From SBA Lender to Entrepreneur: How Sterling Birdsong Built Businesses Through Funding, Patience and Action

In this episode of What Are You Made Of?, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Sterling Birdsong, owner of Lendstra, a nationwide SBA loan placement platform helping small business owners secure $500,000 or more in funding. Sterling shares his journey from spending 13 years in banking and SBA lending to launching his own company and helping entrepreneurs navigate the often-complex funding process. He explains how working independently allows his team to connect business owners with a network of lenders and stay involved from the initial application through closing. Sterling also opens up about his entrepreneurial journey outside of lending, including how he went from opening his first tanning salon in 2024 to owning five GLO Tanning locations in less than two years. He shares the difference between starting a business from scratch and acquiring an established one, how he evaluates opportunities, and why having the right operating partner has been essential to scaling. Throughout the conversation, Sterling talks about patience, persistence, taking action, learning from mistakes, and knowing when to admit you don’t have all the answers. He and C-Roc also discuss the idea of “patient urgency”—being patient with the process and outcome while staying urgent about the actions needed to move forward. Website- lendstra.com https://www.instagram.com/sterling.sba/