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. 10h ago

    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.

    1h 9m

  2. 3d ago

    LEVEL FOUR: Female Construction CEO on Landing $50M+ Projects, Leading Under Pressure, and Empathy on the Job Site

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL FOUR: $8M to $20M GROWING PAINS & OPERATIONAL COMPLEXITY  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Melissa Drew, Founder and CEO of InSite BUILD, a construction management firm delivering complex government and institutional projects across the Mid-Atlantic.  After a 20-year career leading large-scale construction projects for national contractors, Melissa launched InSite BUILD and landed a $53 million project almost immediately, forcing the company to operate at a level most businesses take years to grow into.  Melissa shares the realities of scaling inside the construction industry, why relationships became the foundation of her business, and the leadership lessons she learned after losing key team members during a difficult growth phase. She also explains why empathy has become one of her greatest advantages on job sites, and how she’s building a culture that prioritises both accountability and humanity in a traditionally tough industry.  If you’re trying to scale a business, build strong culture, lead teams under pressure, or grow without compromising your standards? This episode is for you!    Let’s dive in, with Melissa Drew:  • how she landed a $53M project at the very start of the business  • the leadership mistakes that cost her valuable team members  • why relationships matter more than anything in construction  • what “bonding capacity” really means — and why it limits growth  • how empathy improves safety, performance, and accountability  • the realities of leading in a male-dominated industry  • why culture matters most when money is on the line  • the systems and structure she invested in from day one  • how to keep startup teams motivated during difficult growth phases  • why treating people like humans creates better performance  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.

    56 min

  3. May 21

    LEVEL TWO: Construction Expert Tells Us Why Most Projects Fail Before They Start

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL TWO: $1M to $3M:   FIRST TEAMS, FIRST SYSTEMS, FOUNDER LED  In today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Mark Story, construction consultant, turnaround specialist, and founder of Commercial Construction Services LLC.  For nearly 40 years, Mark has worked on high-stakes construction projects across government infrastructure, stadiums, data centres, and large-scale commercial developments, often stepping in when projects were already heading off the rails.  In this episode, Mark breaks down why most project failures begin long before construction starts, the hidden dangers of weak systems and poor planning, and why compliance becomes unavoidable as businesses grow.  He also shares the realities of running a founder-led consultancy, the pressure of carrying accountability on major projects, and the lessons he’s learned helping teams recover when timelines, budgets, and trust are all under pressure.  If you’re building a service business, managing complex projects, or trying to scale without becoming the bottleneck yourself, this episode is packed with practical lessons.  Let’s dive in, with Mark Story:  Why most project failures begin before the work starts The hidden cost of weak systems and poor planning Why compliance becomes unavoidable as you grow How founders accidentally become the bottleneck Lessons from rescuing failing projects under pressure What Level 2 founders should implement earlier Leadership, accountability, and managing chaos at scale 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 1m

  4. May 18

    LEVEL SIX: Pharmacy CEO On GLP-1s, Peptides, and Growing 800% In 24 Months

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 6: $50M – $150M GOVERNANCE, DATA & SERIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE In today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Jesse Vidrine, Founder of Vidrine Pharmaceutical Group and President & Co-Owner of Boudreaux’s New Drug Store, a pharmacist-owned compounding pharmacy that has exploded from a small local operation into a national business licensed across 45+ U.S. states.  After buying the pharmacy just weeks before COVID hit, Jesse and his wife Kylie faced what sounds more like a disaster movie than a business journey: denied by 9 banks, a Category 4 hurricane, floods, ice storms, and moments where payroll nearly didn’t get paid. Somehow, through all of it, they scaled the company over 800% in just 24 months.  In this episode, Jesse breaks down what it really takes to scale inside one of the most tightly regulated industries in the world, where there’s no room for mistakes, compliance is everything, and growth only happens if your systems, people, and leadership evolve fast enough to survive it. If you’re building a business under pressure, navigating rapid growth, or trying to scale without breaking the machine, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in,  with Jesse Vidrine:  how they survived COVID, hurricanes, floods & near-bankruptcy  why patients, not doctors, changed healthcare forever  how they grew from 6 employees to 100+  the real reason most founders fail under pressure  why “risk it for the biscuit” became their business philosophy  how AI and automation are transforming modern pharmacy operations  why peptides could become bigger than the GLP-1 boom  the leadership lessons that come from scaling in a zero-mistake industrySupport 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 12m

  5. May 14

    LEVEL ONE: Gender-Free Underwear Founder On Changing An Industry

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 1: $0 – $1M STARTUP & SURVIVAL STAGE Andrew Whittle is the Co-Founder of Being Wear, a gender-free, sensory-friendly underwear brand inspired by his daughter’s experience with ASD and ADHD. In this episode, Andrew shares how a personal family challenge turned into a startup, the lessons he’s learned building an early-stage brand, and the realities of trying to grow without massive resources or outside capital. From product simplification and repeat customers to founder burnout and financial pressure, this episode is an honest look at what Level 1 of business really feels like. Let's dive in with Andrew Whittle:  Sensory-friendly clothing & underserved markets  Starting a business from personal experience  Bootstrapping a brand  Startup pressure & uncertainty  Product-market fit  Early-stage growth challenges  Founder mindset & resilience If you're building a brand, testing product-market fit, or looking for practical insights from someone making it work, this is the episode 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.

    48 min

  6. May 11

    LEVEL ONE: The Tech Wunderkind Putting Ads Inside AI Chats

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL 1: $0 – $1M STARTUP & SURVIVAL STAGE In today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Andrea Tortella, Founder and CEO of Thrad – the company building advertising infrastructure for AI, placing ads directly inside conversations with large language models. After working at Perplexity and becoming obsessed with the shift from browsing to answers, Andrea realised the internet was changing fast — and that traditional advertising models might not survive the AI era. Now, Thrad is already serving millions of ads globally, working with everyone from startups to Fortune 500 brands. Building from the centre of Silicon Valley’s AI boom, Andrea shares why advertising inside AI conversations is inevitable, how conversational AI is completely changing the internet, and what it’s really like building a startup in one of the fastest-moving industries on earth. If you’re building in AI, marketing, SaaS, or trying to understand where the internet is heading next… This episode is for you. Let’s dive in, with Andrea Tortella: • why the internet is shifting from browsing to AI answers • the real reason AI products will need advertising to survive • what ads inside ChatGPT-style conversations actually look like • why “bad ads” ruined advertising’s reputation • how conversational AI could completely change marketing • building a startup at the centre of Silicon Valley’s AI boom • the challenge of creating a category that doesn’t fully exist yet • why speed is becoming one of the biggest advantages in marketing • the unconventional marketing stunt that helped put Thrad on the map • how AI could change the relationship between brands and customers forever 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.

    52 min

  7. May 7

    LEVEL ONE: A Forensic Scientist Explains Why Your Job Is Traumatizing You

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL ONE: $0 to $1M: STARTUP & SURVIVAL STAGE  In today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Lori Ana Valentin, analytical chemist, former forensic scientist... and Founder of Radiant Journey, where she helps scientists, engineers, and high-performing professionals navigate burnout, leadership pressure, and the hidden psychological cost of high-stress work.  After years working inside the State Police Crime Lab analysing homicide and criminal cases, Lori began noticing the emotional toll that exposure to trauma was having on professionals behind the scenes – and decided to do something about it.  Now building a business while balancing full-time work and single motherhood, Lori shares what vicarious trauma actually looks like, why high performers silently carry emotional pressure for years, and how emotional intelligence became the unexpected skill that transformed both her leadership and her business.  If you’re building a business, carrying pressure behind the scenes, or trying to perform at a high level without burning yourself into the ground… This episode is for you.  Let’s dive in,   with Lori Ana Valentin:  • what vicarious trauma actually is — and why most people miss it  • how working homicide cases affects people behind the scenes  • why burnout often isn’t the real problem  • the hidden psychological cost of high performance  • how COVID exposed emotional pressure people were already carrying  • building a business while working full-time  • balancing entrepreneurship and single motherhood  • why emotional intelligence became her biggest advantage  • the leadership side of stress nobody talks about  • how to recognise when pressure is silently affecting your life  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

  8. May 4

    LEVEL FIVE: The SEO Strategy Behind a $20M Business

    Send us Fan Mail LEVEL FIVE: ORGANISER $20M to $50M  On today’s episode of The Business Game, we’re sitting down with Tim Vipond, Co-Founder and CEO of Corporate Finance Institute, a global education platform training finance professionals in over 200 countries.  After building a $20M+ business off the back of SEO and digital distribution, Tim shares how he turned content into a global growth engine, and why scaling an education company is far more complex than it looks from the outside.  If you’re trying to scale your business, expand globally, integrate AI, or build something that doesn’t rely on you day-to-day, this episode is for you.  Let’s dive in, with Tim Vipond:  • how SEO became the growth engine behind a global business • why certifications outperform traditional online courses • what actually breaks when you scale into 200+ countries • the real challenge of pricing a product globally • how AI is changing both the way they operate, and what they sell  • the leadership shift from operator to CEO at $30M+  • what founders get wrong about scaling digital education  • how to think about distribution before product  • the hidden complexity behind ‘simple’ online businesses  • what could stall the next phase of growth – and how to avoid it  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.

    1 hr
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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
    138
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Business Game
  • Show Website
    The Business Game