Built to Finish is an inspiring journey that blends personal growth, entrepreneurship, and the grit of endurance sports. Steven Pivnik masterfully intertwines his experiences as both a businessman and an athlete, detailing his path from sprint triathlons to the ultimate achievement of participating in the prestigious Kona Ironman World Championships, as well as his hiking summit adventures. His narrative is not just about the physical challenges of racing but about the mental toughness needed to succeed in both business and life.

Pivnik’s writing style is a perfect mix of motivational, informative, and personal, making it not only easy to follow but incredibly relatable. The stories from his business career and athletic endeavors are woven into each chapter, offering key life lessons that apply to anyone, whether you’re in a leadership position, an aspiring entrepreneur, or an athlete. This narrative approach kept me engaged throughout the audiobook, eager to hear what lesson or insight would come next.

The audiobook narration by Mike Reilly is excellent, with a performance that enhances the overall experience. Reilly’s pacing and tone kept me hooked for hours, making it easy to listen during long drives or training sessions. His voice brought energy and clarity to the story, elevating Pivnik's powerful lessons and making the audiobook a truly immersive experience.

One of the highlights of the book for me was Chapter 7, where Pivnik discusses the importance of building a strong foundation—both physically and mentally—and how slow and steady wins the race. He also discusses the Wim Hof Method he uses for breathing, a technique I’m excited to try for myself. As someone training for the 2025 MS Run the US ultra-marathon, this chapter resonated with me on a personal level, providing valuable insights on pacing, endurance, and mental resilience.

Another memorable takeaway comes from Chapter 9, where Pivnik shares his motto, “Not Fast, Not Last.” As someone who shares a similar mindset in races, this was a powerful reminder that consistency and determination are just as important as speed. It’s a simple yet effective philosophy that anyone can apply, regardless of their goals.

Overall, Built to Finish is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, endurance sports, or simply overcoming life’s challenges. The stories, key takeaways at the end of each chapter, and the motivational insights make it a book I’ll revisit time and time again. I’m giving it a well-deserved 5 stars. Pivnik’s lessons are practical, powerful, and, most importantly, relatable—no matter where you are on your own journey.

Built to Finish by Steven Pivnik is an inspiring guide on how to approach challenges with resilience and purpose, both in business and in life. Pivnik shares actionable insights from his own journey, illustrating what it takes to not only start strong but to finish even stronger. The book is full of practical wisdom, from building a mindset of perseverance to setting realistic goals and learning from setbacks. Pivnik’s advice is straightforward and motivational, making the book both a valuable resource and a source of inspiration for anyone aiming to succeed over the long haul.

Mike Reilly’s narration brings the material to life, adding warmth and conviction that enhance Pivnik’s message. Reilly’s voice has a grounded, energetic quality that keeps the listener engaged and makes the content feel accessible and relatable. His pacing and tone are spot-on, adding emphasis to key points without ever overdoing it, which keeps the listening experience smooth and enjoyable.

Overall, Built to Finish is a must-listen for anyone seeking a blend of motivation and practical guidance. Pivnik’s insights, paired with Reilly’s excellent narration, make for a powerful combination that will leave listeners feeling ready to tackle their goals with renewed focus and determination.

Built to Finish is an engaging and insightful guide that dives into the principles of effective project management and successful execution. The author breaks down complex concepts into practical, actionable steps, making it easy for anyone, regardless of their experience level, to grasp the key ideas.

I appreciated how the book emphasizes the importance of clear communication and teamwork throughout the process. The real-world examples provided illustrate how these strategies can lead to successful outcomes, making the content relatable and applicable.

This was an interesting combination of advice/wisdom that is useful for life - entrepreneurial life, athletics, and just overall life. While they aren't new concepts, it was a great reminder mixed with inspirational stories from his career and iron man trainings.

Some ideas to hold onto:
1. Embrace the grind - The grind is tough but perseverance needs to be there to do the stuff other people don't want to do.
2. One mistake doesn't define you, don't define someone else by their one mistake. Allow yourself to mourn, but carry on.
3. Showing up is the big part - success will follow and be ready for the next big opportunity
4. Celebrate small wins - some people only focus on the home runs but enough singles will win you the game too.
5. Pace yourself - create the foundation before you race ahead - monitor and preserve your body and business
6. Use quality shortcuts -never people. It takes longer to recover from a botched shortcut than to do it right the first time.
7. Overtraining syndrome - doing more doesn't always give you more, so don't overextend yourself - balance obtaining information with how extended you are
8. Always be closing your books - keep track of details along the way so you are disciplined/prepared to take it when an opportunity comes
9. Don't focus on luck/chance, be thoughtful of life partners, focus on the goal, and plan for pitfalls - make your own luck.
10. Be prepared, pick who you surround yourself with, and enjoy the journey
11. What you give power to has power over you if you allow it and will control your destiny. Invite positivity in so you can draw on it when you need to.
12. Envision the finish from day 1 and make it visible so you can't forget what you're working toward. Break down larger goals, visualize each day, execute through small actions.
13. Be elastic - do you allow yourself to stretch and grow and use ? Real adventure begins at the end of your comfort zone
14. Failures are a natural part of trying, of living, how you bounce back is more important. True failure is falling short of your goals and never going after them again.
15. Don’t fear the exit embrace it - you are judged not by what you start but what you finish.

Let me be honest with you. I’m not a fan of business or motivational books. That’s why I was so surprised when the very first book I picked up on NetGalley was Built to Finish. I don’t know if it was the cover or the title, but something caught my attention. And I’m so glad it did.

This book is full of great insights. I really enjoyed the connections built between life, business and sports. After each chapter, Steven shared some key takeaways, which was very helpful.. Whether it was about perseverance and accepting your mistakes, embracing the journey rather than the destination, etc., I was inspired by his rational and structured approach even during the most difficult times.

After finishing the book, I tried to formulate my own takeaway. And here it goes. Yes, your journey won’t be easy. Yes, probably you’ll make some mistakes and face some challenges in life. But everything you want to achieve and dream about is still out there for you as long as you keep moving forward.

Similar to "Delivering Happinness" the story of Zappos founder, the author is telling personal stories and his train of thought, with much less partying. More of a memoir than a business book, imo. Valuable lesson: appreciate the grind, because that is where you grow.
The author shares life lessons learnt through his experiences.