BUILT TO RUN: The 150-Day Architecture of a Commercial Turnaround

What do you do when a company is working harder than ever but falling further behind? In Built to Run: The 150-Day Architecture of a Commercial Turnaround, acclaimed operator Matt Slonaker takes readers inside the high-stakes world of business transformation through a gripping narrative that reads like a novel and delivers the practical insights of a world-class operating manual. When turnaround specialist Marcus Hale is called in to rescue Cardinal Holdings, a struggling private-equity-backed company facing missed targets, broken forecasts, and declining trust, he has just 150 days to uncover the truth, rebuild the commercial engine, and prove that success is not about working harderit is about building the right architecture.

As Marcus navigates boardroom politics, leadership conflict, sales dysfunction, customer retention challenges, and the accelerating impact of AI on modern business, readers gain a front-row seat to the decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or fail. Through realistic conversations, powerful leadership lessons, and hard-earned operating principles, the story reveals the hidden patterns that sabotage growth, the mistakes leaders make when they move too fast, and the frameworks that create sustainable performance. Every chapter blends compelling storytelling with actionable business wisdom, making complex turnaround strategies accessible, engaging, and unforgettable.

More than a business novel, Built to Run is a blueprint for leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and operators who want to understand what truly drives organizational success. Whether you’re leading a company through change, managing a team under pressure, scaling a growing business, or simply looking to sharpen your leadership instincts, this book offers practical tools, timeless lessons, and a proven framework for turning chaos into clarity. Thought-provoking, insightful, and deeply relevant to today’s rapidly changing business environment, Built to Run will challenge the way you think about growth, leadership, and what it really takes to build a company that is designed not just to survive but to win.