Aligned for Success

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares a raw moment of frustration from a team meeting that led to a realization about how she had accidentally become the bottleneck in her own business growth.During a Monday team meeting about systems and procedures, Nikki reached her breaking point and told her team she was tired of filling in the gaps for every position in the office-being responsible for that final 10% of everything from schedules to printed materials. Despite having comprehensive systems, SOPs, ClickUp tasks, Looms, and checklists in place, she remained the person everyone turned to for every question, issue, or decision.Throughout this candid conversation, Nikki reveals her uncomfortable realization that this wasn't a systems problem, it was a Nikki problem. She had accidentally trained her capable, smart, amazing team to depend on her by creating a "Nikki will figure it out" culture. Drawing a parallel to her 6-year-old daughter who sometimes asks for help with tasks she can already do independently, Nikki recognized she was empowering her child but disempowering her team by always providing immediate answers.Nikki explains how being needed can feel good at first, you feel useful, like the glue holding everything together-until you realize you've become the bottleneck on your own growth. The business can't grow beyond your capacity to keep fixing things, and by always stepping in to solve problems, you're teaching your team not to solve them themselves.She shares her new approach of responding to questions with: "Do we have a Loom on that? Is there an SOP on that? What would you have done if I wasn't here?" This shift revealed that 9 times out of 10, her team already knew the answers-they just needed space and permission to trust themselves.Addressing the ego component of leadership, Nikki emphasizes that leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room, but creating a room full of people who don't need you to solve every problem. She challenges listeners to notice when team members ask questions they already know the answer to and point them back to systems instead of providing solutions.This episode delivers a crucial reminder that businesses don't grow through doing more—they grow through developing more, making it a must-listen for any business owner stuck as the fixer rather than the founder.Sign up for full send here: Join full send!Follow me on Instagram: DrNikkiCottisStill time to join Full Send! Access all recordings until October 31st—link in show notes or DM Nikki on Instagram with questions!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki challenges listeners to stop half-sending their lives and shares personal stories of full send moments that completely changed her trajectory, from choosing Penn State to opening a practice with terrible credit.Recorded as The Wealthy Practitioner prepares to launch their once-a-year Full Send program, Nikki explores what it truly means to live a full send life—emphasizing that it's not about reckless decisions or saying yes to everything, but about bold, aligned, wholehearted choices that move you closer to the life you're actually craving.Throughout this vulnerable conversation, Nikki traces her full send journey from age 15, when attending a Penn State football game sparked her decision to attend college three hours from home where she knew no one. She shares the cascade of full send moments that followed: choosing kinesiology without knowing what she'd do with it, moving to Georgia for chiropractic school, relocating to Alabama for a boyfriend, breaking up with that boyfriend and marrying Jonathan less than a year after meeting him (despite her parents' strong disapproval), and opening a practice with $8,000 and a 40% interest rate loan.Nikki identifies the three main reasons people avoid full send moments: fear of failure, fear of judgment, and comfort zones disguised as responsibility. She argues that staying safe is actually the riskiest choice because time passes whether you make bold decisions or not, and the regret of not trying is always heavier than the fear of attempting something.She provides practical guidance for living a full send life: choose your vision over comfort by asking if decisions align with your 5-year goals, practice aligned action by saying yes only to things that align with your values and priorities, and demonstrate faith and follow-through by sticking with decisions even when they're no longer exciting.This episode delivers a powerful call to action for anyone stuck saying "someday," feeling uninspired, or knowing they're playing smaller than they were meant to, making it a must-listen for those ready to stop dabbling and dive full force into their vision.Join Full send! Click the link to join! Ready to go full send? The Wealthy Practitioner's Full Send program launches October 8th-DM Nikki with questions or click the link to sign up!

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Colin Carr, founder and CEO of CARR, the nationwide leader in healthcare real estate, for an eye-opening conversation about the costly mistakes healthcare providers make in commercial real estate.Colin shares his unique journey from representing landlords to advocating exclusively for healthcare providers after witnessing countless doctors get "completely annihilated" in commercial real estate negotiations. Operating from Castle Rock, Colorado, Colin's company was born in 2009 from his realization that healthcare providers were going up against highly sophisticated professional negotiators without proper representation—creating what he calls "a completely unfair fight."Throughout this revealing conversation, Colin exposes the three biggest mistakes healthcare providers make: not hiring professional representation (the number one error), failing to negotiate with multiple landlords simultaneously, and accepting whatever terms are initially presented without understanding market alternatives. He breaks down how easily doctors can lose $100,000-$200,000 on standard-sized spaces through overpaying just $3 per square foot, missing free rent opportunities, or accepting unfavorable annual increases over a 10-year term.Colin explains the critical difference between simply "getting a lease signed" versus securing favorable economics and business deal points, emphasizing that major corporations like Starbucks and Amazon never handle their own real estate negotiations. He details how the strategic approach of working with multiple properties simultaneously in non-binding negotiations puts healthcare providers in control rather than at the mercy of a single landlord's terms.The conversation also covers essential considerations for practice transitions, including lease assignability clauses, timing of renewals relative to practice sales, and the importance of matching lease terms to loan periods. Colin delivers powerful insights on when to consider purchasing versus leasing and how proper representation can position both current owners and future buyers for success.This episode serves as a wake-up call for any healthcare provider who has handled their own real estate negotiations, making it a must-listen for anyone approaching a lease renewal, expansion, or practice transition.Join Full Send here! Sign up here for $33!Follow me on Instagram: DrNikkiCottisReady to protect yourself in your next real estate negotiation? Visit https://carr.us/ for expert healthcare real estate representation and educational resources.

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