Episode 259 Be Like Ben
Ready 4 Pushback
Nik Fialka
4.8 • 716 Ratings
🗓️ 3 July 2025
⏱️ 9 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this solo episode, Nik shares a story about what it takes to succeed in today's competitive airline hiring environment. Sparked by a text from a friend and fellow Citadel alum who just landed an airline interview after years of hard work, Nik reflects on the mindset, preparation, and sacrifice required to stand out and seize the opportunity of a lifetime. Whether you're just beginning your aviation journey or you're deep in the hunt for a major airline job, this episode will remind you of the value of persistence, intensity, and strategic focus. Nick pulls no punches: if you want the job, you’ve got to train like a pro athlete—and commit to doing everything it takes.
What You'll Learn:
The difference between hoping for success and training for it
How to identify gaps in your preparation and take action
The importance of getting the right coaching and support early in the process
Why confidence, sacrifice, and intensity make the difference in high-stakes interviews
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Big Rock - Take the Lead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, pilot, welcome back to Ready for Pushback. |
| 0:04.7 | It's a solo show with Nick Fialca, and we are crushing today. |
| 0:09.0 | I hope you are ready to rock and roll because that's what we're talking about. |
| 0:14.5 | Getting ready and rocking and rolling. |
| 0:17.7 | It all started as a spark. |
| 0:26.5 | Maybe it was the sound of jets racing across the sky or the feeling of your heart racing as you watch crop duster flying low and slow even then you knew you were meant to fly |
| 0:34.4 | for pilots it's more than just a job. |
| 0:38.3 | It's a calling. |
| 0:39.3 | The early mornings, the long hours, the relentless training, |
| 0:44.3 | you didn't do it for the money. |
| 0:46.3 | You did it for that moment. |
| 0:48.3 | That moment when the wheels lift off and the earth falls away beneath you. |
| 0:52.3 | But flying is just the beginning. The journey to your dream job takes more than just skill in the sky. |
| 0:58.0 | It takes strategy on the ground and a lifetime of learning. |
| 1:02.0 | Most pilots don't understand what career opportunities |
| 1:06.0 | are available in the world of aviation. |
| 1:09.0 | Learn how to go from good to great, from flight school to regional to major, and from hopeful |
| 1:15.6 | to hired. |
| 1:17.1 | Whether you're sharpening your skills, building your resume, or preparing for that big interview, |
| 1:22.7 | this is where pilots come to level up. |
| 1:25.5 | Let's get ready for pushback. |
| 1:27.4 | Here's your host and my dad, Nick Fialca. |
... |
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