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.

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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

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Jill Cherry, owner of Cherry Picked Web Co, for an inspiring conversation about transitioning from supporting her chiropractor husband's practice to building her own thriving web design business.

Jill shares her remarkable journey from handling everything in her husband Jason's chiropractic practice—from front desk operations to giving health talks—to discovering her talent for website design during the COVID-19 pandemic. After investing in numerous marketing companies that failed to deliver results, Jill took matters into her own hands by completing extensive training in online marketing, where she discovered her gift for creating effective chiropractic websites.

Jill reveals how prayer and gentle pressure from her husband and mentor pushed her to start her own business, which has now grown to serve nearly 400 chiropractors with just two team members. She discusses the freedom her business has provided, allowing her family to relocate from Tampa to New Jersey to be closer to family while maintaining her thriving company.

Throughout their conversation, Nikki and Jill explore the challenges of friendship dynamics that shift with success, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, and the power of trusting your intuition. Jill delivers powerful insights on personal growth, noting that "tuning in to what I actually wanted and not being afraid of what others thought" was key to aligning her life for success.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering entrepreneurship or seeking to build a business that provides both financial success and lifestyle freedom.

Follow me on Instagram: @drnikkicottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Logan Pastor and Bailey Sloan, co-owners of Cadence Chiropractic in Birmingham, Alabama, for an insightful conversation about their unique approach to practice ownership and building exceptional team culture.

This dynamic duo shares their journey from working at the same multi-location chiropractic office—where Logan was a clinic director and Bailey handled business development—to launching their own practice after feeling undervalued in their previous roles. With remarkable transparency, they discuss their 50/50 partnership model where Logan leads all clinical aspects while Bailey, who isn't a chiropractor, manages team operations and systems.

Throughout their candid conversation, Nikki, Logan, and Bailey explore how their complementary skillsets have created a thriving practice in just two years. Bailey reveals that the number one way to build an exceptional team culture is to "care about them"—creating genuine relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. The Sloans share how they've built a workplace where team members feel valued enough to go the extra mile, which translates into better patient experiences.

Logan and Bailey offer powerful insights on critical business decisions that contributed to their rapid success, including their choice to be cash-only and investing in business coaching. This episode is a must-listen for practitioners considering partnership models or looking to create a vibrant team culture where everyone feels invested in the practice's success.

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In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki shares a deeply personal story about how becoming a victim of identity theft shaped her resilience, work ethic, and approach to financial independence.

Nikki opens up about her experience at age 25 when a charismatic con artist she met in  Philadelphia moved to Atlanta, stole her identity, and left her with $30,000 in credit card debt while she was still in chiropractic school. Nikki details how this financial crisis forced  her to make difficult decisions, including taking a forbearance on her student loans that  would have long-term consequences.

Rather than filing for bankruptcy or giving up, Nikki demonstrates extraordinary grit by working as a chiropractor during the day while answering phones at a wax center on evenings and weekends for two years to pay off every dollar of the fraudulent debt. This determination was rooted in her mother's teaching to never put herself in a position where she couldn't take care of herself.

Throughout this conversation, Nikki reflects on how this challenging chapter actually equipped her with valuable life skills - from better judgment of character to "figure-out ability" - that would serve her well as she navigated multiple associate positions before eventually opening her own practice.

This episode offers inspiration and practical wisdom for anyone facing financial hardship or recovering from setbacks, with Nikki's journey serving as proof that with determination and hard work, you can overcome even the most daunting financial obstacles.

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In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki opens up about the most challenging period she's faced as a business owner over her nearly 10-year entrepreneurial journey.

Rather than focusing on the expected struggles like COVID shutdowns, insurance changes, or staffing issues, Nikki shares a deeply personal story about how her daughter Hazel's birth challenged her fundamental belief in the chiropractic services she provides. After experiencing a difficult four-day labor that ended in an emergency C-section under general anesthesia, Nikki found herself questioning everything she had taught her pregnant patients for years.

With remarkable honesty, Nikki reveals how this crisis of confidence affected her practice and her ability to connect with patients. She explores how her own negative mindset and fears may have contributed to her birth experience, and how this realization eventually led to greater empathy and conviction in her work.

Throughout this vulnerable conversation, Nikki reminds us that sometimes our greatest business challenges stem not from external factors but from internal misalignments between our beliefs and our reality. She encourages listeners to reflect on what might be creating subluxations in their own thinking that could be holding them back from success.

This powerful episode offers a fresh perspective on resilience and alignment for any business owner who has faced self-doubt or questions about the value of their work, making it a must-listen for entrepreneurs seeking deeper meaning and authenticity in their professional journey.

Follow my Instagram: @drnikkicottis

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Gabriella Ludeman Quill for a transformative conversation about navigating life as a woman in chiropractic, a business owner, and a mother of three young children.

Gabriella shares her inspiring journey from graduating Palmer College of Chiropractic to building a million-dollar practice with her husband Mitch, while raising three children under five. From experiencing workplace fraud and wrongful termination to purchasing their own practice while pregnant with their first child, Gabriella's story is one of resilience, determination, and finding alignment between professional success and personal wellbeing.

Throughout their candid conversation, Nikki and Gabriella explore the challenges of balancing motherhood with practice ownership, creating innovative associate models for other working moms, and the importance of prioritizing personal health as a business owner. Gabriella delivers powerful insights on sustainable business growth, emphasizing that focusing on profitability rather than revenue milestones was a game-changer for their practice.

This episode is a must-listen for practitioners ready to build successful businesses without sacrificing their wellbeing, particularly for women navigating the competing demands of clinical excellence, business ownership, and family life.

Follow my Instagram: DrNikkiCottis

Join the 90 day sprint waitlist: https://stephaniewigner.com/90-day-sprint

In this episode of The Aligned for Success podcast, Nikki welcomes Dr. Matt Griswold for a transformative conversation about resilience, vision, and building a successful chiropractic practice against all odds.

Dr. Matt shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to owning three thriving chiropractic clinics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With remarkable candor, Matt reveals how he started his first practice with just $10,000, waiting tables at night while seeing patients during the day to make ends meet. His first X-ray room was literally a closet where he had to turn his feet sideways just to fit inside!

Throughout their conversation, Nikki and Matt explore the challenges of practice growth, including Matt's experience facing a $219,000 insurance audit (which he navigated down to just $19,000). Matt offers powerful insights on various associate models that have worked for his practices, emphasizing the importance of profit-sharing to create true team alignment.

Matt delivers an unforgettable perspective on resilience, stating "I won't be stopped. There is a way," making this episode a must-listen for practitioners ready to overcome obstacles and build the practice of their dreams. His unwavering commitment to his vision of success serves as inspiration for chiropractors at any stage of their journey.

Follow my instagram: @drnikkicottis

I’m welcoming Dr. Stephanie Wigner in this episode to explore her inspiring journey from chiropractor to massively successful consultant and coach. Stephanie shares how she launched her practice with a focus on minimizing overhead and maximizing profits, quickly achieving financial milestones. We hear all about her philosophy of an abundance mindset, which has drastically transformed both her business and personal life. Stephanie discusses the power of empowering her team and creating a supportive community like The Wealthy Practitioner, enabling her to work just one day a week in her practice. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and aligning one's work with true passions for achieving professional success and personal fulfillment.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why maintaining low overhead and maximizing profit was crucial in Stephanie’s early practice days.
• How embracing an abundance mindset can transform your team dynamics.
• Why surrounding yourself with a supportive community is essential for growth.
• How Stephanie achieved work-life balance by practicing only one day a week.
• Why investing in team growth promotes mutual success and enthusiasm for achievements.
• How motherhood inspired Stephanie to launch her coaching business and find her purpose.
• Why building supportive networks enhances growth, accountability, and deeper connections.
• How authenticity and vulnerability contribute to creating meaningful connections.
• Why spending time in ways that resonate with us attracts success and abundance.
• Why leadership from a place of abundance empowers teams to thrive without competition.
• How entrepreneurship is not for everyone, and why success can be found in any role.

Stephanie’s website: https://stephaniewigner.com 
Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewealthypractitioner 
Chiropractic Connection Gulf Shores: https://www.chiroconnectgulfshores.com 
Dr. Nikki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnikkicottis