Built to Finish

Steven Pivnik
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Built to Finish! Join host, Steven Pivnik, each week as he explores the journeys of audacious goal setters. This includes experienced Founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs sharing pivotal moments that propelled their success. We'll also be talking with endurance athletes who push the limits of physical and mental ability. This show is brought to you by Acresis — offering tailored, high-impact advisory services to help founders get to their finish line with a strategic acquisition or majority investor recapitalization. To learn more, go to: https://acresis.com/

  1. 2D AGO

    Relationships Over Transactions: The Trust-Based Selling Blueprint with Todd Duncan

    "Transactions will make you a living. Relationships will make you a fortune." What if the key to explosive business growth wasn't more leads, more calls, or more hustle but deeper relationships? In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik sits down with three time New York Times bestselling author Todd Duncan to unpack the philosophy behind High Trust Selling and why relationships outperform transactions every time. Todd shares his journey through personal loss, financial collapse, and rebuilding, and how those experiences shaped a framework that has influenced elite performers across industries. From trust based selling to customer experience, AI powered learning, and building long term client loyalty, this episode is a masterclass in sustainable success. If you want to build a business that compounds through trust, referrals, and meaningful relationships, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Relationships create long-term wealth while transactions create short-term income Trust is the number one currency in business and referrals accelerate growth Asking fewer but deeper questions dramatically increases conversions The best producers focus on client share, not market share Awareness and thoughtful customer experience create unforgettable loyalty Trust can be learned through active listening and curiosity Follow-up after the sale is the biggest missed opportunity in business AI-powered learning is reshaping coaching, sales training, and performance development Contact Todd Website: https://myfuel.io Email: Todd@myfuel.io Fuel is a global AI-powered learning platform delivering micro-learning, performance coaching, and interactive avatar-based mentorship across 77 countries.

    33 min

  2. APR 1

    Jim Stryker's Take On Why Founders Lose Millions Without Exit Planning

    "The state has a plan for your wealth. If you don't create one, they'll use theirs." Most founders focus on building enterprise value but ignore personal wealth strategy until it's too late. In this episode, Steven sits down with wealth strategist Jim Stryker to break down why exit planning should start years before liquidity. Jim explains how entrepreneurs unknowingly leave millions on the table through poor tax planning, lack of estate structure, and reactive financial decisions. He also shares how founders can model their future financial position, protect assets after an exit, and avoid common mistakes that destroy wealth. If you're building toward a liquidity event, this episode will change how you think about money, taxes, and long term financial architecture. Key Takeaways: • Exit planning should begin 24 to 36 months before liquidity • Most founders lose millions due to poor tax strategy • Growing money in taxable environments is the most expensive option • Post exit wealth protection should prioritize safety, liquidity, then return • Estate planning prevents the state from controlling your wealth transfer • Future position modeling shows how long your money actually lasts • Paying off your house early is not always financially optimal • Financial advisors should diagnose before prescribing products • A second opinion can uncover millions in hidden inefficiencies • True wealth is measured in relationships, not assets Contact Jim: Website: https://theprivateclientcompany.com Education & Resources: https://jimstryker.info Email: jim@theprivateclientcompany.com

    32 min

  3. MAR 25

    Confidence Comes After Action. The Real Formula for Transformation with Cara Poppitt

    "Confidence does not come before change. Confidence comes because you choose to change." What does real transformation actually look like for founders, leaders, and high performers? In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik sits down with Cara Moeller Poppitt, three time bestselling author of Big Freaking Change, entrepreneur, coach, and host of the Big Freaking Change podcast. With a background in dance, entrepreneurship, and leadership coaching, Cara shares a powerful framework for navigating change, overcoming fear, and creating meaningful momentum in business and life. The conversation explores why high performers sabotage themselves, how identity affects founders during exits, and why confidence only comes after action. Cara also breaks down her Cycle of Change methodology, an eight step model designed to help entrepreneurs move from feeling stuck to taking bold action. Steven and Cara also discuss founder psychology, the emotional impact of selling a business, and how reflection and intentional pauses can unlock the next level of growth. If you are navigating change, building toward an exit, or looking to create meaningful progress in the next 90 days, this episode provides a practical roadmap for transformation. Key Takeaways Being stuck is not failure. It is a signal that growth is available Confidence comes after action, not before High performers often sabotage themselves by chasing change without clarity Founders must prepare psychologically for identity shifts after an exit Small momentum building steps create lasting transformation Fear is part of bold change and should be expected Reflection and simmering after success builds long term confidence Transformation starts by identifying the feeling you want, not the outcome You cannot change your environment but you can change your response to it The most powerful change often begins with investing in yourself Contact Cara Website www.bigfreakingchange.com Speaking and Coaching www.caramoellerpoppitt.com Cara offers a free Cycle of Change toolkit along with resources to help entrepreneurs create meaningful transformation in business and life. She can also be contacted through her websites and social media for coaching, speaking, and leadership programs.

    31 min

  4. MAR 18

    The Party Within: Rethinking Social Life and Belonging with Evan Cudworth

    "Party isn't something you consume. It's something you create from within." In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven sits down with Evan Cudworth, the world's first "party coach," to challenge everything we think we know about social life, alcohol, and belonging. From his early experiences in rave culture to building his Party Within framework, Evan shares how he transformed external validation into internal energy and how others can do the same. This conversation explores the modern loneliness epidemic, the role of agency in our social lives, and how small shifts like asking better questions or creating connection instead of consuming it can completely redefine how we show up. If you've ever felt drained, disconnected, or dependent on environments or substances to feel on, this episode offers a powerful reframe. The best party starts within you. Key Takeaways • Redefining "party" as intentional human connection rather than substances or environments • The shift from a low agency social life to a high agency one where you create your experience • Real fulfillment and energy can come from connection, not consumption • Better questions lead to deeper conversations and more meaningful social experiences • Growth in social confidence comes through discomfort, not avoidance • Technology and AI are reducing friction, which makes intentional connection more important than ever • The Party Within framework helps rewire habits and build internal social energy Connect with Evan Website: partycoach.me Search "Party Coach" or "World's First Party Coach" to find Evan and his work Evan's mission is to help people shift from seeking belonging externally to creating it internally and to use social experiences as a tool for connection, growth, and meaning.

    28 min

  5. MAR 11

    From Boardroom to Basecamp: The Ecuador Executive Retreat with Mark Hodges and Griffin Mims

    "Mountaineering is very much a game of stepping stones." This week on Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik shares exciting details about his upcoming Ecuador Climbing Executive Retreat — a unique experience designed to bring together founders, business leaders, and aspiring climbers for a powerful blend of exit strategy, leadership development, and high-altitude adventure. Steven first sits down with repeat guest Mark Hodges, an experienced exit advisor who has personally achieved several exits and advised on more than 30 others, helping generate over $1 billion in founder wealth. Together, they unpack the business side of the retreat, including the types of founder conversations that will take place before the trip, the mastermind-style discussions planned during the retreat, and the practical issues founders must address if they want to build toward a successful exit. In the second half of the episode, Steven is joined by Griffin Mims of Alpenglow Expeditions, the mountaineering partner for the retreat. Griffin explains why Ecuador is such an ideal destination for first-time high-altitude climbers, what participants can expect from the experience, and how Alpenglow's high-touch approach, guide quality, and safety infrastructure make this an exceptional environment to learn mountaineering fundamentals. The conversation makes clear that this retreat is not just about climbing mountains — it is about giving founders a rare opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, challenge themselves physically and mentally, and gain clarity around what it takes to finish strong in business and in life. Business Takeaways: - Founders who successfully prepare for an exit tend to trust expert guidance, grow more confident in their market position, become more sophisticated about money, and think intentionally about what comes next after the deal closes. - A major theme of the retreat is helping founders understand the difference between headline purchase price and actual take-home proceeds, including how working capital adjustments, taxes, bonuses, legal fees, and other deal costs can materially shrink the final outcome. - Mark highlights several high-value topics for retreat mastermind sessions, including recruiting senior talent, handling non-performing executives or partners, and scaling a company successfully without losing focus. - The episode also surfaces several "valuation killers," including underinvesting in sales, losing key customers, and getting distracted by shiny new opportunities that pull leadership away from core execution. - Steven outlines a thoughtful retreat structure that includes pre-trip one-on-one founder and leadership conversations, group mastermind sessions in Ecuador, and follow-up guidance aimed at helping participants map out the next 12 to 36 months toward a potential exit. Climbing Takeaways: - Ecuador is presented as one of the best places in the world to learn high-altitude mountaineering because of its access to 6,000-meter peaks, efficient logistics, and strong balance of real mountain experience with manageable risk. - The retreat is designed for beginners, with no prerequisite climbing experience required, though Griffin emphasizes that participants who train for a few months beforehand will enjoy the experience more and set themselves up for better success. - Alpenglow provides a highly supported experience from airport pickup to departure, along with acclimatization in Quito, mountain instruction, and access to local guide infrastructure that helps maximize safety and responsiveness.  - Participants can expect comfortable accommodations for most of the retreat, including haciendas with real beds, hot showers, electricity, and often wifi, with only one night spent in a mountain hut before a summit push. - Griffin notes that for many climbers, Ecuador becomes the first stepping stone to bigger objectives, with a large percentage of participants eventually going on to higher peaks elsewhere in the world.  Contact Info Steven Pivnik Website for the retreat: stevenpivnik.com/executive-retreat LinkedIn: Steven Pivnik  Mark Hodges Email: mark.hodges@acresis.com Griffin Mims Email: griffin@alpenglowexpeditions.com Phone: 308-293-6629 Also available via the inquiry form on the Alpenglow Expeditions website.

    34 min

  6. MAR 4

    From Stand-Up to TEDx: The Blueprint Behind Talks That Actually Convert with Cesar Cervantes

    "Real credibility isn't a title. It's delivery." Most speakers think great talks are about talent. They're wrong. In this episode of Built to Finish, I sit down with Cesar Cervantes, former stand-up comedian turned TEDx speechwriter and mentor, who has helped over 300 speakers land and craft powerful TEDx talks. We break down the repeatable architecture behind talks that create transformation, not just applause. Key Takeaways Attention Comes Before the Problem The best talks hook you before introducing the problem; with a question, story, or startling statement. No Problem = No Interest Every powerful talk clearly establishes tension before offering a solution. Structure Creates Transformation Great talks aren't improvised magic. They follow a deliberate architecture: Rejection Is the Process Landing a TEDx talk can take 50+ applications. It's not personal, it's alignment and numbers. Story Beats Data Data informs. Story transforms. Vulnerability Wins Polished isn't powerful... human is. Most Underrated Skill? Structure. Most overrated advice? "What to do with your hands." Credibility Isn't Titles. It's Delivery. The audience doesn't buy your resume. They buy your presence. If you're an entrepreneur, executive, or leader who wants to command a stage, convert audiences, and communicate ideas that stick, this episode is a masterclass. Connect With Cesar Website: https://caesarcervantes.tv Book: Great Speech (Available on Amazon) LinkedIn: Cesar Cervantes

    27 min

  7. FEB 25

    From Necessity to 100 Million Views with Christopher Kriel

    "I get more done in those three hours than anyone can in 10 hours while being a little bit distracted on the side the whole time." This episode of Built to Finish features Christopher Kriel, a medical student and content creator who has turned a personal financial necessity into a digital powerhouse with over 900,000 followers. Host Steven Pivnik explores Christopher's unique journey from growing up in South Africa to studying medicine in Hungary, all while building a business that has amassed over 100 million views. The conversation dives into the science of peak performance, as Christopher breaks down the critical importance of sleep consistency, the "sedative" trap of alcohol on memory, and his "Deep Work" philosophy that allows him to out-produce those working twice the hours. Christopher also shares his latest venture: Rise, a screen-time control solution designed to help users reclaim their dopamine systems and focus from the addictive designs of social media. From debunking medical school myths to discussing the potential link between circadian rhythm disruption and long-term health, this episode is a masterclass in discipline, habit formation, and finishing what you start. Key Takeaways The Power of Small Habits: Reading just 20 minutes a day leads to finishing roughly 20 books a year, proving that consistency compounds into massive knowledge over time. Focus Over Duration: Adopting "Deep Work" sessions of two to three hours without distractions is significantly more effective than working long hours with constant interruptions. Prioritize Sleep Consistency: Getting eight hours of sleep is less important than waking up and going to bed at the same time every day to maintain your circadian rhythm. The Dangers of Distraction: Modern social media and adult content are designed to "hack" the dopamine system, requiring external tools like Rise to regain self-control. Avoid "Over-hyped" Health Trends: Christopher warns against unregulated trends like black-market peptides that lack human clinical trials and quality control. Alcohol's Impact on Memory: Even small amounts of alcohol can disrupt REM sleep and the hippocampus, preventing the brain from properly storing memories. Connect with Christopher Instagram: @read2rise_ TikTok: read2rise

    31 min

  8. FEB 18

    Preparation and Stubbornness: From War Zones to Mount Everest with Mike Tobin

    "Preparation and stubbornness will get you up any mountain." In this episode of Built to Finish, host Steven Pivnik sits down with veteran journalist and war correspondent Mike Tobin for a gripping conversation on pressure, perspective, and what it really means to keep going when the stakes are life-or-death. Mike has spent decades running toward chaos — reporting from conflict zones including Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond — often becoming a firsthand witness to history in real time. Known for his calm demeanor under extreme pressure, he shares how staying focused in breaking-news environments mirrors the mindset required in high-risk mountaineering. The conversation moves from war zones to the world's highest peaks as Mike and Steven reflect on their shared Mount Everest expedition, with Mike opening up about his summit push, the brutal conditions leading up to it, the critical role of preparation and gear choices, and the mental resilience required to keep moving when quitting feels easier. He explains why he often feels stronger the higher he climbs, how pushing past perceived limits has shaped his approach to both life and career, and how that same intensity has also carried a cost — particularly in frontline journalism, where coping with trauma, loss, and grief is often avoided by flooding life with constant motion. Mike speaks candidly about the emotional toll of always moving forward without slowing down, and the importance of acknowledging what we carry long after the story ends. This episode is a powerful listen for entrepreneurs, leaders, endurance athletes, and anyone navigating high-pressure environments, offering raw insight into resilience, discipline, and what it truly takes to finish what you start. Key Takeaways Staying calm under pressure is a trainable skill — whether in war reporting or extreme mountaineering. Getting it right matters more than getting it first, especially in a world flooded with misinformation. Preparation and stubbornness outperform talent when the conditions get hard. Big mountains — and big goals — often require pushing past your perceived quitting point. Gear choices, systems, and planning can be the difference between success and failure. High performers often cope with stress by avoiding stillness — awareness is the first step toward healthier processing. Major pursuits don't just affect you — they impact your family, relationships, and support system. Links X (Twitter): @MikeTobinFox Documentary: Everest — streaming on Fox Nation (free trial available)

    31 min
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About

Welcome to Built to Finish! Join host, Steven Pivnik, each week as he explores the journeys of audacious goal setters. This includes experienced Founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs sharing pivotal moments that propelled their success. We'll also be talking with endurance athletes who push the limits of physical and mental ability. This show is brought to you by Acresis — offering tailored, high-impact advisory services to help founders get to their finish line with a strategic acquisition or majority investor recapitalization. To learn more, go to: https://acresis.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Pivnik
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Built to Finish