“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”

— Sam Ewing

“Mr. Wiggin,” reader Richard S writes, hitting the nail on the head for this week’s guest, Codie Sanchez. “Main Street, U.S.A. is holding on by a thread. It will be a long road before positive changes for MainStreet.”

Main Street is, let me remind you, the character foil to the silk-tied, fortieth floor Wall Street goons that we track ad nauseum here on The Wiggin Sessions. Often, Main Street is a target for political jargon and a tool for policy decisions.

The truth is, though, Main Street is where America gets to work.

“I want your hands dirty, calloused and rough,” exclaims Sanchez, “I want your work to mean something. I want you to be a builder in a world of users.”

Codie on a forklift. Click the image to watch the full Episode with Miz Sanchez. (Source: Codie Sanchez)

Now, some might claim Miz Sanchez’ gung-ho go-getter mentality is a front. Or maybe Pollyannaish Millenial gook. I’d say, in response: after having spoken to her for about two hours, picking her brain and listening closely to how she characterizes approaching the idea of entrepreneurship itself…. Miz Sachez is a smart woman.

She is aware of the cheese factor, and uses it to her advantage. She wants the sensationalism of social media to bring new eyeballs to Main Street. Forbes magazine called her a “Top Female Investor”– a moniker more than apt, it’s warranted.

“We help people think critically, and cashflow unconventionally while allocating to what we call ‘sweaty & boring’ small businesses. Most notably these are businesses in the micro-private equity space in traditional service-based industries.” Sweaty palms and all.

After watching her discussion, what do you think? You can write to me here.

P.S. Whatever your politics, the “dirty, calloused and rough hands” matter. And they might matter even more by December 9, as 100,000 rail workers may go on strike for “better sick leave and working conditions”. The timing is auspicious.Most of the goodies people buy for the holidays get toot-tooted about the country by rail. Rail is already under stress, as we’ve noted, by a growing shortage in diesel fuel. A rail strike is projected to cause $1B in damage to the economy and could make taming inflation even harder.