Anyone who knows me even a little knows my deep, dark secret. Deep down, right in the place where other people store sensible things like family birthdays and meal‑prep plans, I am a 100% reality TV tragic.
Not the MAFS/Love Island/Bachelor kind where the meanest contestant often walks away with the prize and a spray tan. No, no. I’m talking about the good stuff. The complicated challenges. The strategy. The teamwork. The “how on earth did they build that shelter with one machete and a coconut husk" and "what's that message in the bottle?” kind of reality TV.
For me, it’s basically sport. I get the same adrenaline rush as the fans who sit in chilly football stadiums on a Saturday afternoon, except I get to do it on my couch, with a nice glass of wine, on a Thursday night. Bliss.
I love The Amazing Race (fun fact: my brother and I once applied for the Australian version. The audition tape is locked down tighter than the crown jewels on the Rubens family YouTube channel). But my all‑time favourite? The show that has my whole heart?
Survivor. The US version. Every season. Every minute. Some seasons more than once.
And this week, Survivor hit a massive milestone: the finale of its 50th season. Twenty‑five years. Two seasons a year. A fan base that’s still growing. Honestly, what a business case study.
This season focused on returning players adapting their past games to outwit, outplay and outlast a whole tribe of equally experienced opponents. And while I was yelling at the TV like a woman possessed, it also got me thinking…
Business is basically Survivor - minus the lying, cheating, and eating rice for 26 days.
Because just like those returning players, we’re all navigating an ever‑changing landscape. New rules. New competitors. New challenges. New twists that production definitely didn’t warn us about. And the businesses that thrive? They’re the ones who treat every “season” as a chance to evolve.
Here’s how running a business is like playing multiple seasons of Survivor:
1. You learn from your past game.
Maybe last season you said yes to too many clients. Maybe you under‑priced. Maybe you trusted the wrong alliance (aka software provider).
The point is you don’t repeat the same mistakes. You refine. You adjust. You get smarter.
2. You build better alliances.
Survivor winners don’t go it alone, and neither do successful business owners. You find your people. Your Susies, your mentors, your fellow
bookies, and you lean on them. A problem shared is a problem halved, and all that good stuff.
3. You prepare for the unexpected.
A surprise twist? A new tax rule? A client who suddenly drops 12 months of receipts in your inbox. Same energy. The trick is staying
adaptable, not panicking, and remembering you’ve survived worse.
4. You play the long game.
Short‑term wins are great, but sustainable success comes from thinking ahead. Planning your next quarter. Reviewing your systems. Making
sure your “tribe” (team, clients, partners) is aligned.
5. You back yourself.
Every returning Survivor player walks in thinking, “I can do this better than last time.”
And honestly? That’s the energy every business owner needs.
So, here’s to Season 50 of Survivor, and to every business owner out there playing their own long game. May we all outwit, outplay, and outlast… EOFY. It’s only six weeks away.
Stay cool and hit the beach!
