Lost $300K, then Built a Million-Dollar Business While Still Active Duty with Travis Salley | Ep 370 Artwork

The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

The military taught us discipline, leadership, and resilience—but it never taught us how to build wealth or create true financial freedom. That’s where we come in.

I’m Markian Sich, a United States Marine turned real estate investor, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to figure out what’s next after service. That’s why I started The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast—to bring you real stories, real strategies, and real success from military investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who’ve been where you are.

We talk about leveraging your VA Loan, Military House Hacking, and proven investing strategies to help you build passive income, transition with confidence, and take control of your financial future.

You’ve fought hard to defend the American Dream—now let’s make sure you own a piece of it. Subscribe now and start your journey to financial freedom!

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The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

Lost $300K, then Built a Million-Dollar Business While Still Active Duty with Travis Salley | Ep 370

July 03, 2025 • Markian Sich • Episode 270

From Military Service to Financial Mastery: Travis’s Journey of Entrepreneurship

In this episode, host Markian Sich interviews Travis Salley, a military officer and entrepreneur, about his journey of navigating both the military and the business world. Travis shares his background, including his military career, investment experiences, and transition to financial advising. He discusses the highs and lows of real estate investments and his eventual transition to founding Zero Day Capital, a financial advisory firm. The conversation dives into the importance of failing fast, learning from mistakes, and how military skills can translate into successful entrepreneurial ventures. Travis also explains how military members can start building a business on the side, particularly focusing on the financial advisory field while still serving. This episode is packed with valuable insights on balancing service and entrepreneurship, and provides an encouraging outlook for those looking to venture into business while in the military.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:50 Military Background and Career

02:54 Transition to Finance and Real Estate

04:36 First Real Estate Investment

06:35 Scaling Real Estate Investments

08:28 Challenges and Lessons Learned

14:43 Franchise Business Venture

15:49 Embezzlement and Business Struggles

20:08 Reflections on Entrepreneurship

29:44 The Power of Focus

30:02 Diversifying Services and Its Challenges