EP7 - Young Entrepreneurs & Getting a Seat at the Table: Reflections on starting out, rejection, and earning your spot

EP8 — The Real Cost of Freedom: What it actually takes to earn it

This episode of OTC After Hours zooms in on a single idea—freedom in business—and what it really costs to get there. Featuring Travis Bertram alongside Captain Austin (Marine Rescue CDA), Michael (North Star Seafoods), and Sam, the conversation pulls from different stages of the same path—building, figuring it out, and pushing forward. It’s easy to want control over your time, your money, and your direction. It’s harder to accept what comes with it. Pressure, missed opportunities, long stretches of uncertainty, and the responsibility to keep moving forward when nothing is guaranteed. This conversation breaks down: * Why most people get stuck before they ever start * The difference between feeling “lucky” and actually earning outcomes * How to handle losing deals, clients, or momentum * Why failure only matters if you don’t use it * The internal question that forces progress: what are you going to do about it

EP7 - Young Entrepreneurs & Getting a Seat at the Table: Reflections on starting out, rejection, and earning your spot

In Episode 7 of OTC After Hours, we’re back in the studio with Travis and the group reflecting on a recent Off The Clock meeting at Terroir Fine Wine. Joined by Matthew, Austin, Brad, and Georgia, the conversation centers around young entrepreneurs and a simple question—how do you actually get a seat at the table when you’re just starting out?  From there, it opens up into real experiences. First-year entrepreneurs stepping in for the first time, seasoned business owners sharing what it took to get there, and honest perspectives on what helps—and what hurts—when someone’s trying to break in.  We get into: * The fear of rejection before you even start * Being told no vs being given a shot * What mentorship should actually look like * Why failure is part of figuring it out * The balance between empathy and discipline in business There’s no clean answer here—that’s what made the conversation worth having. This is a reflection from the people who were in the room, sharing what stood out and what it means moving forward. OTC After Hours — where entrepreneurs unwind, talk real, and grow together.

Bonus Episode: From Investigation to Financial Strategy. How real-world experience shaped a more grounded approach to money, risk, and decision-making | Connor DeVries

This OTC: After Hours Bonus Episode features Connor DeVries, financial advisor and featured member of Off The Clock. Connor didn’t take a traditional path into finance. His background spans journalism, insurance investigation, and years of hands-on experience in the markets—each step shaping how he thinks about risk, decision-making, and responsibility when it comes to other people’s money. In this conversation, Connor shares: * How his early career exposed the real consequences of bad financial decisions * Why he originally resisted becoming a financial advisor—and what changed * What he learned from years of trading and studying the markets * How he approaches working with clients today * Why understanding people matters more than understanding products This episode is not financial advice. It’s a closer look at how Connor thinks, how he works, and the experiences that shaped his approach. 📍 Featured Member: Connor DeVries 🌐 https://www.otcnetworking.com/connor-devries [https://www.otcnetworking.com/]

EP6 - Building a Team That Actually Works: Hiring right, building culture, and avoiding the mistakes that kill growth

Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because of bad hires, unclear roles, and broken culture. In this episode of OTC: After Hours, Travis is joined by Alex Donnolo, Brandy Cree, Brian Horan, and Connor DeVries to break down what it actually takes to build a team that works. From personality-based hiring and leadership blind spots to the hidden cost of “cheap” employees and micromanagement, this is a raw, honest conversation about what goes wrong inside growing businesses—and how to fix it. We get into: * Why clarity and trust make or break culture * The real reason most teams underperform * When to lead from the front vs. when to step back * Hiring from the top down vs. the bottom up * Why fear-based leadership quietly destroys teams Unscripted. Unfiltered. Off the clock.

Bonus Episode: From Loss to Leadership, Money Mindset & Building a Life by Design | Brian Horan

In this OTC After Hours Bonus Episode, Travis sits down with Coeur d’Alene financial professional Brian Horan for a deeper, more personal conversation focused on mindset, leadership, and the realities behind money. Brian shares how early life experiences—including the loss of his father and seeing his family taken advantage of financially—shaped his mission to help others build security and avoid the same mistakes. What started as a search for personal understanding turned into a career built on education, relationships, and long-term impact. This conversation goes beyond finance. It explores discipline, faith, failure, and what it actually takes to grow—both personally and professionally. They cover: * Why most people stay stuck financially (and how to change it) * The connection between failure and long-term success * Lessons from books like The Slight Edge, Failing Forward, and The 360° Leader * Leadership at every level—not just at the top * Building a team culture rooted in growth and ownership * The shift that happens when you become a husband and father * Why entrepreneurship isn’t freedom—it’s responsibility Brian also breaks down a core idea that runs through everything he does: simple daily disciplines, repeated over time, create long-term results. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain about money, or unclear on your next move, this episode is a grounded look at what it takes to move forward with intention. Watch / Listen: Available on Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms Explore more Featured Members: OTCNetworking.com/members