THE STERN TRUTH: Business Unfiltered

Marshall Stern
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The Stern Truth: Business Unfiltered is the no-BS podcast for overwhelmed small business owners & entrepreneurs who are tired of the noise, the hype, and the so-called “experts” telling them how to grow their business. Hosted by Marshall Stern, a seasoned business owner and coach with over 35 years of experience, this podcast cuts through the confusion to bring you real, practical advice that actually works. If you feel stuck, exhausted, and like you’re doing it all alone—this is for you. Each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and straight talk about what it really takes to grow and lead a thriving business. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just The Stern Truth you need to move forward with confidence. It's time to stop spinning your wheels and start leading your business like the unstoppable force you are.

  1. Ep. 52 The Stern Truth: Stop Fighting the Chaos with Diana Dinh

    2D AGO

    Ep. 52 The Stern Truth: Stop Fighting the Chaos with Diana Dinh

    Send us a text Diana Dinh, mom of four, financial strategist, and business owner, is my guest on this episode. In her life she has found that when trying to make everything easier, that’s what can actually make things harder. Her advice is to take things as they come. Diana is a great example of that, with four kids, a husband, and her own business. She says don’t fight the chaos. See it as it comes and deal with it. As a mother/business owner, Diana saw a gap in the networking space for young professional moms like her. She closed that gap when she created Mama Masterminds, an intentional community where business-minded moms have time to connect and bond over something as simple as a pizza. So HOW does she deal with it all? For her, it boils down to the four S’s. Self, strategy, systems, and support. Admittedly, at first, she wasn’t an expert at balancing all these S’s. The inner work that she’s done is something she credits as helping her be successful. Our discussion gets into the “act as if” mindframe. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s easy—act like the person you want to be. We even play a game where I shoot her common business terms, and she explains the “act as if” behind it. Diana gave us so many golden nuggets from this episode. Make time for the things that are important to you. If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me. And a special message to the mom entrepreneurs is to recognize how much power you already have in yourself.   Want to connect with Diana? Check out her Facebook group, her podcast, or connect on LinkedIn.   Mama Mastermind Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialmamamasterminds/about/ Diana's podcast "Mama Masterminds": https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mama-masterminds/id1721418663 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsdianadinh/ Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    49 min
  2. Ep. 51 The Stern Truth: Lessons from Turning 50

    DEC 16

    Ep. 51 The Stern Truth: Lessons from Turning 50

    Send us a text What’s on your Business Bucketlist, the things that you want to achieve in your business? Maybe you haven’t even looked at it for a while. In this episode, I talk about my own Business Bucketlist item that came to fruition in 2025—this very podcast. I talk about the lessons that I’ve learned over 50 episodes of the Stern Truth. As some of you might know, about 10 years ago, I had another podcast. I stopped around episode 20, but I always wanted to get back on the podcast horse. And at the beginning of this year, I did, with some amazing assistance along the way. Since this is Business Unfiltered, I’ll be honest and let you know that this podcast was the ultimate in “I will when” procrastination. I made a list of what I wanted to do in January 2025 and this podcast was near the top of the list of what I wanted to accomplish. I never got around to making a specific timeframe or plan. Not until I took my own 1-person entrepreneur retreat, which gave me the clarity I needed about what I REALLY wanted to do.  “Launch the podcast by December 2025” was on the top of my Business Bucketlist. I knew what didn’t work, and I was ready to loop in a team so I could focus on the coaching, the conversations, and the relationships within the podcast. I made a clear vision of what I wanted. I built a team. I focused on what lights me up and fell in love with the outcome. Above all, I was consistent, and I built something I’m proud of. Even if you didn’t look at the title and say, “Wow, Marshall, you look great for 50!” I’m always glad to have you here listening or watching, my friends. 50 episodes is a true milestone in my book. Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    12 min
  3. Ep. 50 The Stern Truth Turns 50: The Team Behind the Mic

    DEC 9

    Ep. 50 The Stern Truth Turns 50: The Team Behind the Mic

    Send us a text It’s the 50th episode of the Stern Truth! I almost can’t believe it. The guests I have are a bit different than my usual guests. For this special 50th episode, we have Jordan Eaton, CEO and founder of BOSS Assistants (who was also on episode 13,) and Lindsey Molyneaux, BOSS’ social media manager and podcast manager. They have helped me make the podcast what it is. I had a podcast about 10 years ago but barely made it past episode 25. The BOSS Assistants team and I work together so well, and this podcast is living proof that a good team can help you get to where you want to go in your business. What really kicked my butt into gear to create this podcast was the accountability this team brought with them. We work well together, and we all help each other reach our goals. Having people like that in your business is truly priceless. We also get into the benefits of hiring out vs. hiring in-house. Either way, it’s an investment, a cost of both money and time. But, on the other side of the coin, there's a huge cost in NOT getting the proper guidance or getting an expert to help you, and that's missing out on opportunities.  Jordan and Lindsey even give a few golden nuggets to the table. The little tasks add up. The first impressions make a difference. The most important one of the episode—it’s all about building a team. It’s the best money you will ever spend. Focus on what you do best, and let someone else, like BOSS Assistants, do the rest. Get in touch with Jordan here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-eaton/ Website: bossassistants.com Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    36 min
  4. Ep. 49 The Stern Truth: Business Hacks with Leslie Hacker

    DEC 2

    Ep. 49 The Stern Truth: Business Hacks with Leslie Hacker

    Send us a text Aside from having one of the coolest names, Leslie Hacker has a keen business sense. Leslie started her marketing and PR business in 2015 while taking care of her sick parents. She prefers to call herself a consultant and a communicator, since that’s really at the core of what she does. The episode gets into the idea of being uncomfortable, which, let’s be real, no one really likes. But for Leslie, she knows that when businesses do the same thing over and over, those things eventually won’t work. We talk over the analogy of putting your oxygen mask on when you’re on an airplane before helping others. One of Leslie’s golden nuggets (which I’m calling Business Hacks for this episode) is that her work is better when she has oxygen. Leslie told us how she’s noticed that when she works with a company that she’s a customer of herself, that’s when she’s most passionate about the job. For her, that’s when it’s more than just money. That being said, we also get into being cautious with your passion. It could take you down a dark path. The businesses and clients that we work with, or that anybody works with, for that matter, might not always be a fit. We have to be careful where our passion takes us and discern from that to make the most of our time and energy. Get in touch with Leslie here to book a strategy session: Website: hackercommunications.com  Instagram: @hacker_communications Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    37 min
  5. Ep. 48 The Stern Truth: If Not Now, When?

    NOV 25

    Ep. 48 The Stern Truth: If Not Now, When?

    Send us a text We’re coming up to the beginning of a new year. I often hear “I will when” around this time of the year.  Oh, but you’re waiting for the economy to get better, holding on until the new year, or hoping the timing will be better when the kids are grown. There’s so many excuses to not do it. The question I have to ask you is, “If not now, when?”  The “I’ll do this later” mindset quickly turns into procrastination. That’s exactly when we lose the opportunities that are present to us. Look back on 2025. Were you in your comfort zone the whole time? We get so comfortable with just being comfortable. We don’t grow. We’ve stopped remembering why we do it. Or maybe it’s not important to us anymore.  Our competitors aren’t slowing down. They still have their marketing. They’re not stopping their lead gen. If we pause and don’t keep that momentum going, our competitors will lap us (and no one wants that!).  The Kickstart Lab 2026 can help you get out of your comfort zone. This is a 90-day block where we review what’s worked, what didn’t, and why, and clarify what we want for 2026. Success leaves clues. Follow them so you can achieve what you want to achieve in 2026. We kick off December 1st, so grab your spot here: https://marshallstern.net/landing/2026-kickstart  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    10 min
  6. Ep. 47 The Stern Truth: Special Episode 2026 Kickstart Growth Lab

    NOV 20

    Ep. 47 The Stern Truth: Special Episode 2026 Kickstart Growth Lab

    Send us a text This might be the shortest episode of the Stern Truth yet, and maybe even one of the most important. 2026 is right around the corner. This is your wake-up call. It’s a Stern Truth, and it’s saying, “It’s not your goals that are causing you to fail; it’s the unmanaged chaos in your business.”  I’m introducing you to the Kickstart Growth Lab 2026. It’s a new six-week group experience to build a powerful 90-day growth plan. Kickstart will give you the momentum, accountability, and consistency to move forward. We kick off December 1st, and seating is limited. But those of you who sign up first can get the fast-action price, so grab your spot here: https://marshallstern.net/landing/2026-kickstart  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    3 min
  7. Ep. 46 The Stern Truth: How to Maximize Your Marketing with Melissa Guenette

    NOV 18

    Ep. 46 The Stern Truth: How to Maximize Your Marketing with Melissa Guenette

    Send us a text Grit. Determination. A little bit of delusion. These are the things that our guest, Melissa Guenette, says help make businesses successful. On the other side of the coin, self-doubt was one of the things that Melissa initially faced when she created her company, A-List Media Solutions. But she didn’t let that stop her from growing.  Melissa also started her business quite suddenly, without laying down a foundation first. As we all know, small businesses have to strike when the iron is hot, and Melissa was no different. She faced a challenging start, but when you grow a business, that’s the only guarantee. Trial and error was the name of the game when starting A-List. That helped her to focus on what she does best, leveraging clear and concise messaging to get more traditional media exposure. She also believes in the power of experiential marketing to make that personal, real-life connection, one that can’t be replicated online.  We discuss how to make processes that make your clients' lives easier—once you make those processes, they’ll keep coming back to you. Like I said in Episode 34, the best businesses are the ones that make it easy to give them your money.  Melissa gives so many great golden nuggets during this episode. One of them is to slow down and don’t take on ALL the clients you can. Develop foundations to expand your team and your business. Another is to have a great media kit to send to other businesses.  We even found we had a shared golden nugget—keep track of your wins. Whether it’s a WINS folder on a drive or a handwritten Brag Book, just note them. Write down those wins. It keeps limiting beliefs at bay and shows you how amazing your business truly is.  Curious about what Melissa does? Contact her at media@alistmediasolutions.com   Get inspired and stay accountable with the Momentum Accountability group. Email me at marshall@marshallstern.net to join as a guest for no cost. See more here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/page/momentum  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    40 min
  8. Ep. 45 The Stern Truth: Perfectionism Can Be a Business Killer

    NOV 11

    Ep. 45 The Stern Truth: Perfectionism Can Be a Business Killer

    Send us a text What holds you back in your business? I bet that the first thing that comes to mind is money. But often, that’s not what’s really holding you back. In today’s episode, I go over the two things that stall your business - perfectionism and procrastination. As a small business owner, of course you want everything to be perfect. You want your business to look great online. You want your processes completely finished. You want to give your clients the perfect product or service. But that’s playing it too safe, and that’s not realistic. Holding onto that perfectionist mindset so tightly will actually end up killing the momentum that you’ve built. It stalls your business growth. It costs you time and money. And it will eventually cost you opportunities. Then that perfectionism can show up as procrastination, delaying until things are exactly in the right place. Entrepreneurs have a perfection problem, and I know how to help this - just start. Tune in to learn how to change that mindset, even when you don’t feel quite ready. “Done” is always better than “perfect.” Learn how to get out of perfection and into action with the Momentum Accountability group. Email me at marshall@marshallstern.net to join as a guest for no cost. See more about the group here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/page/momentum  Subscribe to The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered so you never miss an episode and receive a FREE GIFT: http://www.thesterntruth.com/ Join my Business Inner Circle Community for free here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebusinessinnercirclegroup Book your complimentary business blindspot assessment with me here: https://attractwell.com/MarshallStern/landing/breakthrough-session I encourage you to reach out with feedback, topic suggestions, and share your own entrepreneurial challenges. Get in touch in the comments or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallstern/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshallDStern Email: marshall@marshallstern.net

    13 min
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About

The Stern Truth: Business Unfiltered is the no-BS podcast for overwhelmed small business owners & entrepreneurs who are tired of the noise, the hype, and the so-called “experts” telling them how to grow their business. Hosted by Marshall Stern, a seasoned business owner and coach with over 35 years of experience, this podcast cuts through the confusion to bring you real, practical advice that actually works. If you feel stuck, exhausted, and like you’re doing it all alone—this is for you. Each episode delivers honest conversations, actionable strategies, and straight talk about what it really takes to grow and lead a thriving business. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just The Stern Truth you need to move forward with confidence. It's time to stop spinning your wheels and start leading your business like the unstoppable force you are.

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