Entrepreneur and investor Codie Sanchez examined the psychological root of stagnation—and argued that true growth begins with risk, discomfort, and a personal wager on your own potential.

“Building anything meaningful starts with a bet, usually on yourself,” wrote Codie Sanchez in an blog post. “No safety net. No guarantee. The world is mostly built by people who didn’t wait for permission — they just started. Even when it felt reckless. Especially when it felt lonely.”

Sanchez challenged readers to reflect on whether they’ve traded progress for predictability, and whether the pursuit of security is quietly eroding their ambition. She described growth as a byproduct of action—not planning, waiting, or over-preparing—and emphasized that most breakthrough builders forged their path in isolation before recognition ever arrived.

She also warned against outsourcing validation to institutions, bosses, or audiences. For entrepreneurs and creators, she wrote, permission must come from within, and momentum must begin with imperfect steps.

Codie Sanchez is the founder of Contrarian Thinking, a platform that teaches financial freedom through business acquisition, content leverage, and independent ownership. Her writing encourages individuals to take bold, unconventional action and reject systems that reward compliance over creation.