Codie Sanchez said business is difficult across the board and warned entrepreneurs not to listen to those who say otherwise.

“You’ll realize eventually that every business owner thinks their industry is the hardest,” said Sanchez in a post on X. “No business is easy. No industry categorically beats all others. It’s all hard.”

“So ignore those who say ‘You can’t do it in xyz industry…’” Sanchez said. “Jaded people simply don’t want you to win. It means they had a choice about losing.”

Business failure rates remain high, with data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that roughly 20% of new businesses fail within the first year, and about 50% within five years.

The perception of industry-specific challenges often stems from unique regulatory hurdles, capital requirements, or customer acquisition issues—but many experts agree that mindset and execution are bigger differentiators than industry choice.

Sanchez has previously advocated for small business acquisitions as a path to financial independence, encouraging entrepreneurs to “buy then build” rather than starting from scratch.

Codie Sanchez is the founder of Contrarian Thinking, an investing and media company focused on buying cash-flowing small businesses. She is a former journalist and private equity investor who shares insights on entrepreneurship and alternative investing with her audience.