Mike and Scott unpack the strategic foundations most businesses skip - purpose, vision, values, CVP and goals - and why skipping them means growing by accident instead of on purpose. They trace real examples from Lion Brewery's purpose statement to Point16's own vision, plus a listener Q&A on when to bring in a consultant.

Drinking beer from: Canyon Brewery - Monsoon Hoon Bright IPA (6%)

Eating a pie from: One Tree Bakery - Thai Chilli Beef

You'll learn:

-The difference between purpose (your internal why), vision (how you want to be described in future) and values (how you deliver on both), tied together through Simon Sinek's Golden Circle;

-Why an unwritten goal lives in one person's head and keeps shifting, while a written one becomes something a team can actually serve;

-How to build a Customer Value Proposition around who your customer is, what problem you solve, and what value they'd place on that;

-Why giving a consultant your own purpose, vision and goals up front gets better advice than asking them "what do you think I should do";

-and why judgment, not speed or output, is the thing a human advisor gives you that AI still can't.

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Diving deeper on one of episode 8's topic. Mike and Scott dig into the real mechanics of funding a business - when you actually need outside money, and what trading time, margin or control really means. Over Garage Project's Mon P'tit Chou and a steak and mushroom pie from Gladstone Butchery, they map out loans, VC and everything in between.

You'll learn:
-The three ways to fund growth - revenue, borrowing, or equity - and what you trade away with each;
-Why hitting a growth cliff is usually a sign your supply or delivery is the real constraint, not a lack of demand;
-How loan terms actually work - term, security and interest rate - and why a mortgage and a payday loan sit at opposite ends of the same spectrum;
-What VCs actually want to know before they write a cheque, and why your due diligence on them matters just as much as theirs on you;
-and why showing what you've already built with $5K-$50K of your own money is often more persuasive than a perfect pitch deck.

Beer: Garage Project Mon P'tit Chou - French Farmhouse Ale (5.0%)
Pie: Gladstone Butchery - Steak and Mushroom

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Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deeper, more tactical return to Episode 8's big question, with real dollar figures attached. Mike and Scott walk through exactly how to validate an idea at $0, $500 and $5,000 budget levels — and how to land your very first customer.

You'll learn:

-Why an idea alone has almost no market value in the age of AI;

-How to validate for free (talk to 1–100 potential customers) before spending a cent; how to test with $100–$500 using landing pages and boosted social ads;

-When a $2,000–$10,000 prototype is worth building;

-The PCF framework applied step-by-step to a new idea;

-and why "growth cliff #1" is simply getting your first customer, not building scalable systems.

Beer: Canyon Brewery The Front Pilsner (4.9%)
Pie: Roti Bros — Butter Chicken

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Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fun, self-reflective one. Scott and Mike break down the three archetypes of business owner — Visionary, Craftsman and Hustler — and how understanding your own type changes who you should hire and how you should lead.

You'll learn:

-The three main owner types and their classic strengths/weaknesses

-A simple test to identify your own type

-Why you should hire for the tasks you don't enjoy, not just your weaknesses on paper;

-The Platinum Rule — treat people how they want to be treated, not how you do;

-and why calling your team "family" is a bigger promise than most leaders realise.

Beer: Punk Heads Hammer Head West Coast Pilsner (6%) & Richard Cranium Hazy IPA (6.4%)
Pie: Gold Crust Pies — Pepper Steak with Mushroom Sauce

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Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Built around a Richard Branson quote — employees first, customers second — this episode is a deep dive into how to identify, keep, and lead A-grade talent, even in a tight labour market.

You'll learn:

-What actually defines an "A-grader" (and why they'll leave a B-grade environment no matter the market);

-The annual "Keep Test" — would you fight to keep this person, or feel relief if they left?;

-The Goal-Role-Remind leadership framework for keeping any team aligned and engaged;

-What motivates people beyond pay (autonomy, acknowledgement, purpose); and why "catch it quick, catch it small" applies just as much to praise as to problems.

Beer: Behemoth Hophemoth Triple Hazy IPA (10%) & Urbanaught Altamira Bright Double IPA (8%)
Pie: Hangi pies from Blue Rose Café, Sandringham (pork belly, pumpkin/kūmara & more)

Liked this one? Make sure you catch the next episode - hit subscribe and check us out here:

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Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A practical, framework-heavy episode on how owners actually get better at running their business — and how to know what kind of help you need next.

-You'll learn: the 70-20-10 rule for learning (on-the-job, coached, and formal/theory);

-How to spot your business's natural bias across Product, Customer and Finance;

-The real difference between a mentor and a coach;

-Why looking outside your own industry for advice often pays off more;

-and why "strong opinions, loosely held" beats either stubbornness or indecision.

Beer: Brew Moon The Wolf APA (5.8%) & Garage Project Party and Bullshit Hazy IPA (6.2%)
Pie: Kel's Bakery, Amberley — Pork, Apple Sauce & Cheese

Liked this one? Make sure you catch the next episode - hit subscribe and check us out here:

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Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prompted by a brewery's 30th anniversary as a family operation, this episode tackles one of the trickiest topics in business: handing it down. Mike and Scott get honest about ego, entitlement, and what actually needs to be true for a succession plan to work.

You'll learn:

-The real first question to ask before bringing family into the business — whose ego is this really for?;

-Why "gift it for free" and "sell it at a painful premium" both tend to backfire;

-A fairer structure using open-market valuation plus negotiated terms;

-The difference between a business's DNA (non-negotiable) and its culture (adaptable);

-and why the "first generation builds, second grows, third kills" rule has exceptions worth studying.

Beer: Mount Brewery Waimea Foggy IPA (6.5%) & Mermaid Mirth APA (6%)
Pie: Patrick's Pies — Duck, Mushroom & Cheese

Liked this one? Make sure you catch the next episode - hit subscribe and check us out here:

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Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With global uncertainty rattling supply chains and confidence, Mike and Scott lay out a four-question framework for owners to stress-test their business against a wobbling economy — grounded in real examples from their own portfolio.

You'll learn:

-How to separate a "blip" from a genuine "trend" in your numbers;

-Which lead indicators actually matter for import/export businesses

-Why annual pricing reviews are too slow for this environment;

-How to front-foot hard conversations with customers before you have the full solution;

-and why waiting for perfect information is itself a risk.

Beer: Black Sands Head Above Water Hazy Double IPA (7.3%)
Pie: Dairy Flat Bakery — Burger Pie

Liked this one? Make sure you catch the next episode - hit subscribe and check us out here:

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Want an in-person 6 day business program that gives you a tried and tested playbook to grow? Check out: Business Growth School

Want better content? Check out: Blacklime

The company that uncomplicates business growth. Check out: Point 16

Get to know us! Mike Burke & Scott Douglas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.