'Tis the season to go against the grain... [header-card-min-1] Contrarian gifts that keep on giving [2 (10)] Hey Contrarians, Let us set the scene for you. A glass of single-malt by your side. A cozy blanket over the shoulders. Fire crackling. Snow falling. Cookies baking. Close your eyes and let that simmer. Below, weâve crafted one of historyâs strangest holiday gift guides for business builders. Half of it isnât even a gift guide, but we think it could make you rethink the very notion of giving âgiftsâ entirely⦠ð¯ Before we dive in, we have something cool to share. Something weâve never done before. This Saturday (December 16th), Codieâs hosting an extensive, no-fluff crash course on buying profitable, small businesses. This half-day, 100% live online event will be, by far, our most informative masterclass ever on biz-buying. Itâs an incredible opportunity to start learning the ins and outs of it all. Oh right, and itâs COMPLETELY FREE â but seats are limited and we anticipate theyâll get booked quickly. [Learn more and sign up here today.](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0P3qn9gW95jsWP6lZ3lNW8xm3Ln5n1kxTN4gBQCCWYGrbW1bhRw_3jwKzqW4t6QGH4WfnppW6NVCtr4Bb5fHW3LrM-17m2L5MW1MZyBq5Qm8XqN5KLRH9hckK2VpSNLz4mkN0QVbp_6k4mPf_DVf6ZHy1Zf_JCV3Krfz2vsCwrW24Z5wg1QrDf3N55YMYJRqG0_W7w01BD5k7QrNW4q_H2g2NVRswW868sPt3Fm5sBN5Qg61r9B596W1kXQ6G3QmVYFW8Cl1Wj8cn0VdW3D6p4q1srX-NW1Wtjwx72L9fxW539lY289jT_9W1VFQtv6mt4CtW58VhFD8qdy4VVH0DSg61-L1YW1zxBMP2TvJBBW6w4zl14KNlLYW3-b8Zp5yR6G5W2_4ZwW8mjnV2f7SFKd004) [divider-min] Today in 5 minutes or less, youâll learn: âï¸ The state of gifts (data youâve probably never seen) âï¸ Contrarian gifts that keep on giving (from $120k to under $100) âï¸ One bizâs unconventional impact [divider-min] The state of gifts (data youâve probably never seen) Just us, or have online gift guides gotten more and more and more⦠useless? Oh look, not just us: [Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Outsource first (2)] Whatâs driving this trend? Is it the rise of targeted Facebook ads, influencer marketing, and TikTok? Is it Googleâs pages of mind-numbing SEO clickbait? Probably an amalgamation of both, among other things. Now consider this: weâre just over a week out from Christmas. âTis the season for: - Buying holiday decorations weâll use once a year - Food weâll have to purchase a January gym membership to work off (it is what it is) - Presents that other people largely donât want or need Meanwhile, prices have increased, so weâre going to spend more on all this than ever before. [Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Outsource first (3)] Looking at both of these charts, the fact is that finding unique, actually good gifts has become both harder to accomplish and more expensive. Today, we want to get your gears turning on ideas that will actually mean something. Our framework for gift-giving borrows from a cliche you probably wrote off years ago: We like gifts that keep on giving. Think of it like an investment â the gifter pays money once, and the giftee gets to cash out dividends for years down the line. Because we believe the best gifts arenât âamber birch vanillaâ scented and end up in the closet full of home goods weâll never be using. The best gifts work FOR the recipient. [divider-min] Contrarian gifts that keep on giving (from $120k to under $100) Running a business is a gift and a hell all in one. It takes a special breed. Trying to get a gift for those who do this⦠might even be an even hotter hell. So our goal was to curate some things we canât imagine weâd regret using. We designed our list to be brief, with oddly specific objectives: - Only things that wonât end up in the trash. - Stuff with owners and builders in mind. - You canât Google and find it in a janky SEO article. - It can improve⦠nasal hygiene. Let us know if you actually make a move on any of the ideas below. [CT_ChristmasList] 1. Power move: A business coach Or heck, a coach of any kind. Helping someone leverage an expertâs 10k hours? Talk about a powerful gift. Codieâs spent $120k on a biz coach. You certainly donât have to pay somebody a G Wagonâs worth of money to consult you, but what we do recommend is this: go find that WHO. You can either pay to develop your business, health, or mind with your limited hours on Earth (of which you canât make any more), or you can strategically use somebody elseâs. See if you can help someone out with the second option. 2. Level up: A tool for health Nothing keeps on giving like an investment in your health. Have someone in mind for your gift? Do they do a lot of sitting? Consider getting them a standing desk, or an under-the-desk treadmill thingy (yes, weâve tried these out and yes, we actually love them). Another idea: [Ladder](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0b3qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3pMW86j5DL7bW7cVW6-MmLj4HFLn-W3fpqLQ4-n1BvW3m6n5y37Tm5gW1YZHqr5g37nPW69rWxD7dlyM8W2MCvJ44WjS9ZW49HP9X6s3XkKW8R3RrS6YVd2JW3BNSDM6K0QJBW4fRMn98TTs1RW89Ks-j59NVf1W8tytMQ1-fkbBN7VRTD4VdJGRW5zDB007F4QCrW3fH0z35xbWSNW7sM8jz8wF0gfW4jlRhZ5dDgv9W35c56b2RrFWcN20NjJRgV5tfW6mnSJk8VpdyCW4_jpfG6g-y_TW4fwWb246pJqFW17pMnV6b_zd8W338Dpk3hqZ4FW13PCjB91g47yf5qrqxs04) offers a killer app for busy people who prioritize fitness and want access to some of the worldâs best coaches. We cannot recommend it enough. Are we biased? Yes, theyâre one of our portfolio companies. Doesnât matter â the thingâs incredible. 3. Know-how: An education with a purpose Best case? Learning a new skill translates to a huge increase in income down the line. Worst case? You learn something new. Which is always a rad thing to do. Help your special someone think through what theyâd like to learn and then contribute to the cause with a boot camp or an online course. For the aspiring biz-buyers, weâve got our small business buying course and our Contrarian Community Mastermind, but thereâs so much else out there depending on your interests. 4. Why not: An on-demand satellite Yes, we just said that. [Skyfi](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCd_W3qn9gW7lCdLW6lZ3psMsgyRV9DpPyW88PqzV4KxzMfW662ydB3hfGT4N6LFd7_9_yHdW3W10pW8wSybnN8zNcv1vNFMYW8ybmnB5-q5XrW8_9nzv2By3bmW78CRk4903KgkW2-R2p45Jq_hZW4yP2fH81dQZyN2wYPLDnYRznW7yD8526pNv4bW88XjDD1w3zcQW6rpjBS1_ZynmVhvycd5R1DDRW3BqF9B6C9nCjVNjMXT74Brz0W5-ZpXC7qGBQ-W7dyvz668_ST-VsS6BB5BhB3LW1P5SMW5MPDZHW200Ncm9cN9nHW5KbwHl4htc6Lf2p3lvH04), a leading provider of Earth observation data, is another one of our portfolio companies. Theyâre empowering individuals and businesses with seamless access to near real-time visual insights. In English: you can go on their website and order up a custom satellite image in a few clicks. Itâs kinda ridiculous, in the best way. This could be great for anyone from the nerds, to the creatives, to the romantics who want to capture a special place on a special day⦠from SPACE. 5. Itâs a classic for a reason: A book Unless itâs $50 and collects dust on an expensive coffee table, you can never go wrong with a book. Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Imagine gifting that feeling to someone. Need some ideas? Check out all the comments under [Codieâs post](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0P3qn9gW95jsWP6lZ3kDW78DRJH4Xc-d6W7wvWpV47yHZmW2nkq_21pxfCrW2pvkNQ6FxmcSW5K9FwV7Q96JBW5f2YKg9bjgT7W4VhpdC5jhRSZW8cP5sR8VqwBVW4MHPvc4yJLGqW8T5jpb50CRZgW4RxfXw6yhTKWW4Mw-xL7vJKtQW4JtnvT5zD8FsW4XNNCT3HhlhNW88h3JG8b_B8WW5ZxrSV6Vkw4nN1q34ZsJrgFMW7hqPHd67yX-fW8qhfR65lqk7JW1MxdQ094mHfbW2WhC3K5GKkv2W25J1p04y2gd4N7-KrPWSJW92W4STRTm5pb_b-W4k54SS6LZS3hW6QFSNy734JdsW49pJRS3dTpJ0W8QwPKN6mWkQ8W2GzSMv52zV4NW84Y3YD1T7dN6f7MSwVY04), which is specifically about what books people like gifting the most. 6. Wild card: Aâ¦. Naväge? [This tweet](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0P3qn9gW95jsWP6lZ3lLW4HbQCp2DHskxW4jTQKX73mtdsW8KWXTJ4xtYDBN1yjsh0slJndMCr7Ky1Qgd1W7mLT2y20lZ-5W66sR9337FxxzW24qjtg6-3RzPW8QVkrP2F70nMW6sN3cy6vtB6YW2M5MBY3XBp8FW5d_kXX5s5-G7W1sMBx235Zh_yW3nKZs21wctDgW8vfSGn4VCPy2W6Z05J162k9vDW9bywJF4yjTj8W7ZNRGj1ys8H0W1vcbg93JPCBqW6lkKtV2csmYmW3ndzDJ4_8bdqW2_GxPl6tlRkYW8L4FmP35kQtLW20vM5k1Jn3P-VLX22c13MvMXW8mR9zg1mWpzsW2HGgwy76YzSJW97Pm0857Chn9W45vJYt8rdFNZN9c8fm72Jcw7f17hH8804)from last year (back when we still called âem âtweetsâ) keeps on giving. The comments are a gold mine, but one stuck out⦠Why? A) Because itâs from our very own CMO. B) Because he answered with this: [Screenshot 2023-12-14 at 1.08.22 PM] Unexpected? Sure. Do we fully support it? Absolutely. [divider-min] The gift of giving (one bizâs unconventional impact) We wanted to share a super-brief story about one of our Contrarian Community members, Mike. Mikeâs working on an array of businesses, with a particular focus on vending machines. Why are we telling you this? Because sure, Mike generates an income from his work. But heâs found other ways to give. (Small biz owners looking for ways to give, hereâs some inspirationâ¦) Mikeâs not just on a mission to build financial freedom. Heâs on a mission to improve the health of Americans along the way. How does he do that? By swapping out the usual vending machine crap for healthy alternatives. [Screenshot 2023-12-14 at 2.14.18 PM] Itâs not easier for Mike to do that. Definitely not cheaper, either. But itâs his way of having an unconventional impact while running a business. Itâs one way heâs giving back. What do you truly value? What do you think would build a better world? Mike answered that question with his business. Why not gift THAT - the thing that you believe will make someoneâs world better? Instead of dropping hundreds of dollars on a thing that only exists as a testament to consumerism? Letâs build the bank account, free the mind, and make savage the body this holiday season, eh? [divider-min] [about-pigsfly] SO not boring... ð² Ever thought about buying a Christmas tree farm? Youâll want to read [these threads](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0v3qn9gW8wLKSR6lZ3npW44_myl1d1LzmW58Y3by8BGJD9W7g51Gp3H7GLRW9723gj5dg6FkW1kvD4d2wbY1PVRykLl5xH4gWW1SyQtF3RKZxfN8gbbvcJXr_jW8jWNdJ8N-0xrW1_cyR-76_p-JW1w4rRJ7Yw1l8W53H1Fj8c8nVMW4fmhYH5yqf4_W7y3STC1J71d0N8w4npdScJnPW6z_MnW2DQQRCW7Yzjrl1bNCL4VR8SbX50cvpzW5JhtPh6Hv4H5W8KlNLh5LYvxyW5LxJq96xSXxZW7JG8V72MRs-GN7gZLbqYPyPxW7fR3Sl2hcsHkW7v1ZNL7sKZnDF97xJLdD5y5W18-TjR27mlcWVDqyzW26M-bkf6WMn_204)⦠âï¸ Good or bad? How couples meet in the US, [charted over decades](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0P3qn9gW95jsWP6lZ3m3W6Y__dK1Nxtf6W4Dt-0W18SDRTW3xYxSk55QmjtW6gVRX-1NYQX9W7pT9MX8Pfz5wW8gHBkq24fYFCW5k2F164fxk5TN7Kjnc31x2R5W5Jthy72-KnRMW8vwQFX5wJv9tW5LtWqN379h5HW1Pcfmx1PfsLtW64ZFG53X4yzFW19J07r2lTzD1W248htP7_d_1bW4lwDC19hnkvyW841Rzt5rJS3-W8BW8TG9jhBg7W2Dcc7G5LYrjqW2zdgjt8-gG_KW4BspjM6TKVgyW6LC_XG4nlvTGVZrtyh6tj9tVW6t6wWC72-CfWW8lQqbl5DRQlkVskX-T7QllrGW65_vpT5XnYnXW9dth5j7vt0VwN1NxyzH82T4pW32fh6R9dwK_DdYl2G604). 𤣠Blackstoneâs Taylor Swift-themed [holiday video](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0P3qn9gW95jsWP6lZ3nCW8mvWST59qJpmW2wXzTb9f9-pdW1Zhh8p4B40qTW1NwMcQ5N-xwxW8pX6hq5pSrjmW8j38xv2mvLSrW6_Ny-694LWvwW61lCN_2c9gh5W8lJr6L7CxNsbVV20dR79mbr9W4ZpwwL1Z1MK3VLb_gp8DFq4LVpmPcv95Sgt-W5bLr7k3t-49WVMLFQx3DlVsyW1G6khN58ZtmQV_wkbx1ZW16nW2F6f4q7mHTgRW5D09lp3BYlw1W52V8hb4ZdnGpW61s9C26W3ccJW5p4zl-2mYTZXW62ZhCn7QNYVbW23kWVw58xVFhVtNcYR7Lh1CWW4VNHrW3HBP1PW5Pz6Z06_5sBrW7wYqK64cv2nhW7-xfxv8x-kjhN2MKHQfrkVZvdLZ9_q04) -- yes that exists... [divider-min] âï¸ Whatâd you think of this weekâs newsletter? Hit reply to let us know! âï¸ Check out our [Contrarian Community](113/d2RjD304/VVx9261lZgpqW5RP1nn58YGh8W4sKGqD572TGhN7lCf0P3qn9gW95jsWP6lZ3mPW4ptTzt7TVQTHW5RBzLL5dKHP0VwyMnw3mKCxBW8zxSt74RRmtHVctt-72btTwMW5Cc4JD2d59PmW1pBbsw2qQQQ8W3643hh8f0H7vVg8LF94nGnfZW3-6jb25CJwRzVYTHf525ygXTW51qPS6661lXgW32wdm98bmgY7W5cx-j52rHflzMBJXlrypq1qW328ccr2HjHldW4BXfx78p9lbsW6bb_K02ZPj7bW1BqTxS2RK0rYW3CTrL25dzS5YW83J47S4H9yBJN67HT1VtC5NTW5Sn-7Z1BjKYhV7lVC42tLyGXW3gRft4951bV_W3lfjbw6Zr4NTW4chw9B9hB_hkV6NlnR4Cvh1nW6yRqm57vyp_jW4-t1zw8KpYj8f8yfyq004). Learn how to buy your first (or next) business with our expert guidance, support, and accountability. Powered by HubSpot Adelante = always moving forward [atlas] Contrarian Thinking, LLC, 6705 W Highway 290 Suite 502 PMB 1093, Austin, TX 78735-8407 [Unsubscribe]( [Manage preferences]( Disclaimer â Be an intelligent human and make responsible choices. There are zero guarantees in life. 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