The Business Game

The Business Game
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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. 3 DAYS AGO

    The Systems Playbook: How Owner-Operators Stop Being the Bottleneck

    Send us Fan Mail Most business owners start their company for freedom — but end up building something that only works if they are there holding it together.  In this episode of The Business Game, Wayne Hutchison breaks down why so many owner-operators become trapped inside their own business and what it actually takes to build systems that remove the founder as the bottleneck.  Wayne has spent more than 20 years helping founders shift from working insane hours to building businesses that generate profit without problems — where systems, leverage, and better decision-making replace hustle and burnout.  This conversation explores the real mechanics of scaling a business beyond the founder.  In this episode you’ll learn:  • Why the “hero owner” mindset traps founders in their own business • The difference between working harder vs building leverage • What “profits without problems” actually means in practice • The simple experiment Wayne used to expose the real bottlenecks in his business • Why systems — not motivation — create sustainable growth • The biggest myth around work-life balance for entrepreneurs  • Why many founders unknowingly recreate the same job they tried to escape  • How AI is becoming a new form of leverage for business owners  • Why most business advice pushes founders into burnout instead of scale  If you’re an owner-operator trying to move from doing everything yourself to building a business that runs, this episode is packed with practical insights on systems, leverage, and sustainable growth.  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.

    51 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Nonprofit Founder: The Playbook for Scaling a Mission

    Send a text Robby Cobbs, founder of Tech My School, joins The Business Game to break down the founder mechanics behind scaling a nonprofit.  After moving to Puerto Rico, Robby discovered schools operating without libraries, computers, or modern systems. What started as helping one school quickly turned into helping dozens.  But scaling a nonprofit creates a unique challenge for founders. Demand grows faster than funding, every new school adds cost, and relying entirely on donations can create long term instability.  In this episode we discuss:  • The moment Robby realized the system was broken  • How Tech My School scaled from one school to dozens  • The fundraising realities of running a nonprofit  • Why donations alone cannot sustain growth  • Building service based revenue alongside the mission  • Leadership lessons from running a lean mission driven team  • The systems required to modernize education  If you're building a nonprofit, social enterprise, or mission driven organization, this episode breaks down what it actually takes to scale impact sustainably.  Contact Robby LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcobbs/ Website - http://www.techmyschool.org Sponsor  Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com  We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!   This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work. 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.

    1h 3m

  3. 13 MAR

    The Customer Experience Playbook: Turn Reviews Into Revenue

    Send a text Customer experience is often misunderstood in business.  Many founders think it simply means good service, but true customer experience is the sum of every interaction a customer has with your brand-  before, during, and after a purchase.  In this episode of The Business Game, Mark Shaw explains how businesses can turn customer experience into a powerful growth lever that drives higher reviews, stronger loyalty, and long-term revenue.  Drawing on his experience transforming Adventure World from one of the lowest-rated theme parks in Australia into the top-rated attraction in the country, Mark shares the leadership decisions, systems, and cultural changes that made the difference.  In this conversation you’ll learn:  • Why customer experience drives measurable revenue growth  • The connection between employee experience and customer loyalty  • How improving review scores directly impacts profitability  • The leadership role required to build a customer-first culture  • Why recruitment is the most powerful lever in customer experience  • How small operational details create unforgettable experiences  • How AI will impact customer experience without replacing human connection  If you're building a service business, managing a growing team, or trying to improve retention and brand reputation, this episode offers a practical look at the systems behind great customer experience.  Sponsor Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!   This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work. 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.

    1h 3m

  4. 9 MAR

    SaaS Co-Founder: The New Rules of SaaS Growth

    Send a text Yega Kumarappan, Co-founder and CPO of Paperflite, joins The Business Game to explain how AI is reshaping the SaaS landscape and why the traditional advantages of software companies are disappearing.  Paperflite is a sales intelligence platform that helps sales teams close deals faster through prospect intelligence, content intelligence and conversation intelligence.  But in today’s AI driven world, building software is no longer the hard part.  Yega explains why distribution, industry depth and high performance teams are now the real competitive advantages.  In this episode we discuss:  • The true meaning of SaaS and why it is simply a billing model  • How Paperflite helps sales teams convert deals faster  • Why AI is compressing decades of innovation into years  • The shift from creator economy to distribution economy  • Why verticalisation is becoming essential for SaaS products  • The leadership evolution founders must go through as they scale  • The mistake founders make when they step too far away from their companies  • Why the boring operational work is where real business success happens  If you are building a SaaS company, launching a startup or scaling a technology product, this episode provides a clear look at the real mechanics behind modern SaaS growth.  Sponsor  Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com  We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!    Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!   This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work. 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.

    1h 4m

  5. 5 MAR

    Creative CEO: From $200 Startup to 90 Employees

    Send a text David Feinman, co-founder of Viral Ideas, shares the real story behind scaling a $200 startup into a 90-person global creative agency, including losing 80% of revenue overnight and rebuilding from scratch.  In this episode, we unpack:  • Scaling productized creative services  • The theory of constraints in growing companies  • How to avoid bottlenecks at 30+ staff  • Manager vs maker schedules  • Public scorecards and performance culture  • Building systems that scale creative output  • Why ego kills growth  • The leadership shift from doer to CEO  This conversation is essential listening for founders scaling creative agencies, media businesses, or global service teams.  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.

    49 min

  6. 2 MAR

    AI CEO: Scaling to Multi-Millions with Automation

    Send a text Julian Goldie (Goldie Agency, AI Profit Boardroom) explains how he used AI systems and automation to scale a global agency to multi-million revenue, build a 30+ person team, and grow a second business to over $1M/year in under 12 months.  This episode covers the real founder mechanics behind scaling: AI content engines, lead generation systems, delegation, sales playbooks, and the uncomfortable realities of cash flow, profit margin, and hiring mistakes that slow growth.  You’ll learn: • How AI search (ChatGPT/Perplexity) is changing SEO and customer acquisition  • Why AI search often sends less traffic, but higher-converting clicks  • The content automation strategy Julian uses across multiple platforms (YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, X)  • The leadership moves that unlocked growth: account managers + sales systems  • The hard cash lesson: payroll bounced when cash flow wasn’t tracked properly  • When founders should hire accounting/finance support  • Why hiring “hypothetical roles” kills margin and creates chaos  • A Level 1–2 cheat code: time tracking for delegation and quality control  • Tools Julian relies on: GoHighLevel CRM and system consolidation  If you’re scaling an agency, building a service business, or trying to transition from founder doing everything to CEO building systems, this is an actionable conversation on automation, revenue operations, and sustainable growth.  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.

    53 min

  7. 26 FEB

    M&A Advisor: The Acquisition Playbook for Business Owners

    Send a text Learn how founder and M&A advisor Patrick Rogers (Elkridge Advisors) helps small and mid-sized business owners buy businesses, source off-market deals, and scale faster through acquisitions in 2026.  Patrick Rogers, Managing Partner at Elkridge Advisors and host of the High Performance CEO Podcast, joins The Business Game to explain how small and mid-sized founders can scale through acquisitions, without needing a $100M balance sheet.  Elkridge Advisors helps owners access strategies traditionally reserved for large corporations, and in 2024 surpassed $500M in value generated for clients.  In this episode, we break down:  Why acquisitions can outperform organic growth How to build your acquisition “buy box” Why off-market deals beat public listings The most common mistakes first-time buyers make Why SBA underwriting kills momentum (and how to prevent deal fall-through) The truth about “funny money” and what banks actually lend against How AI is changing which businesses are safe to buy in 2026 Patrick’s predictions: biggest opportunities and biggest traps for buyers   Sponsor   Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com   We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!   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.

    59 min

  8. 23 FEB

    Human Behaviour Expert: Lower Your Standards

    Send a text You Don’t Need Higher Standards; You Need Lower Ones. In this episode, we unpack the counterintuitive mindset shift of “sustainably low standards” and why trying to leap from fear to love, is what’s keeping so many founders stuck.  Todays guest is Joe Pane. Joe is degree qualified in psychology and sociology and has worked in the field of human behaviour since 2006. He is the creator of the Emotional Fitness Formula, a practical framework for mastering uncertainty, and has trained more than 7,000 mindset coaches over the past 20 years.  This episode covers:  • Founder burnout and identity collapse  • The three pillars: money, relationships, health  • Why sustainable growth requires emotional stability  • The psychology of fear-based decision making  • Rebuilding standards without self-sabotage  • Becoming who you were meant to be  If you’re navigating pressure in multiple areas of life while trying to grow your business, this conversation offers clarity without cliché motivation.    Sponsor  Tala Offshore connects businesses with top tier remote talent across admin, customer service, and SaaS development. Build a stronger team without adding stress. Visit talaoffshore.com  We're excited to be able to offer our Business Game community an affiliate link for their HubSpot sign ups! HubSpot is the #1 CRM tool on the market - making managing clients and customer details easier than ever! Using our link to get started on Hubspot helps to support our work here at The Business Game: http://go.try-hubspot.com/Z6Eq50 start your free trial today!  This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.  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.

    58 min
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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
    118
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Business Game
  • Show Website
    The Business Game