What is Contrarian Thinking and what do we do?
We free minds and build bank accounts. We're on a mission to help 1 million people become financially free and to create 100,000 small business owners.
We're a digital education and media startup that has amassed 8 million followers in 3 years–and we're just getting started
Our weekly newsletter is read by over 800,000 subscribers, which you can read here.
We also produce some of the best content in the finance category on our YouTube channel (and Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok).
99% of our content is 100% free.
The other 1% is how we help people become expert deal makers so they can acquire a “boring business” that cashflows
We do this through our courses and a select, highly engaged community of over 3,000+ business owners.
We also have our own investment fund, Contrarian Thinking Capital, that invests in the businesses and tech that supports SMB growth and our own portfolio company, Main Street Hold co.
So, yeah, you could say we put our money where our mouths are.
Why our work matters …
The “Silver Tsunami” is in full effect, with Baby Boomers retiring and their businesses needing a succession plan.
Their businesses have been run for decades, many at a healthy profit, but alas, they have been overlooked by institutional investors.
And since many Millennials are focused on becoming YouTube stars and not wanting to own their parent's landscaping company (even if it's making millions) these Boomers are forced to either close or sell their business.
Therein lies our opportunity.
We call them “Boring Businesses”. They are your local laundromats, car washes, pool cleaning routes, handyman services, etc.–the unsexy blue-collar businesses that no one thinks about but everyone needs. And boy are they profitable.
But it's not all about the benjamins
We believe our communities are a better place when our actual neighbor owns the Neighborhood Store and not a conglomerate.
We believe in Main Street over Wall Street.
We believe in thinking critically and cash flowing unconventionally.
We believe in our Contrarian Creed - the operating philosophy for our business (see below).
Position Overview
Reporting to the company President, the Head of YouTube Creative & Strategy is a new position and is responsible for all things YouTube. We are looking for an experienced and proven YouTube creative and strategist to own our YouTube channels' development and growth.
Your remit will be to develop and execute a holistic, audience and content strategy to deliver against the key objectives of the business which not only include YouTube growth, but center around driving traffic to the company's website for conversion to buy their paid products and services
In order to get there, you'll need to own the strategy ….
- Recommendation of a comprehensive content strategy that will increase followers, viewers, and Adsense revenue on the platform
- Audience segmentation and targeting
- Data informed creative recommendations based on the right Youtube KPI's.
… and the creative with experience across all five stages of the YouTube creative process:
Analytics
Understanding YouTube data and what it tells you about:
- CTR
- Video retention
- Title choices
- Thumbnail decisions
- Video Composition
- Commercial message (ad) placement (if applicable)
- Viewing behavior (how people think and react to components of a video)
Writing
- With an understanding of the analytics, you are also highly creative and are drawn to breakthrough ideas that are based in rationale thinking but have the ability to grow an audience and push the brand to the next level
- You also have the ability to see beyond your own ideas and take input (able to check your ego)
- You are a perfectionist and have obsessively high standards - ie you want your viewers to think 'this is not your typical business or financial advice video and this is not your typical financial advisor.'
- You have the experience and awareness to understand someone else's values and style and then have the creative vision to take that content to the next level.
- You are confident enough to make and defend your creative decisions yet humble enough that you can take feedback without wilting.
- You have the experience and/or sensibility to write and develop videos for an educated, adult, male skewing, dual audience.”
Creative Producing
- This requires the most critical decision-making in the video development effort. Ask yourself: “How can we make great decisions in production that don't undermine creative?” You need to know when small compromises will turn a video concept into mush.
Directing - where the magic happens
- A high wire act that requires mastery of all of the creative skills - analytics, writing, creative problem solving, understanding the camera, your on screen host and talent and the ability to envision a post.
- You are aware that something will always fail but you have the confidence and clarity to solve it right then and there - even if it means a rewrite.
- You also have the wherewithal to call an audible during a high profile shoot, convince everyone why it makes sense and inspire your partners to execute without alienating people and losing your cool.
Post
Data + Story = Viewership Growth
Can you take what's been shot and view it through a data lens? If so, you get incremental viewership. In order to build the best videos in the category, you have to be obsessed with every detail. In post, it's about lining up the creative elements, elevating the story and respecting the data. It's the process of toggling back and forth, between ideas and data that leads to something great.
Note: Your post production edit plan will also need to maximize previously shot video content captured for Podcast. You will need to develop a strategy for this content in addition to the original video content you will be building.
You will also need to …
- Develop a robust response testing plan to optimize the above in order to achieve continued performance improvements
- Own day to day management of CT's YouTube business with a proactive mindset
- Manage the relationship with the YouTube partner team
- Partner with marketing, audio, events and production in a highly collaborative team environment.
- Work with leadership to ensure content being developed supports key objectives and determine where and when paid media and other YouTube specific investments might be needed.
Other Skills and Experiences You'll Need:
- 10+ years of digital video comprehensive creative experience including 5+ years of YT creative development experience and 3+ years of YT post experience (hands on keyboard experience ideal).
- A track record of making informed creative/edit decisions that led to increased YouTube channel subscriber and revenue growth (working with YouTube channels that are between 1-5 mil subscribers and videos with 1-5 mil views a plus)
- Experience working in a high volume video production environment with multiple YouTube video postings each month.
- Strong (and current) understanding of YouTube analytics as well as 3rd party tools
- Strong understanding of social platform monetization—how the “algo” works
- Experience identifying and recommending winning video content formats
- Experience testing new content formats and creative elements
- Experience recommending and maintaining a regular and consistent reporting system that can clearly inform non-YouTube brains about progress, challenges and opportunities.
- You have some experience with or an interest or passion for adult targeted self improvement, business or mindfulness content that relies on science, facts and integrity for viewership success (vs clickbait).
- You love creators and have worked with enough to understand what drives them
- You can and have successfully worked independently and remotely
- You have great communication skills and the ability to simplify complex data and creative challenges for “non YouTubers.”
- You are always learning in order to stay ahead of the curve in a fast moving space to positively impact the business
- You are a Contrarian at heart. Not sure what that is? Keep reading.
The Contrarian Creed
These are the words we stand by, live by and define what it means to be a Contrarian.
- People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.
- Be a great f*cking human. Do what's right even when it hurts
- How you do anything, is how you do everything.
- We do the dirty work.
- Your word is your contract.
- We are Archimedes, find your lever.
- Winners want pressure.
- We want your weird. Better weird than boring.
- Your job isn't done until THE job is done. We work the problem.
- Assumptions are for assholes. Find the truth.
- Less words, more meaning.
- Even our notes are worth stealing. Make every creation a mini-masterpiece.
- Show me your results, not your intentions.
Want to become an official Contrarian? Awesome, here are the details:
Compensation
Salary: $150-200k base + results based performance bonus
Location
Austin, TX
Please note: This position requires regular in-office collaboration in Austin, Texas. Applicants must be willing to reside within a 1-hour drive of Austin, Texas to be considered.
Type of Employment
Full-Time
Crew Benefits
All of these benefits go into effect on Day 1 of your employment with us.
- 100% Company-paid health, dental, and vision for all full-time Crew Members with an option to add any dependents.
- Unlimited PTO Policy (with approval from your Direct Support) + 9 paid holidays
- On-time direct deposit pay 2x/month
- Option to enroll in a Fidelity managed 401K plan
- 100% free access to all of our courses and our flagship Contrarian Community
About Codie Sanchez - Founder & CEO
Codie Sanchez is a formidable force in the world of finance, known for her bold, contrarian thinking, financial acumen and entrepreneurial prowess.
She launched Contrarian Thinking, the world's first free-thinking finance and media company in 2020. In spite of the global pandemic it launched in, Contrarian Thinking has empowered thousands to take control of their financial destinies and become successful small business owners. This venture fosters a community of more than four million contrarian thinkers worldwide, teaching the tenets of financial freedom and supporting small business ownership. Codie's latest book - Main Street Millionaire is already a New York Times Bestseller
You can read Codie's full biography here.