Contrarians,
We looked into how many times we’ve written the word “hard” over the past few years when talking about business. Turns out, it’s in the thousands.
(Pro tip: don’t search “hard” on X. You’ll see things you can’t unsee.)
But let’s get real for a second. Business is hard. Ownership is hard. That’s why so many people get stuck in the same cycle, year after year, hoping for change but never quite making it happen.
✔️ 20 Hard-Hitting Reframes You Need to Hear
✔️ Our Big 2025 Contrarian Bet (On You)
✔️ The TRUTH About Most Businesses
✔️ What You Need to Do Next
These 20 reframes are a hard reset. They’re not motivational posters or platitudes to whisper in the mirror. They’re more like a truth serum mixed with a slap in the face.
See, the human brain is a stubborn little machine. It clings to outdated software — beliefs, habits, excuses — and refuses to install updates, even when they’re obvious. That’s why most people stay stuck. They’re running Windows 95 in a ChatGPT world.
These ideas will force you to rethink what you want, how you’re going to get it, and what’s been holding you back. Some of them will sting, but they’ll stick…
1. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. And oldie, but goodie.
2. You don’t have “dreams,” you have “goals.” Dreams are for sleep.
3. Narrow goals win. If you say you are looking for everything, you will probably find nothing.
4. Don’t just write down what you want. Write down what you are willing to give up to get what you want.
5. Similarly, try skipping goal-setting and set sacrifices instead. That is often the missing piece. Every one of your goals has a price.
6. “Many problems can’t be solved forward” –Charlie Munger. Solving problems should often start by thinking backward — with what you want to avoid rather than what you want to achieve.
7. What we call stress is often just a lack of prioritization and action.
8. If an ask doesn’t hit one of your goals (or especially if it hits an anti-goal), it’s a no. Like Steve Jobs said, “Innovation is saying ‘no’ to 1000 things.”
9. Success is contagious. Failure is contagious. So is trying. Choose your surroundings carefully.
10. No one is coming to save you. You want a better life, go build it.
11. Mental masturbation: possibly the single biggest reason we see people stay stuck. You talk about your goals, you think about your goals, you visualize your goals... Instead, just do the work.
12. You can’t be upset at the results you’re not getting from the actions you’re not taking.
13. People-pleasing and high levels of success often mix like water and oil.
14. To hit big goals, average must be in your rearview.
15. Most highly successful people we know are not balanced. Maybe it doesn’t have to be so, but it usually is.
16. Want to find a “high value” partner? Become a high-value partner.
17. Most financially successful people we’ve met aren’t that smart. They move fast, they take smart risks, and they work really hard. That’s it.
18. Your friends will determine your weight, bank account, happiness, and success more than you want to know.
19. Stop obsessing on those just ahead of you. Start studying those 10 years ahead, and shorten the distance.
20. The most surefire way to hit goals: You say you will do a thing, and then you actually do the thing. Our guess is that 90% do not do this. Will you be the 10% this year?
Hope this starts you on the right foot.
Did any of these resonate with you? Tell us which, why, and what you’re going to do about it. We read every response — and might even highlight a few.
To hit 1000 reviews for Main Street Millionaire, we need your help. Have you read it yet? Got 60 seconds?
We read every single one, and though it seems small, your impact is ENORMOUS.
Our bet is that 2025 will be the year “regular” people realize they can build extraordinary things. Not because it’s easy, but because they choose to do what most people won’t: they try.
Manifesting is for yoga mats, not bank accounts. Meditating? Fine, but it won’t double your net worth. Actually trying — even imperfectly — is often the difference between staying stuck and achieving extraordinary results.
Here’s the reality: if you try, things will get messy. You may say something dumb online. You’ll fail publicly. Trolls will crawl out of their holes. You’ll likely lose sleep, possibly even money.
But here’s the payoff: falling flat isn’t always a bug — it’s often a feature. When you stay in the game, continue building, and continue fighting for ownership, you get better.
The failures teach you. The trolls fuel you. And eventually, you’ll look around and realize you’ve built something extraordinary — something the keyboard jockeys never even attempted.
Success isn’t some jackpot; it’s compound interest on every good risk you took, every hard lesson you learned, and every step you refused to skip. In other words, trying is a long-term investment.
The older we get the more we respect people who try. There is a world of people who think it’s cool not to try. They are not our people.
So maybe you’re sitting there now, dreaming of leveraging these ideas and owning a business but thinking:
Let us stop you right there. The perfect business doesn’t exist. Most businesses aren’t even “businesses.” They’re jobs. Glorified, gritty, paycheck-grinding jobs.
And what if that’s good? Let’s get one thing straight: the fact that most businesses aren’t gleaming case studies from Harvard Business School doesn’t mean they’re unsellable, unprofitable, or any less valuable.
“Wait, where’s the software?” “Where are the audited financials?”
It’s not there. It was never there. Small businesses don’t have CTOs or CFOs; they have Janet, who’s been doing the books since 1994, and her “system” is a shoebox full of receipts.
But here’s the kicker: Janet’s shoebox produces cash flow. Her chaos keeps the lights on. That “broken” system? It’s an opportunity — not a liability — for someone willing to do the work.
Stop expecting ownership to come gift-wrapped with a bow. It’s not going to. Most businesses are barely contained chaos stitched together by duct tape, grit, and the sheer will of the people running them. It’s not rocket science, but it’s relentless, consistent work.
The next time someone tells you there are no good businesses for sale, or that you “can’t do it,” just smile. Then go talk to the owner of the company down the street, or the guy who’s run the local shop for 30 years. They’re not wearing suits. They’re not screaming on Twitter. But they’re quietly building.
How about real-world grit? Community? Apprenticeship? All this is why we’ve spent millions building the Contrarian Community. We’re here to fill the gap.
We believe in boots-on-the-ground education and ownership. This isn’t just an academy — it’s a movement. In, 2025 we’ll show if we’re right to keep on building this:
And most importantly: one of the coolest damn networks of operators, owners, and doers on the planet. What else is financial education missing today? Let us know… We’ll try to build it too.
By now, you know the truth: most businesses aren’t polished, ready-to-go machines. They’re messy, chaotic, and full of potential waiting to be unlocked.
But here’s the catch: that’s why most people stay stuck. They get overwhelmed and paralyzed by the unknown.
So now, for the 1st — and probably ONLY—time ever, we’re hosting a 3-DAY virtual event to take you deep into the Main Street Millionaire Method.
This isn’t a quick webinar or a book you read and forget. It’s an interactive, action-packed experience designed to equip you with the tools, clarity, and connections to make business ownership a reality.
Here’s what people need to understand…
Main Street businesses aren’t easy, but they’re achievable — and there are TONS of real-world case studies to learn from to avoid painful errors. “Never invest in a business you cannot understand,” as Buffett wisely put it.
Over 3 immersive days, this event will help you move BEYOND theory into actionable application. This is your chance to learn directly from:
No replays. No recordings. No guarantees we’ll do this again. Learn more and reserve your spot now — before someone else does:
The information contained here is educational, may not be typical, and does not guarantee returns. Background, education, effort, and application will affect your experience and the profitability of any business. Individual results may vary.
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