The Business Game

The Business Game
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Fortnightly

The Business Game The Business Game is not another highlight reel of overnight success. It is a structured, honest breakdown of what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain a business at every level. We built The Business Game around a simple truth: business changes as revenue changes. The problems at $500K are not the problems at $5M. The mindset at $5M is not the mindset at $50M. That is why every conversation is grounded in our 10-Level framework, from Level 1 Startup and Survival through to Level 10 Legacy and Exit. If you are: • Trying to get your first consistent revenue • Building your first real team • Breaking through the messy middle • Scaling toward eight or nine figures • Or preparing for exit There is an episode that meets you where you are. Hosted by Steve Plummer and Kalena Stano, who speak to founders operating at every stage of the game. No gatekeeping. No hype. No recycled advice. Just real numbers, real mistakes, real strategy, and real decisions that moved the needle. Each week, we publish two episodes every Monday and Thursday at 6pm AEST, featuring global founders, operators, and investors who break down what actually works at their level and what does not. The Business Game exists to give you clarity. To help you identify your current level. To show you the moves required to reach the next one. Because scaling is not random. It is a game. And every level has different rules. Find your level. Play it properly. Then level up. Watch video episodes on YouTube and explore more at thebusinessgamegroup.com

  1. 8 hrs ago

    LEVEL 2: Veteran Business Strategist on Why Following Your Competitors Is the Fastest Way to Fail

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 2: $1M – $3M FIRST TEAM, FIRST SYSTEMS  Most founders think scaling is about working harder... but Michael Barbarita learned the opposite.  In today's episode of The Business Game, Michael shares lessons from more than 30 years building and operating businesses across retail, manufacturing, finance, and service industries. From growing a retail company from $2.5 million to $8 million in under five years to serving as a CFO, Treasurer, board member, and business advisor, he's seen what actually drives sustainable growth.  We discuss delegation, systems, the 80/20 Rule, strategic partnerships, and why many founders accidentally become the biggest obstacle to their own growth.  Whether you're building your first team or trying to create a business that can grow without relying on you for everything, this episode is packed with practical insights.  Let’s dive in  with Michael Barbarita:  • Why most founders struggle with delegation  • The 80/20 Rule in business  • How to stop being the bottleneck  • Systems that support growth  • Strategic partnerships and joint ventures  • The biggest scaling mistakes business owners make  • Lessons from building and advising multiple companies  Connect with Michael:  Website: www.nextstepcfo.net  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbarbarita/  Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    1hr 7min

  2. 4 days ago

    LEVEL TWO: A Software Pro Tells Us Why Claude Is The Best Developer He's Ever Worked With

    Send us Fan Mail What if the best software developer for your business isn't an agency, a freelancer or even an employee?  According to Paul Salvage - Fractional CTO & founder of Productly - the best developer for your business is... you.  In this episode of The Business Game, Paul explains why AI is fundamentally changing software development, why traditional agencies are becoming obsolete, and how founders can now build products themselves with the help of tools like Claude. With over 30 years of experience in product development, Paul has seen every major technology shift firsthand. He shares how AI has compressed development timelines from months to weeks, why owning your technology is becoming critical for startups, and how business owners can use AI to gain a competitive advantage.   Let's dive in with Paul Salvage: Why agencies are being disrupted by AI  The new "build with you" model for software development  How founders can create products without coding  The role AI agents are playing inside modern businesses  Common mistakes businesses make when adopting AI  What happens to companies that fail to adaptIf you're building a startup, running a service business or simply trying to keep up with the pace of AI innovation, this is the episode you want to hear! Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    48 min

  3. 15 June

    LEVEL ONE: AI Growth Expert on the AI Trick That Saves Me Hours Every Week

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL TWO: $1M to $5M FIRST TEAMS, FIRST SYSTEMS STAGE  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Robyn Anderson, Founder of JAM AI and creator of Club JAM. One of the fastest-growing AI communities helping small business owners actually understand and implement AI into their day-to-day operations.  After building 17 different AI courses around tools that quickly became obsolete, Robyn realized the real opportunity wasn’t selling information… it was building a community that could evolve alongside the speed of AI itself.  Now, with hundreds of members inside Club JAM, Robyn helps entrepreneurs use tools like Claude, ChatGPT, NotebookLM and AI agents to save time, streamline operations, and scale smarter, even while balancing motherhood, consulting, speaking gigs, and building the business mostly between 4:30AM and school drop-off.  If you’re trying to understand AI without getting overwhelmed, build smarter systems, create leverage in your business, or simply keep up with how fast technology is changing...  this episode is for you!  Let’s dive in, with Robyn Anderson:  • why she almost gave up trying to keep up with AI  • the biggest mistake she made building 17 AI courses too early  • why Claude is becoming the go-to AI tool for business owners  • how she creates custom AI-generated podcasts for herself every day  • the simple prompt every business owner should try immediately  • how AI can help build systems, SOPs, marketing, and operations  • why community became more valuable than selling courses  • the truth about AI “slop” and fake AI content online  • why personal brands should stop relying on AI avatars  • how she built a growing AI business while raising two kids  • the hidden challenge of hiring people into AI-powered businesses  • how she uses AI to save massive amounts of time every single day  • the emotional AI interview process that made members laugh and cry  • why speaking for free became the growth engine for her business  • how to start using AI without feeling overwhelmed  The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses  High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial: https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88  This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.  Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    55 min

  4. 11 June

    LEVEL 3: Second-Generation Agency Leader on Modernising a 60-Year-Old Business Without Ruining It

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 3: $3M – $8M  DELEGATION & EARLY LEADERSHIP STAGE  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Chad G. Bauer, owner of SR&B Advertising, a second-generation agency leader navigating the pressure of modernising a 60-year family business without losing the legacy that built it.  After stepping into the company founded by his father, Chad realised the biggest bottleneck wasn’t the market... it was himself. In this episode, he shares the hard lessons around delegation, building a leadership layer, letting go of control, and evolving from founder-operator into a true CEO. From difficult conversations with his father to creating systems that allowed the business to run without him being involved in every decision, this episode is packed with practical insights for founders stuck in the messy middle of growth.  Let’s dive in with Chad G. Bauer:  Why self-awareness changed Chad’s leadership style  The moment he realised he was the bottleneck  Building managers and leadership structure for the first time  Hiring systems that filter out the wrong people fast  The pressure of inheriting a family legacy business  Why “scaling isn’t about doing more”  If you’re trying to step out of the day-to-day, build a stronger team, and grow without carrying the entire business on your back... this episode is for you. The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses  High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - so click here for your 14-day free trial: https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=ribu88 This episode contains affiliate advertising. The Business Game Group is a GoHighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through the link in the show notes, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    1hr 13min

  5. 8 June

    LEVEL TWO: E-Commerce Founder on 10 Million Views, Airport Deals, and Building a Million-Dollar Brand

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 1: $0 – $1M   STARTUP & SURVIVAL STAGE  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Laura Campbell, Founder of Hip Surfer, the Australian baby product brand transforming how parents carry their children.  What started as a side hustle during maternity leave quickly became something much bigger. After struggling with chronic pain and finding existing baby carriers uncomfortable, Laura decided to create her own solution. Three years later, Hip Surfer has grown into a seven-figure business stocked in airports, theme parks, resorts, and retail locations across Australia and beyond.  We asked Laura about building a product business while raising young children, scaling from a simple idea into a nationally recognised brand, and the realities of being a solo founder when every department still runs through you.  From late-night Meta ads and manufacturing challenges to viral social media moments and stock shortages, Laura shares the highs, lows, and lessons from building a business that's helping thousands of families around the world.  Let’s dive in, with Laura Campbell:  • Why a personal health challenge led to creating Hip Surfer  • The customer feedback that proved she had more than just a baby product  • How she went from a $30,000 goal to blowing past $100,000 in her first year  • The reality of doing your own marketing, manufacturing, accounting, and operations  • How leveraging relationships opened doors into airports, resorts, and theme parks  • The viral reel that generated millions of views, and a stock crisis  • Why investing in coaching and business communities accelerated growth  • The hidden challenges of being a solo founder  • What it takes to scale a product business while raising a family  If you're building an e-commerce brand, launching a product business, balancing entrepreneurship with family life, or trying to turn a side hustle into something bigger, this is the episode for you. The Business Game is proud to partner with HighLevel, the all-in-one CRM and marketing platform built for growing businesses 🚀 High Level’s software will drive your customer retention and your profits through the stratosphere - click here for your 14-day free trial Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    55 min

  6. 4 June

    Sales Psychologist: Why Sales Get Harder When You Need Them Most

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 1: $0 – $1M STARTUP & SURVIVAL STAGE On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Ian Stephens, one of Australia’s leading sales psychologists, speaker, author, and performance coach who has worked with businesses in 29 countries around the world Before becoming an internationally recognised sales expert, Ian spent years fighting to keep his business alive — borrowing money from his parents, selling his car, and even selling his house to stay in the game. Along the way, he learned some hard truths about cash flow, mindset, systems, and what really happens when business owners get desperate. We asked Ian why sales often get harder when you need them most, how limiting beliefs quietly sabotage business growth, why most founders focus on goals instead of systems, and the lesson every entrepreneur needs to hear about building a business that doesn't rely entirely on them. Let's dive in with Ian Stephens: • Why sales feel harder when you need them most  • How pressure shifts your behaviour (and costs you deals)  • The link between mindset, cash flow and performance  • Why systems matter more than motivation  • The mistake most business owners make under pressure  • How to stay effective when everything feels urgent  • The shift from operator → scalable business model  • What’s coming next with AI and customer expectations  If you’re in a season where things feel tighter than usual, this episode will give you clarity on what’s actually going on... and what to do next.  Connect with Ian: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ianstephensspeaks Website - enrichacademy.com.au Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    50 min

  7. 1 June

    LEVEL TWO: Workplace Culture Expert on Why Bad Employees Are Built By Bad Leadership

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 2: $1M – $3M FIRST TEAM, FIRST SYSTEMS STAGE  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Dustin Snyder, Founder and Chief Advisor of WayForward, the company helping organisations uncover the hidden behavioural systems driving turnover, disengagement, low performance, and leadership problems inside teams.  After leading a 600-person manufacturing turnaround, Dustin realised something most leaders never see: employee behaviour isn’t random, it’s the rational output of the systems leaders create around people. That insight led him to build SWIM (Strategic Workforce Insight Mapping), a framework designed to help executives diagnose the real root causes behind workforce problems instead of treating surface-level symptoms.  In this episode, Dustin breaks down why most engagement surveys fail, why frontline behaviour almost always traces back to leadership, and why companies spend far more time understanding customers than they do their own employees.  He also opens up about the difficult transition from founder-operator to CEO, the painful lessons of scaling beyond himself, and why “killing your ego every morning” became one of the biggest unlocks in his growth journey.  Let’s dive in, with Dustin Snyder:  Why employee turnover creates hidden financial damage most businesses never measure  The leadership behaviours teams subconsciously copy  Why fear-based decisions are almost always the wrong ones  The scary process of niching down and saying no to revenue  How documenting his process led to writing his book Sink or Swim  The system-thinking cheat code founders can use to scale faster  If you’ve ever struggled with culture, delegation, leadership bottlenecks, or building a business that can grow beyond you, this episode is packed with insights you’ll want to hear.  Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    1hr 1min

  8. 28 May

    LEVEL THREE: Million-Dollar Book Strategist On How She Went From $3.6Million in Debt to Multi-Millions... In 18 Months

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL THREE: $3M to $8M:   DELEGATION AND EARLY LEADERSHIP  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Melanie Warner, founder and CEO of Defining Moments Press.  After rebuilding from $3.6 million in debt to multi-millions in just 18 months, Melanie has turned personal adversity into a scalable business model that helps entrepreneurs turn books into client acquisition systems.  What started as a frustrating battle with traditional publishing evolved into the Seven Figure Book Method. A system that helps experts turn authority into scalable revenue.  We asked her how she rebuilt after losing everything, why most founders build personality-driven businesses that can’t scale, and what it really takes to transition from being the face of the company to building systems that grow without you.  Let’s dive in,  with Melanie Warner:  How she rebuilt from $3.6M in debt to multi-millions Why traditional publishing failed her The real business model behind a “book funnel” Why personality can only build the first million The systems required to scale beyond founder-led growth How to stop selling to strangers and attract ideal buyers The transition from solopreneur to CEO Why systems beat hustle at every stage of growth What building authority really looks like in 2026 If you’re building an expertise-based business, trying to scale beyond yourself, or looking to turn your knowledge into a real growth engine... this episode is for you.  Support the show Thank you for listening to The Business Game, where real founders break down the real levels of business. Whether you're building at Level 1 ($0–$1M) or scaling through Level 6 and beyond, this show is designed to help you understand exactly where you are, and what it takes to level up. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review. It helps more founders find the roadmap. For full episodes, level breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Want to identify your level or learn more about The Business Game framework? Visit www.thebusinessgamegroup.com It's time to Level Up! We’ll see you at the next level.

    1hr 9min
See All (144)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Business Game The Business Game is not another highlight reel of overnight success. It is a structured, honest breakdown of what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain a business at every level. We built The Business Game around a simple truth: business changes as revenue changes. The problems at $500K are not the problems at $5M. The mindset at $5M is not the mindset at $50M. That is why every conversation is grounded in our 10-Level framework, from Level 1 Startup and Survival through to Level 10 Legacy and Exit. If you are: • Trying to get your first consistent revenue • Building your first real team • Breaking through the messy middle • Scaling toward eight or nine figures • Or preparing for exit There is an episode that meets you where you are. Hosted by Steve Plummer and Kalena Stano, who speak to founders operating at every stage of the game. No gatekeeping. No hype. No recycled advice. Just real numbers, real mistakes, real strategy, and real decisions that moved the needle. Each week, we publish two episodes every Monday and Thursday at 6pm AEST, featuring global founders, operators, and investors who break down what actually works at their level and what does not. The Business Game exists to give you clarity. To help you identify your current level. To show you the moves required to reach the next one. Because scaling is not random. It is a game. And every level has different rules. Find your level. Play it properly. Then level up. Watch video episodes on YouTube and explore more at thebusinessgamegroup.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Business Game
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Business Game
  • Show Website
    The Business Game

You Might Also Like