Are you approaching your business with intention—or relying on hope and momentum to carry you forward?

In business, much like in poker, long-term success has very little to do with luck. It’s built through discipline, emotional control, and an honest understanding of risk. The strongest players don’t force outcomes—they know when to lean in, when to step back, and how to stay grounded through volatility. Community, trust, and resilience matter just as much as technical skill, especially when uncertainty is part of the game.

In this episode, Oliver Kotelnikov sits down with longtime friend and poker community leader Stevie Ray Helton to explore the striking parallels between poker and entrepreneurship.

Drawing from decades of running Seattle’s underground Monday Night Poker League, Stevie shares lessons on bankroll management, ego, adaptability, diversity at the table, and why mindset and relationships often determine outcomes more than raw talent. Together, they connect these insights to business brokerage, leadership, and building sustainable success.

Listen in and reflect on how you’re managing risk, relationships, and resilience in your own journey.

Guest Links:
Email: stevenhelton@outlook.com

Connect with Oliver:
Email: oliver@ibainc.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliverkotelnikov
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextVentureAlliance
Instagram: instagram.com/nextventurealliance

• (00:00:00) - Next Venture Alliance
• (00:01:50) - Poker Legends: The Boom
• (00:05:47) - The Diversity of Poker
• (00:08:25) - Was the tournament poker system outdated?
• (00:14:36) - Poker Star on Running a Business
• (00:16:14) - Poker Player on The Cast of Characters
• (00:21:38) - Poker on a Monday Night
• (00:27:27) - Poker Stars: How to Manage a Bankroll
• (00:34:06) - "Crazy Odds"
• (00:34:31) - Poker Lesson: Game Theory
• (00:40:15) - Poker Star Mike McDermott on His Mistake
• (00:46:09) - Poker Players On How To Buy Bitcoin
• (00:49:42) - The World of Poker
• (00:55:39) - Poker's Nostalgia Will Always Be There
• (01:03:26) - Poker Stars on the Evolution of the Game
• (01:08:25) - Top Poker Stars on the
• (01:14:29) - Flipping a Straight in Omaha
• (01:18:12) - Poker Legends on Monday Night Events
• (01:21:47) - Raised Events
• (01:28:25) - Pro Poker Stars: Giving Back Through Events
• (01:33:56) - What is a Charity Poker Tournament?
• (01:35:45) - How to Get Out of Real Estate Hacks
• (01:39:20) - Real Estate: Demand for Homes, Real Estate Prices
• (01:45:52) - Chat GPT and Artificial Intelligence
• (01:51:59) - Phil Keating on Daniel Negrano's
• (01:57:43) - Talking Up a Good Habit
• (02:01:55) - Americans on the Convenience Crisis
• (02:03:54) - Stevie Jackson on His Next Step
• (02:06:41) - Poker on My Face With Nicole
• (02:12:12) - The Kangaroo and Nicole
• (02:14:57) - Lars Had A Bar Near Ballard
• (02:18:29) - Next Venture Alliance: Exploring the Unknown

What if the real value of a business isn’t found in the financials alone—but in the story, struggle, and identity of the person who built it? Are you truly helping clients prepare for a transition, or simply waiting and hoping the timing works out when it’s finally time to sell?

Too often, deals stall or fail not because the numbers are wrong, but because the owner isn’t ready. Exit timing, emotional readiness, and personal identity are deeply intertwined—and ignoring those factors can derail even the most “qualified” opportunity. Preparing a business for sale often means preparing the owner for change, letting go, and stepping into a new chapter long before the market forces the decision.

In this episode, Oliver Kotelnikov sits down with Sally Bergensen for an honest conversation about what really happens behind the scenes of an exit. Together, they explore why founders wait too long to transition, how brokers can build trust beyond the transaction, and what it takes to guide clients through both the tactical and human sides of selling a business.

If you’re ready to move from deal-maker to trusted advisor, subscribe for more conversations like this—and share this episode with a peer who’s willing to rethink what real success looks like in today’s business brokerage landscape.

Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-bergesen/
Company: https://www.ibainc.com
Email: sally@ibainc.com

• (00:00:00) - The Next Venture
• (00:00:33) - Next Venture Alliance: Oliver Kotelnikov
• (00:01:25) - Meet Sally Bergeson
• (00:03:26) - How I met the man who changed my life
• (00:09:03) - Baked With Love: Olga Proski's Story
• (00:14:23) - Why Business Owners Are Leaving Their Business
• (00:19:40) - Cold Water Plunge
• (00:23:49) - How to Stop Complaining About Technology
• (00:27:01) - Discussing the Right Deal for Showtime
• (00:28:30) - The Importance of Industry Agnostic Business
• (00:32:52) - A Taste of the Transition
• (00:35:50) - Real Estate Broker: The Human Element
• (00:40:12) - BUSINESS BROKERS PRAYER
• (00:41:42) - The Whidbey Island Buyer
• (00:43:05) - Letting Things Breathe
• (00:45:59) - When to Sell a Real Estate Property?
• (00:48:51) - How To Sell a Physical Business to an AI Investor
• (00:53:16) - The Disconnect Between The Buyer and Seller
• (00:58:19) - Don't Know Everything About Your Business Before Talking to the Owner
• (01:02:29) - When to Sell Your Business?
• (01:06:30) - Exiting Your Business: Timing is Key
• (01:12:07) - How To Sell a Construction Property With a Millennial Buyer
• (01:15:49) - Oliver on Work-Life Balance
• (01:21:16) - Steve Jobs on Hard Work and the
• (01:26:15) - The Conditions for Entrepreneurial Success
• (01:30:10) - Balance in Work and Life
• (01:32:59) - Will AI Have an Impact on Construction?
• (01:37:58) - Top 5 Recommendations
• (01:39:05) - Steve Jobs on His Bucket List
• (01:43:55) - Top 3 Business Ideas of the Next 20 years
• (01:50:10) - Married Parents on Social Media
• (01:54:07) - Sally on the Next Venture Alliance Podcast

What if being a great business broker isn’t just about precision and process—but about judgment, humility, and trust? Are you leading clients through uncertainty, or relying solely on numbers and expertise to speak for themselves?

The longer you’re in this profession, the clearer it becomes: the real value isn’t in having every answer upfront. It’s in knowing how to navigate ambiguity, build credibility through honesty, and say, “I don’t know yet—but I’ll figure it out.” The brokers who stand out aren’t just technically sound—they’re adaptable, people-first advisors who guide clients with integrity when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.

In this episode, Oliver Kotelnikov sits down with Billy Poll, a seasoned commercial real estate advisor with decades of experience in the Pacific Northwest. Together, they explore the balance between art and science in brokerage, the importance of being a well-rounded generalist, and how market surprises—even trends like the rise of pickleball facilities—reveal deeper lessons about adaptability, intuition, and client trust. The conversation also touches on mentorship, resilience, and how long-term relationships are built far beyond a single transaction.

If you’re ready to move beyond spreadsheets and become a truly indispensable advisor, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more real-world insights, and share this conversation with a fellow broker who’s committed to building trust, creating lasting partnerships, and elevating their impact in the market.

Guest Links:
Bio: https://www.nai-psp.com/our-team/billy-poll
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-poll-60523871/
Company: www.nai-psp.com
Email: bpoll@nai-psp.com

• (00:00:00) - What Does It Take to Build a Startup?
• (00:00:33) - Venture Alliance
• (00:07:08) - How Do You Value Your Property?
• (00:13:43) - Bradley: Being a Trustful Advisor
• (00:18:54) - Real Estate Expert: Seattle and the Pacific Northwest
• (00:25:15) - Seattle Pickleball Player on Climate
• (00:30:23) - Do Pickleball and Tennis Have a Connection?
• (00:35:27) - Pickleball courts in Bellevue
• (00:40:43) - In the Elevator With Pickleball
• (00:42:53) - What's the Business model of a Pickleball Facility?
• (00:49:34) - Coffee and Pickleball
• (00:51:54) - Becoming a Million-Dollar Businessman
• (00:56:24) - How Long Did It Take to Get Started in Real Estate?
• (01:02:10) - Bob Stuard on Giving Back to the Brokerage
• (01:05:39) - Have You Had A Mentor?
• (01:10:55) - Seattle restaurant and commercial real estate
• (01:12:00) - Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on the city's vacancy
• (01:17:35) - Seattle isn't walkable, but it's close
• (01:20:58) - Reimagining Commercial Real Estate in Seattle
• (01:25:21) - Advertisements for the World Cup in Seattle
• (01:28:00) - Living Well With Both Your Girls
• (01:32:46) - Expert: Getting Out of the Business
• (01:33:45) - How to Cope With Your Phone
• (01:36:39) - Next Venture Alliance: Exploring Your Next Venture