afraid of outgrowing EVERYONE.

Your friends. Yes.

Your family. Likely.

If you are great... Even the people you hire today you will outgrow.

Don’t apologize a f*cking second for outgrowing people who can not keep up with you.

You need to make the hard call to move on, and move on FASTER than you think.

I was on the phone with a friend the other day runs another portfolio and famous on the internet and we both had to fire a csuite executive. We talked on Friday, I asked on Tuesday when she was doing it, she said she already did it that morning.

“Once I know I have to, I rip the bandaid off.”

Tough truth I’ve never regretted ONCE parting ways with someone who isn’t going as fast as I am.

THIS is the hard and brutal truth of greatness.

A reminder that it’s ok to rise a lil earlier and grind a lil harder…

A few lessons on reputation learned over the years:

- Long-term games and long-term people compound. Resist shiny objects.
- Everything you do, everything you say, is part of a permanent record you can't see.
- I used to think it was a win to never answer my phone, always be focused on work. Now I realize those who show up for others are the only ones who win in the long term.
- Never trade your reputation for money. Money you can make more, reputation you can't.
- Your positioning is your most important asset. Product can be copied... But brand and reputation cannot.
- “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” True reminder.

On the flipside, we can't let this paralyze us...

Nothing you do will matter to anyone here in 2 years.

Even less in 20.

And your name will be forgotten in 100.

There's freedom in a bit of nihilism.

cs-venturesllc

cresco-capital-partners-llc

unconventional-acquisitions

strike-fire-productions

(99+) Post | Feed | LinkedIn

li_at

JSESSIONID

Talks about #growth, #finance, #investing, #venturecapital, and #contrarianthinking

You can flatter & pander.

Or you can become ACTUALLY likable:

• Do what you say you’re going to do
• Show your results, not your intentions
• Your job isn’t done until THE job is done
• Communicate - less words, more meaning
• Bring solutions, not complaints
• Do the dirty work
• Don’t be boring

The truth:

People like competence.

So does money.

(Feel free to share if this resonates♻️)

The faster you move, the more money you make.

6 money-making truths you need to hear:

1. Unapologetically chase your first $500K. Life is just easier up until you make about $500k, then it gradually evens out. 

2. Get a job that pays you more if you do more, mimic everything the top performer does, until you can't possibly earn or learn more, then apply for a higher-paying job.

3. The fastest way to make your first million... Go be a crazy CEO's #2.

4. Saving won't make you rich.

5. Biggest mistake I made making money was waiting too late to start taking risk.

6. The key to getting rich rapidly? Live like you're poor. Increase your income. Use your income to buy cash-flowing assets.

↓↓↓↓

FYI - I'm having a biz-buying masterclass tomorrow if you want to stop by...

We're going to talk about how to buy the right business for you, why now is the time to buy, how to derisk your deal, and more.

Grab a spot here if you want to come and learn:    https://lnkd.in/e24qgbuh

How to win in 2026:

1. Don’t be woke. 
2. Work. Hard.
3. No victim mentality allowed.
4. Have strong opinions, loosely held.
5. Take strategic bets with your $.
6. Protect your time.
7. Be curious and a good human.

Doesn't matter who you are. Who you share a bed with. Or the color of your skin.

Anybody can win. (Btw this was from 2023).

How to win in your 20s:

1. Choose your hard. If you don't choose your hard, hard will choose you.

2. Ask more questions. As Socrates said: “Smart people learn from everything and everyone. Average people learn from their experiences. Stupid people already have all the answers.”

3. Do whatever it takes

4. Chase purpose. A friend once told me: “I wish you not one penny over $299 million. Reality gets lost somewhere after that.”

5. Not every moment has to be productive. Silence is not your enemy.

6. Be bored more often

7. Get in shape, stay in shape (applies to both finances and fitness)

8. If someone you just met is talking shit about their ex, friend, partner, or boss, they will do the same to you next. Character matters.

9. Behind every successful person is a story that gave them no choice.

10. Put your relationships first. My number one regret in life is not prioritizing my marriage above just about everything.

11. You become the person you want when no one else is watching. It's the quiet, private reps that will never be cheered that actually lead to greatness.

12. Never take advice from someone who hasn't achieved what they're advising about. If you don't want their life, don't listen to their advice.

13. Inconvenience yourself. This generation went way too hard setting boundaries. Show up for those you love, even when it's not convenient.

14. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency.

15. If it's not a hell yes, it's a no.

16. You will be richer when you understand leverage. But you'll also be aware of when people are trying to take advantage of you. Learn it so you can spot it.

17. Learn to be disliked or you will find yourself stuck in a prison of other people's beliefs.

18. You don't have time to hate someone when you're busy building. The less you build, the more you criticize.

19. Your input eventually becomes your output.

20. 99% of people don't move fast enough. Every time you say "one day," you cost yourself future dollars.

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

22. The longer something has been successful, the more likely it is to continue being successful.

23. Say you will do a thing, then actually do the thing.

24. The fastest way to build a memorable brand is to pick a fight.

25. Never let your worry be bigger than your faith. God doesn't give you a seed without provision for it to grow.

26. Nobody cares about your life.

27. Someone not as good as you is making more money because they're not afraid to start.

28. You will wish you started earlier and worked harder when you are young.

29. Waking up at 5:45 a.m. solves 99.9% of daily issues.

30. Work 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

31. The size of the problems you solve equal the size of your bank account.

32. The smartest people I know obsess over their reputation. Do not play short-term games with your name.

Money = options. Poverty = trapped.

It's not the money we want. It's the freedom.

↓ ↓ ↓

You’re either the hammer or the nail.

Hammers make things happen. They drive the point home. They aren’t afraid to swing hard, take calculated risks, and make an impact. They don’t wait for things to happen; they make things happen.

Nails? They get pounded. They hold things in place, but only because *someone else* decided that’s where they should be.

Nails wait for instructions. They stay put, keep their heads down, and hope they don’t get bent out of shape. Nails might hold things together, but hammers built the house.

No one remembers the nails — they remember who hammered them in.

It can be easy to look at the work of a hammer and think, “Must be nice.” But don’t be mistaken, the toll on a hammer is rough.

What you don’t see are the years of blunt force trauma on the hammer’s head, face, neck, cheek, throat, eye, and claw (all real parts of a hammer). Years of being thrown around. Years of missing the mark and smashing a finger.

Are you starting to get it now?

Hammers are owners.

Nails? The owned.

(PS: This is an excerpt straight from my newsletter. Get it every Thursday here → https://lnkd.in/euh-mDd8)

Work smarter not harder is a beautiful lie.

Hard lesson for me and you...

The people doing better than you aren’t smarter than you. They aren’t better than you. They aren’t luckier than you.

They’re just working so much harder than you, you can't even imagine.

The only thing separating you from them is:

Grit + Time + Consistency

MBA graduates aren't chasing jobs at Goldman or Google anymore.

They want ownership.

Here’s why some MBA graduates are choosing acquisitions over startups: 

In the 70s, 80s, 90s, MBA grads bought fancy suits and gloated about their big corner offices.

Now, they’re being taught to acquire companies.

We’re living in a GOLDEN ERA for business buying...

Baby Boomers hit ‘peak 65’ last year and it was the largest surge of in our beautiful nation's history. 

An average of 4.1 million Americans will retire EVERY year until 2027. 

And many own businesses they don’t know what to do with…

It’s up to us to continue their legacy and keep their businesses alive. 

Use my 3-6-12 framework to go a-z in buying your first biz... 

The TL;DR is this: 

• 3 months minimum to learn dealmaking
• 6 months to source and secure your deal
• 12 months post-purchase to master the business

Now, let’s break each step down: 

Your first 3 months should be pure learning.

There’s no such thing as a perfect business. Only a perfect business for YOU.

Figure out exactly what that business looks like before you start searching for it.

Terms, financials, tactics, structuring.

Acquisitions is a language. You need to get fluent.

The next 6 months are about finding YOUR deal:

• You'll look at 50+ businesses
• Submit 10-25 offers
• Perform due diligence on 3-5
• Close on 1

The numbers game isn't sexy. But it works.

Once you buy, give yourself 12 full months to master the business.

Why?

• Month 1-3: Learning systems
• Month 4-6: Stabilizing operations
• Month 7-9: Building team trust
• Month 10-12: Growing strategically

Rush this timeline and you'll destroy what you just bought.

I can’t stress this last point enough — you need to be patient. 

As the wonderful Warren Buffett once said: 

"You can't produce a baby in 1 month by getting nine women pregnant."

You CAN have the business you want. But it comes on its own timeline, not yours.

And that’s it!

Remember, before buying ANYTHING, ask yourself:

1. What kind of business would I actually ENJOY running?

2. What skills do I bring that would ADD VALUE?

3. Can I handle the pressure of other people's livelihoods depending on me?

Then, execute on the 3-6-12 framework.

↓↓↓↓

If you've read this far... I've got something for you. 

I'm sure there are a bunch of questions running through your mind like: 

• How do I buy a business?
• Which is the right one to buy?
• Would I be capable of running it?
• How do I know if this would be the right path for me?

Give me 90 minutes and I'll answer you.

I'm hosting a live Masterclass next week on all of this. Completely free.

Get details & save your spot here → https://lnkd.in/e24qgbuh

This reminds me of a study I learned about.

It found what's called The Spillover Effect:

Kellogg Insight did a study across 58,000 hours in 11 companies.

There were two main findings.

1) Positive Spillover

If you sit within 25ft of a HIGH performer, your performance increases by 15%.

You are no smarter, you work no harder... and you're 15% better.

These highest performers are not impacted by the low performance of their neighbors.

My takeaway = the strong lift up the weak.

But there was a second finding too, a much more concerning one...

2) Negative Spillover

If you sit near a LOW performer… Things get bad fast.

How they define “low performer” in the study is important:

These are “toxic workers.”

A “toxic” person = someone who ends up being fired for their behavior/performance.

On average:

- A toxic worker costs a company $12,800
- 2% of all workers are toxic
- They infect FAST.

And actually – the poison of a toxic worker spans way beyond 25ft:

Researchers said, “You can see their negative imprint and negative effect across an entire floor.”

So remember:

Success is contagious.

But so is toxicity.

↓ ↓ ↓

The same is true for the media you consume. Doomscroll hate on social media, you become a hateful person.

But if you'd rather surround yourself with stories of business owners & freedom finders, read this instead → https://lnkd.in/euh-mDd8

Business scaling isn't rocket science.

But it is a science.

After working with 100s of companies, I can tell you the difference between the ones that plateau and the ones that explode comes down to these 3 levers:

Every scalable business needs:

- The right people (who)
- The right systems (how)
- The right focus (what)

Miss any one, and you'll hit a ceiling.Let's break down each piece (and I'll share what most get wrong):

1. Let's start with PEOPLE

Most owners hire too fast, fire too slow, and expect a miracle in between.

A bad executive hire will cost you $200-300K+ and waste 6-12mos of momentum.

But get it right? You start to own your business instead of being owned by it.

To make sure we only hire A-players, every hire goes through this matrix:

• Known Candidate: Team vouches for them
• Proven Experience: Done exact job before
• Proven Industry: Worked in your sector
• Proven Problem Set: Solved your problem
• Proven Scale: Built at your size

2. Next up: SYSTEMS

5 systems all successful companies have:

• Executive Vision (where you're going)
• KPIs/Goals (what success looks like)
• Performance Dashboards (tracking what matters)
• Communication (keeping us aligned)
• Strong Culture (making it all work together)

Most businesses build these 5 system chains separately.

But we noticed that connecting them through a framework makes scaling more predictable...

This reduces the inevitable bottlenecks that re-appear as you grow:

• Executive planning feeds into →
• Sales metrics which optimize →
• Operations processes which enable →
• Team communication which improves →
• Financial performance

This doesn’t eliminate all growing pains.. but it brings a method to the madness of building.

3. The final lever: FOCUS.

Most owners try to solve 27 problems at once.

The best solve ONE problem exceptionally well – and they pick the RIGHT problem.

Something I constantly hear is: "My prospects can't afford my product."But it's rarely a pricing problem. It's almost always a persona problem…

When prospects "can't afford" your product, run these 3 tests:

• Competitive analysis: How does your pricing compare?
• Marketing analysis: Is your value prop clear?
• Avatar analysis: Are you targeting the right people?

99% of the time, your problem is an avatar mismatch.

You're trying to sell snow to Eskimos, instead of hot chocolate to skiers.

The most valuable exercise for any owner is building a detailed customer avatar.

Define who NEEDS your solution, not who you wish would buy it.

I've just scratched the surface of these frameworks today...and implementing them properly is where most owners struggle.

↓↓↓

If you’d like to learn how to apply these frameworks in your business to find hidden cash...check out our workshop next week. 

It's the only thing on the agenda: https://lnkd.in/gZaAQkpT

What they dream of: Starting the next Apple

What I dream of: Owning a painting biz...

Trillions of dollars are about to fall into the hands of those who are paying attention.

Let's talk numbers:

• 33.3 million small businesses in the US.
• That's 99.9% of all businesses.

What does this mean?

A sea of opportunity. 

Over 80% of these businesses have no employees. Just solo owners, doing their thing.

But of the other 20% (aka 6.6 million)... Many are ready to sell.

Problem is, most people are still daydreaming about sexy startups and AI breakthroughs.

They’re not daydreaming about plumbing companies. Laundromats. Self-storage units.

Because they’re not sexy.

In fact, they kind of smell like hard work. They smell like Main Street.

But the thing about these businesses is:

They quietly cashflow.

So.. why don’t you just start one?

A few reasons why starting sucks:
• Cashflow takes time
• You start with 0 employees (aka, you do all the work)
• You start with 0 customers (aka, even more work)
• You have to find a profitable biz model.

But there’s another option…

BUYING a business (done right) means:
• Instant cash flow.
• Existing customers.
• Proven business model.

You're not reinventing the wheel. You're taking something that works and making it work better.

It's a path to financial freedom that most people overlook.

The opportunity of a lifetime is hiding in plain sight.

So here's my challenge to you:

Stop dreaming about the next big startup.
Start looking at the businesses in your backyard.

Then go big and DO the damn thing.

↓↓↓↓

Disclaimer: I know I've made this sound easier than it is. 

Buying & running a biz is NOT easy. 

One of the reasons why I'm hosting a (free) Masterclass next week on biz buying. I'll break down the 10-step process I've used to buy dozens of cashflowing businesses.

My goal? You leave with the confidence & roadmap to buy your first biz. 

More info here → https://lnkd.in/e24qgbuh

If you’re in your 20s, I’m gonna tell you the truth that nobody told me.

I’m in my 30s now, and I wish someone would’ve told me that your 20s actually suck.

Everybody TELLS you this is the best time in your life, but when you’re in it, it feels the opposite of that.

You are hotter than you’ll ever be, and you have more energy, BUT:

- You’re kind of broke.
- You can’t figure out what you want to “do” with your life
- You feel lost, you work nonstop, you have a miserable job
- You’re single, dating, with crazy emotions
- You go out drinking more than you should

But here’s the thing:

Everybody’s been there. It’s totally normal. And honestly, at the end of the day, your 30s are AWESOME.

Coming into your mid 30s is a blast:

- You have money finally
- You kinda have an idea of what you wanna do with your life
- You’re not so emotionally volatile
- People are slightly more mature, you don’t have to date idiot 20-year-olds

Just know, it gets better.

If it sucks right now, guess what? It’s supposed to.

#1 for Career Coaching on LinkedIn. I help senior-level ICs & people leaders grow their salaries and land fulfilling $200K-$500K jobs —> 300+ placed at top companies.

Ranked #1 Career Coach Worldwide | Helping Senior ICs & People Leaders Land $200K-$500K Dream Jobs

Ready to grow your salary and land a role you actually love?

I've helped over 300 professionals break through salary ceilings and land life-changing positions at Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, and other top companies.

Here's what makes my approach different:

Most job seekers waste months applying to hundreds of jobs with no results. My clients land multiple offers in 6-12 weeks using "The Simple Success Method" - my distilled 5-step system that focuses only on what gets you hired. After 300+ successful placements, I've learned that executive-level results come from doing the RIGHT 5 things perfectly, not overwhelming yourself with complicated processes.

My track record speaks for itself:
✓ 300+ clients placed at dream companies  
✓ Average salary increase: 40-80%  
✓ 220M+ content views helping job seekers  
✓ Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider  
✓ Built my own 7-figure business using these exact strategies  

What you get in Career Leap:
→ The Simple Success Method™ (my battle-tested 5-step system)  
→ 1:1 coaching sessions with me personally  
→ Exclusive access to proprietary AI job search tool  
→ Group coaching with other high-performers  
→ Private community of ambitious professionals  
→ Complete confidentiality throughout your search  

This isn't for everyone. I only work with senior-level individual contributors and people leaders who are serious about making a major career move and ready to invest in themselves.

My guarantee: If you don't land a $200K-$500K role within 90 days, we'll keep working with you until you do. That's how confident I am in this system.

More about me: Currently living in Chicago. I worked at LinkedIn for 4 years helping Fortune 500 companies hire top talent, then founded my own 7-figure recruiting start-up. Now I use that complete 360° perspective - platform insider knowledge + hiring expertise + entrepreneurial success - to help people land jobs they actually love.

Ready to transform your career?
  
Send me a DM with "CAREER LEAP" or book a free job search strategy call: https://lwspuk8wil4.typeform.com/to/LeHkspKC

P.S. - Spots are limited. I only take on a select group of professionals each month to ensure everyone gets the attention they deserve.

Reno Perry

The best career advice President Obama ever gave?

“Just learn how to get things done.”

Not “be the smartest in the room.”
Not “get another certification.”
Not “grind 80-hour weeks.”

Just get things done.

It sounds obvious.
But it’s rare.

Most people:
→ Overthink
→ Over-plan
→ Wait for permission
→ Get stuck in “polish mode”
→ Confuse motion with progress

And while they’re spinning, someone else executes.

That’s who moves up.
That’s who earns trust.
That’s who gets remembered.

Getting things done isn’t about being a robot.

It’s about being reliable.
It’s about following through.
It’s about making things happen.

Because perfection doesn’t build careers.
Progress does.

If you want to lead at any level…

Start with action.
Stay consistent.
Ship the work.

Be known as the person who gets it done.

The rest will follow.

Agree? disagree? 
Drop it in the comments below. 

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

(Video from LinkedIn News)

#1 for Career Coaching on LinkedIn. I help senior-level ICs & people leaders grow their salaries and land fulfilling $200K-$500K jobs —​> 300+ placed at top companies.

I see people spend 20 hours perfecting their resume.

Then blow the interview in 20 seconds.

After coaching 300+ professionals into $200K+ roles, I've seen the same pattern:

They know WHAT to say.
They don't know HOW to say it.

Here's the truth:
AI is a huge advantage for jobseekers.
It's replacing outdated interview prep.
Making it way better.

The people landing dream roles aren't smarter.
They're using AI to practice scenarios you'll actually face.

Take this prompt that helped a client land a VP role at Microsoft:

"My potential weakness is [X]. Create an authentic response that shows self-awareness, growth mindset, and proactive improvement. Include specific actions I've taken."

Or this one that generated a $40K higher offer:

"I'm interviewing for [role] at [company]. Market rate is $[X]. Generate 3 counter-offer data points and negotiation phrases that maintain the relationship while maximizing value."

These aren't generic templates.
They're precision tools for high-stakes conversations.

While others memorize canned answers, you're building dynamic responses.

While they hope for easy questions, you're ready for curveballs.

While they accept first offers, you're negotiating with data.

The gap between good and great isn't talent.
It's preparation.

And preparation is now 10x easier with AI.

Your competition is still using 2010 strategies for 2025 opportunities.

That's your advantage.

Every interview has predictable moments:
• The weakness question
• The salary discussion  
• The "why should we hire you"
• The cultural fit probe

Master these moments and you'll dramatically increase your chances of landing the offer.

That's exactly what we do in my Career Leap program.

I'm taking on 5 people this month who are serious about landing $200K-$500K roles using AI-driven prep that actually works.

If that's you: https://lnkd.in/gCKpEsYg

Googling the company name isn’t enough anymore.

Here’s how the candidates who get offers prepare.

Having coached 100s of people into $200k–$500k jobs, 
I see a pattern.

Some clients show up knowing basic facts about their 
target company.

Others understand the business like they’ve been 
working there for years.

It’s the latter who usually receives the offer. 

They do it by researching at 3 levels:

1. BEGINNER RESEARCH
- Company wins and growth moments
- Leadership team backgrounds and styles
- Product demos to see what they actually do
- Recent news to know what's happening

2. INTERMEDIATE RESEARCH
- Money trends from earnings reports
- Employee chats through LinkedIn messages
- Customer reviews to understand reputation
- Culture insights from Glassdoor

3. ADVANCED RESEARCH
- Competitors and where they struggle
- Partnerships and what they mean
- Industry problems they're likely discussing
- Executive interviews about future plans

Why spend the time? 

To stand out, you can’t just answer questions well.

You have to ask better questions.

Discuss challenges like an insider.

Sound confident because you understand the business.

This preparation may take hours.

But it's what separates a "good candidate" from a 
"must-have hire."

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

You don’t get what you deserve.
You get what you negotiate.
And most people negotiate poorly.

Staying silent can cost you up to $1.5 million over your career.

After coaching hundreds of professionals into $200k+ roles, here’s what I’ve learned:

Most people don’t get underpaid because they lack experience.
They get underpaid because they use language that weakens their leverage.

One weak phrase can cost you $50k+ instantly…and that compounds over time.

❌ Lower raises
❌ Smaller bonuses
❌ Less equity

Your negotiation language sets the baseline for everything that follows.

If you catch yourself saying things like “I’m flexible on compensation,” stop right there.

Here are 3 powerful phrase swaps that changed the game for my clients:

❌ Never: “I just really need this job.”
✅ Instead: “I’m excited about the opportunity and want to ensure compensation aligns with the value I bring.”

❌ Never: “I’m currently making X at my job.”
✅ Instead: “Based on market data for similar roles, I’m seeing a range of X–Y. How does that align with your budget?”

❌ Never: “I’d be willing to take less to get started.”
✅ Instead: “I’m very interested in this position and would like to work together to finalize the compensation.”

See the difference?

You’re not being difficult.
You’re being clear.

You’re not demanding more.
You’re defining your worth.

Weak phrases cost you for decades.
Strong language changes everything.

Reshare ♻️ to help someone avoid leaving money on the table.
Follow me for proven scripts, templates, and negotiation strategies.

($1.5M stat source: Forbes & Business Insider)

You're one interview away from changing your life.

But here's what nobody tells you about landing
a great job:

It's not about having all the right experience.
It's about telling the right story.

I just watched a client (who was laid off) beat out
7 other candidates for a $300k role.

His secret?

He had answers that made the hiring manager
lean in and say “tell me more.”

Today, I’m giving you those exact
kinds of answers. For free.

After helping 300+ professionals land roles
they love (many with 40%-80% salary jumps)...

I’ve decoded what separates forgettable candidates
from unforgettable ones.

The truth is:
You already have what it takes.
You just need to package it right.

Companies aren’t looking for perfection.

They're looking for someone who can articulate
their value with confidence and clarity.

That someone can be you.
Starting today.

📌 P.S. I’m opening a few December spots for professionals who want to land a stronger role in early 2026. If you’re aiming for a $200K–$500K role and want support, fill out the short form in my Featured section. If it’s a fit, we’ll talk.

33 Tough Job Interview_Questions (With A Answers) 

I stopped asking “What’s the culture like?” in job interviews.

Not because culture doesn’t matter.
It determines everything — your growth, confidence, stress, performance, and well-being.

I stopped asking it because it never reveals the truth.

Ask any hiring manager and you’ll hear the same three lines:

“Collaborative.”
“Innovative.”
“Like family.”

Vague. Rehearsed. Meaningless.

If you want real insight, you need questions that force specifics — not slogans.
Questions that uncover actual behavior, not branding.

Here are 12 that expose what it’s really like to work somewhere:

“What surprised new hires in their first 3 months?”
 ↳ Hesitation or generic answers = hidden chaos.

“Can you give me an example of someone who grew here?”
 ↳ They should name names, not speak in theory.

“What employee feedback turned into real changes?”
 ↳ No examples means your voice won’t matter.

“How are achievements celebrated here?”
 ↳ Only sales wins = limited recognition.

“How does the team encourage different viewpoints?”
 ↳ Buzzwords without action = fake inclusivity.

“What does professional development look like in practice?”
 ↳ Ask for budgets and examples, not promises.

“How does information flow between leadership and teams?”
 ↳ One-way communication kills trust.

“When did your values guide a tough decision?”
 ↳ If they can’t recall one, the values don’t matter.

“What’s changed since you started working here?”
 ↳ No change = stagnation.

“How can I understand how people think here?”
 ↳ Being caught off guard = culture isn’t intentional.

“What happens when someone makes a mistake?”
 ↳ Fear-based answers reveal toxicity instantly.

“What would your team say about you?”
 ↳ Discomfort here is a major red flag.

The best companies don’t have perfect answers.
But they do have leaders who:

- Lean forward when you ask
- Share specifics, not slogans
- Name real people and real examples
- Admit where they’re improving
- Aren’t threatened by honest conversations

The worst companies?

They hide behind mission statements.
They dodge specifics.
They get defensive.
They try to sound “fine.”

Remember: You’re not just interviewing for a job.
You’re interviewing for the next 2,000 hours of your life.

Ask the questions most people are too afraid to ask.
You deserve real answers.

What question would you add?

–

📌 P.S. If you’re interviewing right now and want help landing a better role and a healthier team environment, my Job Search Accelerator walks you through the exact system my clients use to get more interviews, evaluate companies clearly, and secure stronger offers.

If you want support, fill this out before we talk → https://lnkd.in/gHdjzb4d

6-figure offers don't go to the best candidates.

They go to the ones who follow a system, not luck.

Applying to jobs feels like shouting into a void.
Recruiters get 250+ applications for every role.

Your resume has 6 seconds to make an impact.
But there's a better way to stand out.

After helping 300+ professionals land amazing roles, 
I've noticed a pattern:

The most successful job seekers aren't 
using the same LinkedIn as everyone else.

They're using these 5 proven hacks that most people miss:

1️⃣ Your profile is your sales page, not your resume

Headline: Role + industry Focus + your Impact
About: Tell us who you are, what you do, why it matters
Featured: Showcase wins with real evidence

2️⃣ One good comment can outperform ten average posts

Comment on executives' content (they notice)
Add genuine insight to show your credibility.
Ask a thoughtful question to build a relationship

3️⃣ Consistency beats viral content every time

LinkedIn rewards weekly posters with 5X more 
profile views and 7X more connections. 

Your formula:

Start with a valuable insight
Add a quick personal example
End with a simple call-to-action

4️⃣ The DM template that gets 50%+ response rates:

"Hey [Name], I saw your post on [topic]. 
Really resonated with your take. 
I've worked on something similar, 
curious how your team is approaching [X] right now?"

5️⃣ The hidden "Open to Work" hack

Set your status to "Recruiters Only" - 
you'll get the algorithm boost 
without broadcasting to your network.

The job market has SERIOUSLY changed.
97% of recruiters find talent on LinkedIn, not job boards.

Most still apply the old way and remain invisible.
While others wait for luck to strike, you need to be creating your own opportunities.

These 5 hacks are your system for standing out.
→ Your strategy beats talent every time.

Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network.
And give me a follow for more posts like this.

This right here is why I tell my coaching clients to spend as much time interviewing the manager as they do interviewing for the role.

The quality of your manager directly impacts your growth trajectory.

In my career, I've seen all three types:

1. Bad bosses who held me back, refusing to acknowledge my potential.

2. Good bosses who helped me grow within their organization, creating paths for me to learn new skills.

3. And great bosses who supported me even when my growth meant moving on. One even helped me network for my next role because she knew it was the right step for me.

When interviewing, ask these revealing questions:

↳ "How many people on your team have been promoted in the last year?"
↳ "Can you share an example of someone who left your team for a better opportunity?"
↳ "What's your philosophy on developing people who might eventually outgrow their roles?"

Their answers will tell you everything.

Remember: You're not just choosing a job, you're choosing a boss who will either accelerate or stall your career.

Who's had a great boss who encouraged their growth, even when it meant leaving?

——

Reshare ♻️ if you've been fortunate enough to work for a leader like this.
And follow me for more career advice like this.

Your next job isn't coming from your best friend.

It's coming from that person you barely know.

LinkedIn did a massive study with 20 million users to test this theory.

What it revealed:

↳ You're 2x more likely to land a job through weak connections vs. strong ones.

↳ Weak ties = people you aren't close with (e.g. former colleagues, acquaintances)

↳ LinkedIn's definition of a weak tie: less than 10 mutual connections

Why weak ties are powerful:

- Access to new information
- Connections to new people
- Exposure to fresh opportunities

Strong ties play in the same circles you do, limiting access to new opportunities. 

Your action plan this week:
Reach out to 3 people you don't know well or haven't spoken to in years.

Your next big opportunity might be just one weak connection away.

---

♻ Repost to help your network with their job search.
And follow me for more posts like this.

taplio

The Battle

Codie A. Sanchez

Reno Perry

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreCodie A. Sanchez's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreReno Perry's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Codie A. Sanchez

Reno Perry

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Codie A. Sanchez's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreReno Perry's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreCodie A. Sanchez's LinkedIn Performance