There’s something powerful that happens when you stop trying to reach everyone and start building for the right people. That’s what today’s conversation with Mark Stern is all about—how honing in on your niche and leading with value can completely shift your business. We’re talking about the Law of Reciprocity, how thoughtful experiences can spark real connection, and why making it easy for people to support you actually leads to more growth. 

Mark Stern knows a thing or two about standing out in crowded spaces. He’s the Founder of Custom Box Agency, a top product experience agency out of Austin, TX, and his journey from Deloitte consultant to Forbes Next 1,000 entrepreneur is full of unexpected turns. Mark breaks down why physical products still matter (big time), how to define success through your customer’s lens, and what it really looks like to create loyalty that lasts. 

We also go deeper into the personal shifts that fueled Mark’s growth, including a major health wake-up call that changed everything. If you're tired of surface-level strategies and ready for substance, you'll walk away from this episode with ideas to level up your client experience and take care of yourself along the way. Tune in and see how powerful your niche and your customer touchpoints can really be.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction.

[00:02:55] Mark’s entrepreneurial journey. 

[00:10:39] Bold career change decision.

[00:12:39] Entrepreneurial freedom and potential.

[00:13:52] Marrying the digital with physical products. 

[00:19:16] The power of niching down.

[00:21:30] Customer lifecycle phases explained.

[00:24:38] Defining success in business.

[00:27:24] Box design as an experience.

[00:30:50] Engineering replayability in experiences.

[00:33:45] Identity shift in business.

[00:36:34] Life balance and self-care.

[00:41:12] Power and personal non-negotiables.

Memorable Quotes:

"That one strategic decision of just going all in on focusing on one thing, truly changed the game for me." [00:18:10] – Mark Stern

"Entrepreneurship doesn't value being good at everything. They want you to be known for something." [00:19:05] – Mark Stern

Connect with Mark Stern:

Website: https://www.customboxagency.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.sterno/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marustern/

Connect with Eric Berman:

Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/

Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com