Aligned for Success

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki tackles the controversial topic of mom guilt, sharing why she doesn't experience it and challenging the societal narrative that guilt equals good motherhood.Inspired by a conversation with Stephanie Wigner in a London pub, Nikki explores the myth that mom guilt comes standard in the "motherhood starter kit." She argues that guilt doesn't equal love, and feeling guilty isn't proof you're a good mom—just as not feeling guilty doesn't mean you're disconnected or love your child any less.Throughout this candid conversation, Nikki shares how her own mother's career success shaped her perspective on working motherhood. Discovering her mom had a corner office at USA Today when she was 25, Nikki realized her mother was "a total badass" who modeled that women can have both successful careers and be devoted mothers. This experience taught her that showing your children what's possible can be more valuable than constant presence.Nikki explains her approach to work-life integration, emphasizing quality over quantity time with her daughter Hazel. Rather than pieced-together moments throughout the week, she prioritizes longer stretches of uninterrupted family time—vacations, weekend trips, and boat rides that create lasting memories. She views her business success as enabling these experiences rather than stealing from family time.Addressing listeners who do experience mom guilt, Nikki provides practical strategies: block family time in your calendar first, build business systems that protect vacations and weekends, learn to say no to things that don't light you up or move your business forward, and communicate openly with your children about work commitments while reassuring them they're a priority.This episode delivers a powerful reminder that your children won't remember the exact hours you worked—they'll remember the memories you made and the example you set, making it a must-listen for working mothers seeking permission to build meaningful careers while raising confident, capable children.Join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wealthypractitionerFollow Nikki on Instagram: DrNikkiCottisDo you feel mom guilt or not? Nikki would love to hear your perspective—share this episode with a mom who needs this reminder!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki commemorates her 10-year practice anniversary by sharing ten powerful lessons learned from a decade of accidental entrepreneurship, vulnerability, and growth.Recording just after her September 8th office anniversary, Nikki reflects on how she went from the "accidental entrepreneur" who opened secretly without even a Facebook page or sign to building a practice that has delivered over 150,000 adjustments. From seeing 5 patients on her first day (two of them family members) to treating 107 patients on her anniversary, her journey illustrates the compound effect of consistent growth and reinvention.Throughout this milestone conversation, Nikki vulnerably shares both triumphs and regrets, including leadership moments she's embarrassed about—like firing someone via email because she was too scared to face them, or getting angry and terminating an employee for making a mistake. She emphasizes that leadership is a muscle requiring consistent practice, just like working out, where some days you nail it and others you "drop the weight on your foot."Nikki's ten lessons span the emotional, practical, and strategic aspects of business ownership: fear usually means you're on the right track; people always come before profit; systems save your sanity more than hustle ever will; your team will make or break you; mistakes are inevitable learning opportunities; community becomes your best marketing strategy; reinvention is survival; boundaries protect your vision; and celebrating wins builds essential momentum and gratitude.Drawing from real examples like navigating COVID's challenges, implementing disastrous systems like Weave, and evolving from saying yes to everything to setting clear boundaries, Nikki delivers honest insights about the beautiful, messy reality of building something meaningful. This episode serves as both celebration and roadmap, reminding listeners that the scary process of entrepreneurship is ultimately worth it.Join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wealthypractitionerFollow Nikki on Instagram: @DrnikkicottisThank you to everyone who has supported Nikki's journey—here's to the next 10 years!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shatters the myth of perfect timing and shares how her practice achieved a record month during what she describes as a chaotic season of business.Recording just three days before her practice's 10-year anniversary, Nikki vulnerably shares the "insane month" of August that tested every system in her office. From implementing a disastrous AI phone system that kept her team awake at night sending incorrect texts to patients, to navigating her office manager's family emergency, a team member quitting, and another calling out—all while she was traveling for The Wealthy Practitioner pop-up in Kansas City.Throughout this conversation, Nikki reveals how her practice not only survived having "two doctors and no team" but actually achieved record revenue during this chaotic period. She uses this real-time example to challenge the dangerous lie that "one day things will finally settle down" and we'll have the perfect moment to make our next move, whether in business or personal life.Nikki provides three practical strategies that carried her through the chaos: leaning on solid systems (90% of patients were pre-booked with cards on file, allowing her to run payments from Kansas City), over-communicating with her team for crystal clarity during uncertainty, and giving herself grace because "messy growth is still growth."Drawing parallels between business and personal decisions, Nikki explains how waiting for calm waters costs us momentum and keeps us in survival mode rather than growth mode. She emphasizes that progress happens right in the middle of the mess, not outside of it, and that our future businesses won't thank us for waiting, they'll thank us for building anyway.This episode delivers a powerful reminder that there is no perfect time, only this time, making it a must-listen for anyone who's been sitting on important decisions while waiting for ideal circumstances that may never come.Join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434424630787977/Follow me on instagram: @drnikkicottisSitting on a decision? This is your nudge—there is no perfect time. Message Nikki if you need help working through your next move!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki tackles one of the most universal challenges we all face: navigating change in business, health, and life while reframing it from enemy to growth catalyst. Speaking from her current reality of adjusting to her husband's new job after 12 years at the same company, Nikki explores how even positive changes can feel difficult simply because they disrupt our carefully planned routines. She candidly shares how their morning schedule—down to the minute timing of coffee and wake-up calls—has been completely altered, reminding listeners that "change is not hard, it's just different." Throughout this insightful conversation, Nikki unpacks why change feels so challenging, explaining that our brains are wired for safety, not growth, which means they interpret familiar as safe and change as danger. She explores how this biological programming creates resistance to every new system, hire, or season of growth in business, even when we logically know these changes will benefit us. Nikki provides three practical tools for navigating change: shifting your mindset from "how do I control this?" to "how can I learn from this?" (staying curious rather than controlling), creating solid systems and routines as anchor points during transitions, and leaning on support and community since change was never meant to be a solo sport. Drawing from her own practice experience of adding two doctors and transitioning into more of a CEO role, Nikki illustrates how the changes we resist most often become the exact things that give us freedom. She challenges listeners with a powerful exercise: think of one change you've been resisting and ask yourself what it would look like to lean into it instead of away from it. This episode delivers a powerful reminder that real growth rarely comes without change, making it a must-listen for anyone ready to stop viewing change as a threat and start embracing it as the doorway to their next level. Join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wealthypractitionerFollow me on instagram: @DrnikkicottisReady for community support during your changes? Message Nikki about The Wealthy Practitioner programs and fall mini-programs coming soon!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares a practical four-step framework for pulling yourself out of mental slumps. With characteristic transparency, Nikki opens by sharing her current reality: recording late while managing a team member's resignation, another team member's family emergency, and preparing for four weeks of travel including Boston, Kansas City, Paris, and London. Despite feeling like her wheels are spinning and struggling to find her rhythm, she reflects on how blessed she feels to have a practice that can thrive during her absence. Throughout this conversation, Nikki explores why slumps happen, sometimes it's burnout or decision fatigue, but often it's just life throwing unexpected stress our way. She reframes slumps not as failure but as feedback from our body and brain saying "something is off, pay attention." Rather than beating yourself up with "why am I like this?" She encourages treating it as a turning point. Nikki provides her four-step framework for slump recovery: First, do an awareness audit by creating two lists, what's draining you versus what's giving you life. Second, shift your state through physical movement, breathing exercises, or knocking out one small task for a quick win. Third, reconnect to your vision by asking why you started, where you're heading, and who you're becoming in the process, including writing out your perfect day one year from now. The final step involves simplifying and delegating- choosing only three things that actually matter this week and handing off everything else. Nikki emphasizes that action creates momentum and momentum brings motivation, reminding listeners that slumps are temporary phases that often require just one small step forward to change your entire trajectory. Join our Facebook group here: Join here!Follow me on Instagram: @DrNikkiCottisTry one of these reset strategies today and let Nikki know how it goes—she loves hearing your stories!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki addresses one of the most universal experiences in entrepreneurship: that crushing feeling when you look at your life or business and think "I suck and I'm failing."With vulnerability, Nikki admits she's been experiencing this exact feeling during the week she's recording, making this episode feel like a real-time conversation with a friend who truly gets it. She reminds listeners that even the people they look up to most have felt this way, emphasizing that feeling like you're failing doesn't mean you actually are, it means you're mid-story.Throughout this empowering conversation, Nikki breaks down why this feeling hits high achievers so hard: we set big goals that aren't always easy to reach, social media constantly shows us everyone else's highlight reel, and our brains are wired to notice problems more than progress as a survival mechanism. She explains how we often overlook dozens of things that are working while fixating on the one or two things that aren't.Nikki provides a practical four-step framework for pulling yourself out of the failure spiral: pause and get perspective (never make decisions from an emotional headspace), reframe the story by distinguishing facts from feelings, take one small doable action today rather than trying to fix everything at once, and lean on people who understand your journey rather than trying to muscle through alone.Drawing from Taylor Welch's concept of "looping," Nikki explains how reframing failure as learning literally changes how your brain looks for solutions. She challenges listeners to shift from "I'm not cut out for this" to "I'm in my growth phase" and from "I blew it" to "now I know what doesn't work."This episode delivers powerful reminders that you're not stuck or stagnant, you're learning, growing, and still in the middle of your story, making it a must-listen for anyone who needs perspective during a challenging chapter.Join our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wealthypractitioner Follow me on instagram: @Drnikkicottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki addresses the frustrating reality of feeling stuck in your practice or business when nothing seems to be working, despite showing up and doing "all the things."Speaking directly to chiropractors, practice owners, and entrepreneurs who've hit a wall, Nikki emphasizes that feeling stuck isn't a sign of failure—it's actually an important signal. She breaks down the three most common reasons plateaus happen: capacity mismatches (trying to pour 10 gallons of water into a 5-gallon bucket), avoiding uncomfortable moves like raising fees or letting go of underperforming team members, and misalignment with outdated goals that no longer serve your vision.Throughout this insightful conversation, Nikki shares her own experience of hitting a plateau where she was chasing revenue numbers at the expense of her life, family, and free time, only to realize she didn't even care about those numbers anymore. She vulnerably discusses how Stephanie Wigner called her out at an event, saying "You don't have a team problem, you have a Nikki problem"—a moment that sparked exponential growth when she finally stopped micromanaging and trusted her capable team.Nikki provides five practical strategies for breaking through plateaus: getting radically honest about what you've outgrown, auditing your capacity to ensure your team structure matches your goals, shaking up your schedule with breaks or new work locations, asking better questions like "what's trying to emerge in me right now?" and normalizing the experience as part of every business owner's journey.This episode delivers powerful insights about recognizing when you are the bottleneck and how plateaus often signal that something new is waiting to be unlocked, making it a must-listen for anyone ready to break through stagnation and build the practice they actually want to run.Join our Facebook group here: TWP Facebook GroupFollow me on instagram: Drnikkicottis Ready to break through? Join the free "Scaling to 300K" masterclass on August 13th - Sign up here!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares a powerful reminder about gratitude and the people who helped shape our success, emphasizing that none of us achieve anything alone.Inspired by a visit from a former patient who moved away, Nikki reflects on the early days of opening her practice when she took out a loan at a shocking 41% interest rate with only $8,000 in savings. This patient, learning about Nikki's financial struggle, offered to pay off the predatory loan and provide a new one at a much lower rate—an act of kindness whose magnitude Nikki didn't fully appreciate at the time.Throughout this heartfelt conversation, Nikki traces her journey through different seasons of coaching, from her first systems coach who laid the foundation for what she now teaches others, to mindset coaches who helped her navigate new motherhood and business ownership, to business coaches who transformed her practice four years ago. She emphasizes how we can outgrow seasons but should never outgrow the gratitude that comes from them.Nikki challenges listeners to identify the people who gave them encouragement during self-doubt, practical support when they needed it most, or chances when they didn't yet have the credentials. She encourages taking action by sending thank-you messages to these influential people and, equally important, becoming that person for someone else.With the powerful reminder that "you're not self-made, you're community-made," Nikki introduces the concept of keeping a gratitude journal to document daily wins and milestones we often overlook. This episode delivers a compelling call to action about honoring your roots while watering someone else's, making it a must-listen for anyone ready to both express gratitude and pay it forward.Join our Facebook Group hereFollow me on instagram: @DrNikkiCottis, @wealthypractitioners Challenge: Send a thank-you message to three people who helped get you started, then find one person you can support today!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki explores the power of asking questions and shares how one missed opportunity taught her to never again let fear of rejection hold her back.Opening with the reminder that "if you don't ask, the answer is always no," Nikki reflects on how children naturally ask for everything before life teaches them to fear rejection. She shares a pivotal story from a mastermind three years ago where she and her husband Jonathan were given the opportunity to make an ask of their mentors—and completely froze. Watching other participants receive incredible yeses, including one couple who asked for and received a full day of one-on-one business mentoring, became a life-changing lesson in missed opportunities.Throughout this empowering conversation, Nikki reveals how that moment transformed her approach to asking for what she wants. She shares the story of her biggest ask ever—asking Stephanie Wigner for a job at The Wealthy Practitioner. During a mastermind in Colorado, after realizing their skill sets were perfectly complementary, Nikki mustered the courage (with the help of two vodka sodas) to propose working together. That bold ask led to her current role as Client Success Manager, which she describes as one of the best decisions she's ever made.Nikki identifies the four main reasons people avoid making asks: fear of rejection, assuming the answer is no, feeling like they need to earn it instead of claiming it, and undervaluing what they bring to the table. She provides practical guidance for making great asks: be clear (not vague), confident (not cocky), willing to hear no, and anchored in mutual value rather than just personal benefit.This episode delivers actionable strategies for reframing requests—like asking for a promotion by highlighting what you've taken off someone's plate and where you see gaps you can fill—making it a must-listen for anyone ready to stop talking themselves out of opportunities and start claiming what they deserve.Follow me on instagram: @drnikkicottis Ready to make your bold ask? DM Nikki on Instagram—she'd love to give you a confidence boost!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki explores the crucial skill of adaptability and how unexpected challenges can reveal capabilities we never knew we had.Recording just hours before her deadline (again), Nikki shares how the past two weeks tested her adaptability in ways she didn't anticipate. With one of her associate doctors unexpectedly out for two weeks caring for his wife after a fall, and her recent promotion at The Wealthy Practitioner demanding more attention, she found herself needing to step back into full-time patient care while maintaining her coaching responsibilities.Throughout this candid conversation, Nikki reveals her natural preference for structure, routine, and detailed itineraries—contrasting herself with her sister who prefers to "see what we're vibing with." This makes her recent experience even more meaningful, as someone who thrives on predictability was forced to embrace flexibility and pivot quickly when circumstances demanded it.Nikki draws parallels between personal adaptability and the progress she discusses with patients during their progress exams, noting how adaptability improves with time and repetition. She reflects on how the "Nikki of a year ago" might have cried from overwhelm, while today's version confidently knows she can handle whatever comes her way.This episode delivers important insights about resilience, capacity, and the growth that comes from being thrown curveballs. Nikki reminds listeners that we're always more capable than we give ourselves credit for, and that developing adaptability is a skill that strengthens over time, making us better equipped to handle future challenges with grace and confidence.Join our Facebook group here: TWP Facebook GroupFollow my Instagram: DrNikkiCottisStay updated on Wealthy Practitioner events by joining the Facebook group and email list - August popup event sold out, but Full Send 2 coming in November!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares her journey of dramatically increasing her capacity and reveals how the limits we set on ourselves are often just mental barriers waiting to be broken.Nikki opens by reflecting on how becoming a mother forced her to completely reimagine her capacity. What started as a necessity, waking up at 4:45 AM to manage feeding, pumping, and getting both herself and baby Hazel ready- evolved into a powerful routine that unlocked entirely new levels of productivity. Six and a half years later, this early morning ritual remains the foundation of her expanded capacity.Throughout this insightful conversation, Nikki discusses her recent promotion at The Wealthy Practitioner from support coach to client success manager, sharing how her expertise in systems made it possible to step back from daily patient care without sacrificing practice success. She reveals how having dialed-in standard operating procedures prevents the dreaded "people call Nikki whenever something goes wrong" scenario that keeps so many business owners trapped in their practices.Nikki vulnerably shares her strategies for managing overwhelm when pushing capacity limits, including remembering that overwhelm is temporary, focusing on one task at a time, and avoiding overbooking herself. She emphasizes the power of surrounding yourself with successful people, noting how her circle of high-achieving chiropractic friends normalized what others might consider exceptional results.Drawing inspiration from Ed Mylett's concept of breaking days into multiple segments, Nikki challenges listeners to push their own perceived limits—whether that's seeing patients every 10 minutes instead of 15, or simply questioning "what if" scenarios that stretch current boundaries. This episode delivers powerful insights on why the capacity limits we've set are often just "crap" and how pushing past them can multiply our impact and fulfillment.Join our Facebook group here: The Wealthy Practitioner Facebook group Follow me on Instagram: @DrNikkiCottisBook recommendation: "The Big Leap" by Gay Hendricks - mentioned for working through upper limit capacity issues!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares the story of her first chiropractic job in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, revealing how the hardest experience of her career became the foundation for everything she's achieved today.Fresh out of Life University in Marietta, Georgia, Nikki moved to Tuscaloosa to work as an associate chiropractor at McCracken Family Chiropractic under Dr. Michael McCracken. What followed were two of the most challenging years of her life—professionally and personally. Throughout this conversation, Nikki reveals how Dr. McCracken's extremely high expectations initially felt crushing. She went home crying daily, thinking he was being unnecessarily harsh as he made her practice report of findings and X-ray reviews repeatedly. At the time, she felt like she was failing at everything he expected from her, but years later she realized he saw potential in her that she couldn't see in herself.Nikki shares how a recent conversation with Dr. McCracken transformed her perspective on that difficult period. When she apologized for "sucking" during her time there, he responded, "You didn't suck. I just always knew that you could do more, that you could do better." This revelation helped her understand that the hardest experiences often come from people who believe in our potential most deeply.Now living in Gulf Shores, Alabama—initially by circumstance rather than choice—Nikki reflects on Dr. McCracken's wisdom that success isn't defined by geography. His advice to "build a life so sustainable and make enough money that you can travel to see the people you love anytime you want" became a guiding principle that helped her find joy and purpose regardless of location.This episode delivers powerful insights about reframing difficult experiences as preparation rather than punishment, making it a must-listen for anyone currently in a challenging season who needs perspective on how today's struggles are shaping tomorrow's strength.Follow me on Instagram: DrNikkiCottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki explores the natural rhythms of life and business through the lens of seasons and shares insights about becoming a student of your calendar.As her practice approaches its 10-year anniversary in September, Nikki reflects on how different seasons of life have shaped her business growth. With her daughter Hazel now 6.5 years old and increasingly independent, Nikki finds herself transitioning from the intensive child-rearing season into a new phase where she can focus more deeply on business expansion. She shares how the exponential growth over the past six years happened while simultaneously raising a young child, proving that we often have more capacity than we realize.Throughout this thoughtful conversation, Nikki discusses her long-term vision of spending entire summer months with Hazel, recognizing that these seasons of connection are precious and finite. She emphasizes how understanding and accepting your current season—whether it's a push season or a pause-and-reflect season—can make life exponentially easier.Nikki then introduces David Meltzer's concept of being a "student of your calendar," sharing her observations about how many business owners lack basic awareness of their daily commitments. With refreshing honesty, she admits to scheduling "You need to shower" blocks in her calendar to protect personal time, illustrating the importance of intentional time management.Drawing from her mirror principle teachings, Nikki challenges listeners to examine whether their own calendar habits might be attracting similar behaviors from patients and colleagues. This episode delivers practical wisdom about embracing life's natural rhythms while taking full ownership of your time and commitments.Follow me on instagram: DrNikkiCottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares a quote from Tom Brady and explores how three simple qualities can put you ahead of 99% of your colleagues and peers.Opening with Tom Brady's insight that "to be successful at anything, you don't have to be special. You just have to be what most people aren't: consistent, determined, and willing to work for it," Nikki breaks down each element of this success formula. She shares personal stories about balancing two jobs—as a business owner and as part of a team—and how her mother's career-driven example shaped her work ethic from an early age.Throughout this conversation, Nikki reveals how her mom worked her way up in the newspaper industry to earn a corner office with windows, all while never making her three children feel neglected. This experience taught Nikki the importance of financial independence and the value of hard work, leading to her current practice of waking up at 4:30 AM every morning since COVID—a routine that creates consistency and eliminates rushing.Nikki then addresses the toxic trap of comparison and jealousy, sharing insights from a recent podcast interview about being in rooms with high-level achievers. Rather than feeling intimidated or jealous, she explains how she uses these encounters as motivation, thinking "if they can do it, I can certainly do it as well." She emphasizes the importance of not comparing your year one or two to someone's year ten or fifteen.This episode delivers powerful reminders about choosing motivation over jealousy and using successful people as mentors who can help eliminate unnecessary steps on your journey. Nikki's message is clear: consistency, determination, and willingness to work are accessible to everyone and can transform your results when applied consistently.Follow me on instagram: DrNikkiCottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Gabrielle Manto for an inspiring conversation about building community, growing a practice during COVID, and the power of betting on yourself.Gabrielle shares her journey from Palmer College graduate to co-owner of Pax Chiropractic in Pennsylvania alongside her husband Trey, whom she convinced to leave the Texas for the Philadelphia area. She reveals how they achieved over $500,000 in annual revenue in less than 18 months by doing extensive prep work—meeting with 200 different people for coffee between January and May before opening in 2021.Throughout their conversation, Nikki and Gabrielle explore the challenges of opening during COVID in Pennsylvania and working alongside your spouse. Gabrielle vulnerably shares her learning curve in communicating with patients, including a humbling experience where she unintentionally shamed a new mom about her baby's ear infections, teaching her the importance of meeting people where they are rather than expecting everyone to join "the chiropractic cult."Gabrielle delivers powerful insights on building authentic community through monthly moms groups, sourdough making classes, and chiropractic lifestyle events that cater to their ideal clients. She explains how creating spaces where people feel safe and seen has eliminated any struggles with attracting new patients, as people naturally want to be part of what they're building.Both coaches at The Wealthy Practitioner, Nikki and Gabrielle discuss the balance of coaching while running a practice and the exponential impact possible when helping others succeed in their communities. This episode is a must-listen for practitioners ready to build genuine community connections and for anyone needing inspiration to invest boldly in their own growth and development.Follow Nikki on instagram: drnikkicottisFollow Gabrielle on instagram: dr.gabriellemanto

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares two powerful concepts from her early coaches that transformed her approach to business and life: "money likes to move" and "the world is a mirror."Nikki opens with a personal story about obsessively checking Delta One upgrade prices for her upcoming Paris trip with her friend Leslie. After weeks of monitoring prices, when the upgrade finally dropped to her target range over a holiday weekend, she didn't hesitate—she booked it immediately without waiting for her friend's confirmation. Hours later, the opportunity was gone for her friend, perfectly illustrating why successful people act decisively when opportunities arise.Nikki then shares the mirror principle through a raw admission about being ghosted by 19 out of 20 people she reached out to help with TWP mentorship applications. This led to a moment of self-awareness when she realized she had done the exact same thing—purchasing a coaching program the previous year and completely disappearing without participating. She explores how our behaviors create mirror effects, attracting patients who no-show, difficult people, and frustrating situations when we ourselves aren't showing up fully.Nikki challenges listeners to examine their own patterns and emphasizes that successful business ownership requires being "obsessed with your calendar" and holding commitments. She delivers powerful insights about how "everything that is ultimately a business problem is deep down a personal problem," making this episode a must-listen for anyone ready to examine the personal behaviors that might be sabotaging their business success.Follow me on instagram: @drnikkicottisReady to take the leap? The 90 Day Sprint starts June 3rd - DM Nikki on Instagram with any questions!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares updates from recent events and insights about identity, authenticity, and staying committed to your vision.Fresh from attending multiple transformative events in Nashville, including The Wealthy Practitioner's Profit and Purpose event and Taylor Welch's Sacred Timelines workshop, Nikki reflects on the past month's focus on personal identity work. She reveals how she won an award for having "FOMO for everything" and uses it as motivation to encourage listeners to stop missing out and start showing up. Nikki shares key takeaways from Cody Jefferson's powerful presentation about working with sex trafficking survivors and how having a mission bigger than money creates unstoppable drive. She discusses insights from Taylor Welch's exercise on rewriting your past and forgiving your inner child, emphasizing how our past shapes our identity and future potential. Nikki also highlights the success stories from The Wealthy Practitioner's Million Dollar Movement training, where participants learned authentic storytelling and branding strategies that led to one member increasing their social media views from 5,000 to 200,000. She emphasizes how Stephanie Wigner's training goes beyond typical social media advice to include cutting-edge AI applications for content creation. Recording at 9:20 PM despite her usual 8:30 bedtime (after being sick for a month), Nikki demonstrates the commitment to consistency that defines successful entrepreneurs, reminding listeners that we make time for what's truly important to us. Follow me on Instagram: DrNikkiCottisReady for the next level? The final 90 Day Sprint of the year starts in June - message Nikki for details!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Alejandro Elias for an inspiring conversation about sacrifice, vision, and building a chiropractic empire from nothing.Alejandro shares his remarkable journey from Puerto Rico to Texas, revealing how Hurricane Maria in 2017 forced him to leave the island with just three sets of clothes in his backpack. With no English skills and limited confidence in his academic abilities, Alejandro found unexpected support from his visionary brother who challenged him to dream bigger than his maintenance job at a hotel. Throughout their conversation, Nikki and Alejandro explore his path to chiropractic school, where he met his wife Emily on the first day. Together, they made extraordinary sacrifices to pursue their dream of practice ownership—including forgoing a traditional wedding to save money and being rejected by every bank despite having $30,000 saved for a down payment. Alejandro shares the powerful story of how they pitched their vision to a mentor using a Shark Tank style presentation, creating a handshake deal written on a napkin with a crayon that launched their path to owning four practices across Texas and Oklahoma. With remarkable candor, he discusses how they knocked on 6,000 doors before opening their first practice, sent hundreds of handwritten letters daily, and made difficult personal sacrifices—including missing his grandfather's funeral—to pursue their ambitious vision of owning 300 chiropractic clinics nationwide. This episode is a must-listen for anyone needing a reminder of what true entrepreneurial grit looks like and how a clear, compelling vision can inspire others to join your journey even when conventional paths are closed. Follow me on instagram: @drnikkicottis Follow Alejandro: @pathtovictorychiro The next 90 Day Sprint with The Wealthy Practitioner begins the first week of June! Learn more at https://stephaniewigner.com/90-day-sprint 

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Tina Gottlieb for an inspiring conversation about balancing motherhood with practice ownership across a 29-year chiropractic career.Tina shares her remarkable journey from Palmer College graduate in 1996 to successful practice owner in California, highlighting how she persisted despite being told she couldn't open an upper cervical practice on her own with zero money. Tina reveals her intentional approach to life planning—wanting to establish her degree and business before marriage—and how she's created the exact life she once envisioned in Temecula, California.Throughout their heartfelt conversation, Nikki and Tina explore the myth of perfect balance between motherhood and entrepreneurship. Tina shares a touching story about missing her daughter's preschool Mother's Day tea due to patient responsibilities, only to have her three-year-old daughter reassure her, "Your patients need you. I will sing you the song later tonight." This poignant moment illustrates how children can understand and value their parents' professional contributions at a young age.Tina delivers powerful insights on her recent epiphany that she has achieved everything she once set out to accomplish, which occurred during a moment of frustration when she realized she now has an even grander vision. She credits taking intentional time off to be still and present—including a transformative spring break week at home doing "nothing"—as key to her breakthrough realizations.This episode is a must-listen for practitioner-parents seeking wisdom on creating success without sacrificing family connections, particularly for those wanting permission to pursue their professional passion while raising children.Follow Nikki on instagram: DrNikkiCottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Mitch Quill for an insightful conversation about building a successful chiropractic practice alongside his wife.Mitch shares his journey from Wisconsin athlete who discovered chiropractic through his own sports injuries to co-owner of a thriving million-dollar practice in Illinois. He discusses his early dedication to investing in continuing education despite limited reimbursement from employers—spending his entire annual education stipend within weeks to expand his clinical toolbox beyond what chiropractic school taught him.Throughout their conversation, Nikki and Mitch explore the challenges of transitioning from associate to practice owner, particularly navigating the COVID-19 pandemic just one year after purchasing their practice. Mitch reveals his mindset shift from being a practitioner with a job to a true business owner, noting how building a team that can operate without him has finally allowed him to take meaningful vacations with his family.Mitch delivers powerful insights on diversifying treatment options through advanced technology like shockwave therapy and the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded practitioners. He credits joining coaching groups and mastermind communities as one of the decisions that most helped align his life for success.This episode is a must-listen for practitioners looking to build a profitable practice that provides both financial success and lifestyle freedom, particularly for those interested in the male perspective of practice ownership and entrepreneurship.Follow Nikki on Instagram: @drnikkicottis