Built to Finish

Growth Doesn't Fix Problems, It Exposes Them with Dr. Donna Marino

"Growth doesn't fix problems. It exposes them." In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven sits down with Dr. Donna Marino to unpack the emotional and operational realities of scaling a family-run business. From succession planning and founder dependency to sibling conflict, leadership friction, and the hidden communication issues that slow companies down, Dr. Donna shares why family dynamics do not disappear inside a business, they often get magnified. Together, they discuss why founders wait too long to plan their exit, how unclear roles can hurt morale and valuation, and why the conversations families avoid are usually the ones that matter most. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Growth exposes problems that were already there. 2. Family dynamics often carry directly into the business. 3. Succession planning fails when families avoid the conversation. 4. Founder dependency can seriously hurt valuation. 5. Operational clarity requires defined roles, documentation, and communication. 6. Retired founders often struggle because their identity is tied to the business. 7. Co-leadership between siblings can create major conflict without clear alignment. 8. Healthy conflict is necessary for a strong leadership team. 9. Family businesses need to preserve culture while still evolving. 10. Exit planning should begin years before a sale or transition. CONTACT DR. DONNA MARINO Website: drdonnamarino.com Email: Donna@drdonnamarino.com LinkedIn: Dr. Donna Marino

Why Success Alone Will Never Fulfill You with Scott Lackey

"The more I sacrifice of myself, the more of myself I actually find." In this deeply powerful episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik sits down with combat veteran, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, Ironman athlete, and author Scott Lackey for a conversation about identity, pain, resilience, spirituality, and transformation. Scott shares the lightning strikes that changed the course of his life, from losing businesses and rebuilding after failure to discovering that success alone does not make someone whole. Together, Steven and Scott unpack the lessons learned through military service, entrepreneurship, endurance sports, and personal struggle, exploring how pain can become instruction instead of punishment. The episode dives into broken promises we make to ourselves, the importance of discipline, and why audacious goals require micro-level consistency. Scott also discusses the philosophy behind his upcoming book, Wake Up to Die Again, and explains concepts like "walking the lily pads," "the warrior, the poet, and the shepherd," and why becoming who you were meant to be requires sacrifice. This is an emotional, motivational, and thought-provoking conversation for entrepreneurs, athletes, leaders, and anyone navigating transformation in their own life. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Success alone does not make you whole * Pain can become instruction instead of punishment * Failure teaches lessons success never can * Big transformations begin with micro-level consistency * Discipline is built through keeping promises to yourself * The Ironman journey is won during training, not race day * Lightning strikes are moments that permanently change who you are * Limiting beliefs are often rooted in self-doubt * The gifts we seek are often hidden inside hardship * Sacrifice is required to become who you're meant to be * Identity struggles affect both entrepreneurs and athletes * Spirituality and faith can anchor people during difficult seasons * Audacious goals require boring daily steps * Authenticity matters more than external validation * Resilience is built through repeated adversity CONTACT SCOTT LACKEY * Website: Scott Lackey Official Website [https://scottlackey.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Email: scott@scottlackey.com * Book: Wake Up to Die Again

Built to Scale: From Break-Fix to a World-Class IT Company with Dan Hernandez

"Think about AI as hiring employees. If 30 people are using AI, you now have 60." In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik sits down with Dan Hernandez, founder and CEO of PCS Technologies, to unpack what it really takes to build a scalable, resilient business in one of the most fragmented industries: IT services. Dan shares how he transformed his company from a traditional break-fix model into a high-performing managed service provider, while building a culture of low turnover, strong leadership, and operational independence. He breaks down the importance of pattern recognition, early adoption of trends like cybersecurity and AI, and why most founders stay stuck in the day-to-day longer than they should. Beyond business, Dan's personal journey—from walking 5 million steps in a year to rebuilding his health after years of physical strain—proves that endurance isn't just physical, it's a mindset that carries into leadership and life. This episode is a masterclass in systems, discipline, and knowing when to evolve. Key Takeaways: * You can build elite fitness through consistency, not intensity * Walking can outperform high-impact training for long-term health * Pattern recognition is a core entrepreneurial superpower * Early adoption of industry shifts creates outsized advantage * Hiring mistakes are expensive but fixable with process * Founders must step out of operations to scale past ~$2M * Culture and growth opportunity reduce employee turnover * EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) drives accountability and clarity * AI should be treated like adding employees to your business * Continuous learning is what sustains long-term success Contact Dan Website: pcstechnology.com Email: dan@pcstechnology.com

From Everest Base Camp: Grit, Failure, and the Power of Focus with Reid Tileston

"Grit is doing difficult things at the exact moment that you do not want to do them." In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik sits down with Reid Tileston, author of Grit It Done, professor, entrepreneur, and Everest summiteer, live from Mount Everest Base Camp. Reid shares his definition of grit, why the people you surround yourself with directly impact your ability to achieve hard things, and how failure can become the fuel that pushes you forward. From business buying and entrepreneurship to cold plunges at 21,000 feet, high-altitude pulmonary edema, and attempting Everest without supplemental oxygen, this conversation explores what it really takes to keep going when motivation fades. KEY TAKEAWAYS Grit means doing difficult things exactly when you do not want to do them. Your peer group has a major impact on your ability to follow through. Failure can become fuel when you use it to recommit instead of retreat. Founders need to know when to stay focused, when to pivot, and when to test more options. Daily habits like cold water immersion, visualization, and end-of-day reflection can help build grit over time. In business, grit often means doing the extra hard thing that creates a better outcome, like speaking to ten potential buyers instead of one. CONTACT REID Follow Reid Tileston's Everest journey on Instagram: @reidtileston Learn more about his book: grititdone.com Connect with Reid on LinkedIn: Reid Tileston

What Separates Finishers from Everyone Else with Mark Pattison

"Success leaves clues." What does it really take to finish what you start when the stakes are high? In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven sits down with Mark Pattison, former NFL player, entrepreneur, former Sports Illustrated executive, Seven Summits finisher, Everest climber, speaker, and host of the Finding Your Summit podcast. Mark shares the mindset shifts that carried him from elite athletics into entrepreneurship and extreme mountaineering, and why consistency, preparation, and mental toughness matter more than motivation. The conversation explores what separates people who finish from people who fade out, how to stay committed on hard days, why success leaves clues, and how Mark rebuilt his identity after football. He also opens up about climbing Everest, raising awareness through Amelia's Everest, and why some of the biggest wins in life come after the chapter you thought would define you forever. KEY TAKEAWAYS Success is built in stages. Mark's NFL journey was not one giant leap. It was a series of iterations, each requiring him to elevate again. Success leaves clues. One of the best ways to improve is to study people already doing what you want to do. A roadmap matters. Big goals become achievable when you get clear on the destination and the path to get there. Consistency beats intensity. Mark credits repeated daily effort more than flashes of motivation. Preparation reduces resistance. Setting everything up the night before makes it easier to execute when discipline is needed most. Action creates reaction. Forward motion matters, even when you are unsure of the perfect next step. Identity transitions are hard. Leaving the NFL was painful, and Mark had to learn how to create value in a completely different world. Mindset is the separator. Mark believes the people who finish are the ones who keep their eye on the prize and stay locked in when discomfort sets in. Discipline is developed. It is not something you are simply born with. It comes from repetition and doing hard things over time. Your best work may come after your first big chapter. Mark is proud not just of football, but of the body of work he built after it. This is an episode about resilience in the real world, not the polished version, but the kind built through repetition, struggle, discipline, and refusing to stop. CONTACT MARK Website: markpattisonnfl.com Book: Finding Your Summit on Amazon Podcast: Finding Your Summit