Why Real Business Experience Beats Any Certification

Marshall Stern has been in business for over 35 years. He built a sign and graphics company for 29 years and decided to sell it. He ran coaching and mentoring alongside that company for 14 of those years. He is now coaching full-time, and the way he talks about business, people, and decisions is worth your full attention.In this episode, Marshall shares the decisions that shaped his journey, including why he refused to lay off his team at the start of COVID when everyone told him he should, why he hired a new salesperson in August 2020 when business was still at 50%, and what he has learned about real leadership versus the kind that looks good on paper.We also get into what actually gets in the way of business growth, why a bank balance is not the same thing as financial health, and why real experience in the trenches will always outrank a certification.Marshall holds nothing back. This one is worth listening to more than once.In this episode:The decisions that defined Marshall's entrepreneurial journeyWhy he refused to lay off his team during COVID - and what happened because of itHiring counter-cyclically: taking the leap when nobody else wasWhat actually blocks business growth more than anything elseWhy your bank balance is lying to you about your business healthWhy real experience in the trenches beats any certificationLinks and ResourcesFree Guide: Five Key Strategies to Scale Your Service-Based Business: www.cleardirectionadvisors.com/5keystrategiestoscaleWork with Kendra at Clear Direction Advisors:www.cleardirectionadvisors.comBook a discovery call:https://tidycal.com/cleardirections/discovery-sessionConnect with Marshall:Website: ⁠www.marshallstern.net⁠LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/marshallstern/⁠Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/marshallstern/⁠Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup⁠Connect With KendraLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kendravyse/Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/cleardirectionadvisorsSubstack: https://substack.com/@cleardirectionadvisors