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Steven Pivnik
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MOST FOUNDERS NEVER LEARN
HOW TO FINISH STRONG.

They go hard at the start, burn out in the middle, and limp through the exit. The race ends, but not the way they planned.

I’ve watched it happen to smart, capable people. Hell, it almost happened to me.

This weekend exists because finishing strong, in business and in sport, is a skill. And like every skill, it can be trained.

I learned this the hard way.

Twice over 26 years, I nearly lost everything I built. Once, I showed up in a suit every month for six months to keep the bank from taking my house. Both times I climbed back out. But the lessons cost me years I’m not getting back.

This weekend exists so they don’t have to cost you the same.

“The founders who finish strong aren’t always the fastest. They’re the ones who prepared the most.”

STEVEN PIVNIK

WHY A TRIATHLON WEEKEND IS THE BEST EXIT PREP YOU WILL EVER DO

Sounds like a stretch? Here’s what I’ve learned from doing both.

Pacing beats power. You don’t finish a triathlon by going hard from the gun. You finish by holding the line for hours. Founders who exit well do the same thing. They set a pace and never break it.

You find out fast what your team can handle. When you’re three hours in and the conditions get ugly, you learn things you can’t learn in a boardroom. Same in a deal. Pressure exposes who’s actually with you.

Knowing when to push and when to recover is just as important as the finish. Endurance athletes don’t grind every minute. They time their effort. So do founders who exit on their terms.

This weekend puts those lessons together in a way you can’t get from a book or a podcast.

THE BUSINESS RACE

You’re racing two things at once. The first one is the business: getting your company exit-ready before market timing slips, before key people leave, before your valuation peaks.

Most founders don’t see this race clearly. The valuation drift is gradual. The dependence on you is gradual. The gaps in due diligence are gradual. Until a buyer walks in and they aren’t.

✓ Do you actually know what your company is worth?
✓ If you stepped away for 90 days, would the company survive?
✓ If a buyer walked in tomorrow, what would they price-cut on?

THE BODY RACE

The second race is the one nobody puts on the calendar. Staying healthy, present for your family, clear-headed enough to make the most important financial decision of your life without breaking.

Most founders are losing this one too. The burnout is gradual. The disconnection is gradual. The slow erosion of capacity is gradual. Until due diligence stretches twelve months and something gives.

✓ Could you finish a triathlon in three months if you trained today?
✓ If your spouse asked you to take a year off, could you say yes?
✓ If due diligence stretched 12 months, what would break in your body?

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HERE’S HOW IT WORKS.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Strategic Exit Assessment

The weekend starts before you arrive in Atlantic Beach. You and I have a private, confidential conversation about your exit readiness. No sugarcoating. We look at your business the way an acquirer would.

  • What’s your company actually worth today vs. your walk-away number?
  • How deep is your leadership bench? Can this run without you?
  • What would due diligence uncover?
  • Are you building something buyers fight over, or pass on?


You land at the weekend with clarity on where you actually stand.

 

THE WEEKEND ITSELF
Atlantic Beach, NY (Long Island South Shore near JFK)

3 days of training

Then we go to the water. And the bike. And the run.

DAY 1 – FRIDAY, July 17, 2026

  • Arrival + welcome session
  • Ocean swim training: 1000m or 1 mile
  • Beach run: 5K or 10K
  • Performance mindset discussion
  • Dinner + networking

DAY 2 – SATURDAY, July 18, 2026

  • Bike training ride: 20 or 40 miles
  • Transition practice
  • Recovery + strategy session

DAY 3 – SUNDAY, July 19, 2026

  • Mock Sprint Triathlon: 800m swim, 12 mile bike, 5K run
  • Race pacing education
  • Closing session + takeaways

You’ll learn: pacing, nutrition, mental toughness, performing under pressure, transition technique, race-day decision-making.


The goal isn’t just the finish. It’s what the training shows you about yourself.

 

THE WORK AFTER
Your Exit Roadmap

When the weekend ends, we’re not done. The final session translates what you experienced into a concrete plan:

  • Leadership shifts needed over the next 12 to 36 months
  • Strategic priorities that actually move valuation
  • What’s driving you, what’s holding you back, and what to do about it


You leave with a roadmap. Not a theory. A plan to exit on YOUR terms.

APPLY TO ATTEND

WHO THIS IS FOR

ABOUT THE KEYNOTE

Founders of $10M+ companies who are within 2 to 5 years of a potential exit, in great physical condition, and willing to be tested for three days. You don’t need to be a current triathlete.

You need to be willing to become one. Steven and Igor have 50+ combined IRONMAN finishes between them. They can pace you.

If your spouse or partner is part of your decision-making, bring them into the conversation early. The financial, physical, and time commitment of a real exit prep weekend matters to both of you.

THE INVESTMENT: $9,000. 

Everything is included except lodging.

 

What’s included:

  • Private strategic exit assessment (before the weekend)
  • Guided swim, bike, and run training with Steven Pivnik and Igor Yakushko
  • Structured daily training plan with technique and pacing instruction
  • Group mindset and performance sessions
  • Post-weekend integration session with your 12-36 month roadmap
  • Ongoing access to me for follow-up conversations

No hidden costs. No upsells.

Each weekend is limited to a small group of founders. Small enough for real strategic work. Small enough that I know your business by the time we’re done.

APPLY NOW
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THIS IS FOR YOU IF…

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You're thinking seriously about an exit.

You want strategic advisory work paired with hands-on training, not another conference room weekend.

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You value preparation over winging it.

You know the discipline required to finish a triathlon is the same one required to close a deal.

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You're willing to be tested.

Physically and mentally. You want to challenge yourself and find out what you’re made of.

THIS IS NOT FOR YOU IF…

You want a vacation with networking sprinkled in
You prefer broad discussions over focused training and high-stakes problem solving
You’re not willing to train, prepare, and do the work

FAQ

Do I need triathlon experience? Some. The entry bar is at least one olympic-distance triathlon finish under your belt. Beyond that, you don’t need to be an experienced triathlete. You just need to be willing to challenge yourself.

What if I’m not sure I want to exit yet? That’s actually the best time to come. Most of my best clients started working with me 3 to 5 years before they thought they would sell. By the time you are ‘ready to exit’, it’s already too late to fix the things that matter most for valuation. The earlier you start, the more options you have.

How physically demanding is this? Challenging but achievable for motivated adults who put in the work. A structured daily training plan with technique and pacing instruction is included, plus guidance from Steven and Igor (50+ IRONMAN finishes between them).

Is this group or private? Both. Strategic sessions are private. The training is shared with a small group of peer founders.

What happens after? You leave with a roadmap and ongoing access to me. Many founders continue into advisory relationships, but no pressure.