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Sign up todayBuilt to Finish
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Learn moreEntrepreneurs, go the distance with an endurance athlete’s formula for success: the grit to start, the stamina to finish, and the balance to live fully along the way.
Taking a company all the way through scale-up to a successful exit is a grueling, long-haul endeavor, a special kind of endurance sport. Get a competitive advantage by learning the secrets of the masters of sustained performance: endurance athletes.
In Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik takes you on two journeys: leading his software and services company, Binary Tree, from inception to successful exit and his quest to compete in the IRONMAN® World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Steven shares how the insights gained from his adventures in triathlon, mountaineering, and ultramarathons apply to anyone’s pursuit of long-term personal and professional success.
Steven Pivnik is a serial entrepreneur specializing in the information technology market and advises other founders and entrepreneurs looking for corporate growth and a successful company exit. Steven has competed in over twenty triathlons, numerous marathons and ultramarathons, and is on track to scale all “Seven Summits,” the highest peaks on each continent.
Steven Pivnik is a serial entrepreneur specializing in the information technology market. He grew his last company, Binary Tree, to over 200 employees across twelve countries before realizing a successful exit with a sale to Quest Software. Steven now advises other founders and entrepreneurs looking for a similar corporate growth and company sale journey.
While Steven was CEO of Binary Tree, the company was named to the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies multiple times, including a stretch for seven years in a row. Steven was known not only for negotiating and closing multimillion dollar licensing deals with the likes of IBM and Microsoft, but also for creating a corporate culture with significantly below average employee turnover and above average satisfaction ratings and an executive leadership team that sparked creativity and drove a passion for winning and success across the entire organization.
Steven is also an endurance sport enthusiast and enjoys triathlons of all distances as well as ultramarathons and mountaineering. He has competed in over twenty triathlons including the IRONMAN® World Championship in Kona Hawaii, eight New York City Marathons, Ultraman Florida, and numerous ultramarathons including distances of 50k, 50 miles, 100k, and 100 miles.
Steven enjoys public speaking about his business and sporting adventures with the hopes of motivating others to follow in his footsteps. He can be reached at www.stevenpivnik.com.
When not traveling for work or pleasure Steven and his wife split their time between their homes in Manhattan and New Jersey.
Reviews
"A lot of business books teach the why of improvement, but few get into the how. Anyone who knows about elite athletes knows they must be focused on the how, and that's what Built To Finish delivers. Steven walks entrepreneurs and business owners through his own journey of scaling the heights of business and elite fitness to show us how we can be our own version of 'elite' in our lives and businesses. Highly recommended."
—Shawn Rhodes, chief sales sergeant of Bulletproof Selling, keynote speaker, and author of Bulletproof Selling
"Pay attention to the lessons and stories beautifully woven throughout this book. You will feel inspired and motivated to be more and do more in the world. Whether you are an entrepreneur or corporate leader, you will find ideas you can apply personally and professionally."
—Neen James, keynote speaker, leadership strategist, and author of Folding Time and Attention Pays
“Steven has written an inspiring book about his family, life, relationships, athletics, and business journey. He has successfully extracted core lessons from those experiences in an engaging and delightful read. It’s well worth the time to devour it.”
—Jim Schleckser, CEO of The CEO Project and two-time best-selling author of Great CEOs Are Lazy and Professional Drinking
“Business is tough; IRONMAN® is tough! Through his experience of navigating the business world and over twenty triathlons, Steven gives us valuable lessons in achieving success. Every one of the key takeaways included in each chapter are lessons we must practice on a daily basis. Built to Finish is a must-read for anyone who needs guidance in building their path to the finish line.”
—Mike Reilly, voice of IRONMAN triathlon, author of Mike Reilly Finding My Voice
“Whether you’re running a business, entering an endurance sport, or simply looking to navigate a career, Built to Finish provides a manual for success. Full of meaningful details, it provides a very honest and practical guide on how to prepare, compete, and ultimately achieve your ambitions. Steven’s account of his highs, lows, and ultimate success as an entrepreneur, a mountaineer, and a triathlete is a fascinating and enjoyable read with life-affirming lessons for everyone."
—Nick Wilkinson, advisor, board member, and CEO of Wilkinson Advisory Services, director and screenwriter
“I appreciate a great story about adversity and transformation. Steven's journey from couch potato and college dropout to uber successful entrepreneur and IRONMAN World Championship competitor is very inspiring. His lessons learned and key takeaways should be heeded by anyone aspiring to mount a similar journey. This is a fast-paced, inspirational, and educational read. I highly recommend it.”
—Joanna Lohman, keynote speaker, former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team, and author of Raising Tomorrow's Champions
“Built to Finish is for the hero in all of us. If you’re set on big goals in life, this book shows you the way forward. With Steven as your guide, this book is a compass for those seeking fulfillment on their own path to success.”
—Jon Giganti, vice president of CCC Intelligent Solutions and USA Today best-selling author of With Intention
“Any entrepreneur would benefit from running their business with an endurance mindset. This book will show them how. Steven's analogies from his racing and mountain adventures to the way he built and later sold his business really hit home. His self-deprecating humor allowed me to connect with him personally and feel the pain of his pitfalls and the highs of his summits. A really good read.”
—Scott White, chairman of the board and CEO of Invesque, best-selling author of The Life is Too Short Guy
“Growing a business while attempting to qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship at the same time is quite the feat. Hearing how Steven grinded it out to achieve success in both is very inspirational. The key takeaways he provides in each chapter are a blueprint for others to follow in his footsteps.”
—Andrew Zimmerman, cofounder and CEO of Journey, author of Journey
“Using not just the experience of endurance training, but anecdotes and deeply personal moments from his own life, Steven Pivnik outlines his formula for success with humor, frankness, and an unerring trajectory. Anyone looking for inspiration and guidance in achieving their goals in any field can benefit from this book.”
—Satomi Hofmann, broadway, television, film, and commercial actress
“Steven skillfully connects the dots, highlighting the striking similarities in the hurdles encountered by entrepreneurs and athletes. He takes us on an awe-inspiring journey, chronicling his extraordinary rise from building wealth from the ground up to transforming into a triathlete. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for fresh insights in both business and personal success."
—Michelle Arpin Begina, financial advisor and founder of MichelleAB, author of Good With Money
“Building an international business to scale requires a monumental effort, and Steven's story of doing just that is very inspiring. Comparing the boardroom adventures to his endurance addiction makes for very entertaining reading—I couldn’t wait to get to the next chapter and read more. His lessons learned and advice on business and on life will help others to follow along a similar path in and out of the boardroom.”
—Tonia Jahshan, founder and president of Sipology and named Canada's #1 Female Entrepreneur
“Steven Pivnik demonstrates the power of focus and commitment to achieve big goals, whether in business or in endurance events. This book will give you the conviction to work hard, play hard, and to strive bring out the best in all areas of your life. Kudos to Steven for showing us that lessons learned in one area of our lives can be so powerful in another—from the boardroom to the triathlon course, the mountain, or whatever challenges we may face.”
—Chris Bystriansky, real estate investor, two-time IRONMAN triathlon finisher, and author of New Steel
"Wow, what a fast-paced book of life lessons wrapped up in dynamic personal stories! It reads like a thriller and packs a powerful punch. Get it and start applying the lessons today. I highly recommend this book!"
—Tim Ash, international keynote speaker, executive advisor, and best-selling author of Unleash Your Primal Brain
“Built to Finish is the inspiring story of one man’s journey from fleeing religious oppression to achieving parallel successes in the worlds of extreme sports and highly competitive business. Everyone can benefit from what Steven Pivnik has learned and achieved.”
—Bob Baker, MD, author of The Performance of Medicine
“Get ready for a self-awareness journey that will inspire you to courageously stand in your authenticity, step out of your uncomfortable comfort zone, and bravely trek into the unknown where magic awaits.”
— Sara Daves, author of Manifest Like a Goddess