150,000 Adjustments Later: My Biggest Business Lessons

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.

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Thank you to everyone who has supported Nikki's journey—here's to the next 10 years!