The Business Game
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
The Business Game
Toy Maker Turned CEO: Building A Manufacturing Empire
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
When David Socha was broke and outbid at the last minute, one integrity-driven decision turned disaster into over $1M in free advertising and ultimately saved the company.
David Socha has been in business for over 30 years, building Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company into a global plush powerhouse. In this conversation, David shares the early near-collapse that became a breakthrough, when a competitor outbid him for a radio personality and his business fell off a cliff. What happened next (a lesson in integrity) changed everything.
David also unpacks the hardest modern bottleneck: COVID, when revenue dropped more than 80%, forcing a full rebuild and a shift to a 100-year legacy plan.
If you’re building in a fast-moving market, this episode is a masterclass in persistence, leadership, and long-term strategy.
📍Connect with David:
LinkedIn: David Socha
Website: plush.com
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
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Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us at www.thebusinessgamepodcast.com
Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!
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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.
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.
