Becker Business Podcast: "How to Excel as a Professional and a Leader"

Guest: David Pivnick, Partner at McGuireWoods LLP
Host: Scott Becker
Date: January 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker engages with David Pivnick—a distinguished litigator, leader, and mentor at McGuireWoods—on what it takes to excel as a professional and develop into an effective leader. The discussion delves into the habits, mindsets, and disciplines that set top performers apart, especially early in their careers, and offers advice for course correction and the pursuit of long-term excellence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Consistency: The Foundation of Excellence

• Consistency in Performance
  • David highlights that top professionals distinguish themselves by showing up every day and delivering 100%, regardless of circumstances.
  • Dependability instills confidence both internally and with clients.
• Treating Every Task & Client Seriously
  • Excellence means giving the same care and effort to all matters, not differentiating based on client size or importance.

“It’s that concept of showing up and delivering 100% every single day, regardless of personal circumstances... I think the ability to show up and deliver a strong performance at a consistent level day in and day out can be overlooked. But I think that’s one of the best ways for professionals to excel.”
— David Pivnick [01:18]

2. Critical Habits for Early Career Professionals

• Responsiveness
  • Immediate acknowledgment of requests—even when unable to act right away—demonstrates reliability and reduces anxiety for supervisors or clients.
• High-Quality Work
  • Consistently producing good work is non-negotiable.
• Ownership & Proactivity
  • Going beyond task completion by anticipating next steps and actively looking for ways to add value to the team or project.

“Responsiveness is absolutely critical... I look at the responsiveness less about dropping everything at the drop of a hat and more giving the acknowledgment, ‘I got your email, I’m on it.'”
— David Pivnick [03:42]

“The ones who truly excel are the ones who are not just going to do exactly what I ask, but they're going to take it a notch beyond that and be contributing to the team more fully.”
— David Pivnick [05:58]

3. Course Correction for Professionals Off Track

• Start with Self-Reflection:
  • Identify the root cause: Is it time management, performance quality, or sloppiness?
• Targeted Action:
  • Address specific issues with concrete measures (e.g., better calendaring, building in time for proofreading, seeking skill development).
• Feedback & Iterative Improvement:
  • Revisit progress regularly, seek feedback from mentors or supervisors, and maintain a checklist of goals to ensure improvement.

“The first thing is doing a little bit of internal reflection… The second is figuring out a plan of how you're going to correct it. And the biggest thing that people forget about is checking to make sure you're getting it right.”
— David Pivnick [07:54]

4. Defining & Achieving Long-Term Excellence

• Personal Definition of Excellence:
  • Professionals must internally define what “being elite” means to them, as ambitions and ideal roles vary.
• Seeking Diverse Input:
  • Speaking to multiple people who have succeeded in different ways offers broader perspectives and better prepares a professional for success.
• Consistent Execution:
  • Even with a clear plan and defined goals, sustained daily excellence is essential.

“I think people internally need to decide what it means to them to be excellent or elite at what they're doing, because that answer is not going to be the same for every person.”
— David Pivnick [12:11]

“There’s more, I think, has really been influential in my career... what are you trying to be elite at?”
— David Pivnick [12:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reliability:
  “Not taking a minute off, let alone a day... Those who truly excel are doing it every day for every customer.”
  — David Pivnick [02:59]

• On Communication:
  “There are people that you send something to that do a great job on it, but you don’t hear that they’re working on it... that of course causes stress because they don’t know that it’s in good hands.”
  — Scott Becker [06:45]

• On Feedback Loops:
  “Once you’ve figured out the problem, how you’re going to fix it, start trying to execute on that, going back and checking to make sure you’re getting it right.”
  — David Pivnick [10:48]

• On Individual Goals:
  “Someone might just say their goal is to just be a good lawyer. They don’t want the stress of a leadership role... so the advice would be very different than someone who wants to generate business and be a trusted advisor.”
  — David Pivnick [13:05]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] — Introduction and David Pivnick’s background
• [01:08] — What separates top performers
• [03:20] — Essential early career habits and disciplines
• [06:43] — Communication and reducing stress via responsiveness
• [07:48] — How to correct course when off track
• [11:38] — Mapping the road to elite performance for ambitious professionals
• [12:09] — Crafting a definition of excellence and building a plan
• [15:09] — Recap and episode close

Conclusion

David Pivnick’s insights emphasize that excellence is built on consistent high performance, ownership, and proactive communication. Whether a young associate or an experienced leader, self-awareness and deliberate action—paired with seeking input from others—form the bedrock of a distinguished and fulfilling career.