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

Send us Fan MailLEVEL 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 showThank 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.comIt's time to Level Up!We’ll see you at the next level.