My Mistake
Ready 4 Pushback
Nik Fialka
4.8 • 716 Ratings
🗓️ 4 September 2025
⏱️ 9 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this solo episode, Nik records live from OBAP 2025 and opens up about one of the biggest mistakes of his aviation career: letting entitlement and frustration hold him back. After transitioning from Navy helicopters to the airlines, Nik admits he carried the wrong attitude—expecting opportunities to come quickly instead of putting in the work. That mindset not only stalled his career growth but also bled into his home life and relationships.
It wasn’t until a blunt conversation with a senior airline leader that he realized the truth: nothing in aviation is owed to you. Every step must be earned. In this episode, Nik reflects on how that wake-up call reshaped his perspective and why humility, effort, and character matter more than hours or résumés. Whether you’re new to the industry or chasing your dream job at a major, this story is a reminder to check your attitude, keep grinding, and focus on becoming the pilot and professional others want to hire—and fly with.
What You'll Learn:
The biggest mistake Nik made early in his airline career—and the lesson it taught him
Why entitlement can stall your progress, even if you have the hours and experience
How shifting your perspective can open doors and make you a better teammate
The importance of humility, effort, and character in building your career
Why no matter your background—military, regional, 135, or overseas—nothing is guaranteed in aviation
CONNECT WITH US
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If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at [email protected], and if you need a professional pilot resume, go to www.spitfireelite.com/podcast/ for FREE templates!
SPONSOR
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, pilot. Welcome back to Ready for Pushback. It's another solo show. I'm recording by myself |
| 0:08.4 | at Obap before the doors open. You can hear a couple people milling about in the background, |
| 0:13.7 | getting things ready. And this has been a really fun time at Obap. First day is over. Second day getting ready to start. It all started as a |
| 0:25.2 | spark. Maybe it was the sound of jets racing across the sky. Or the feeling of your heart racing as |
| 0:32.7 | you watch Crop Duster flying low and slow. Even then, you knew you were meant to fly. |
| 0:39.3 | For pilots, it's more than just a job. |
| 0:43.3 | It's a calling. |
| 0:45.3 | The early mornings, the long hours, the relentless training, |
| 0:49.3 | you didn't do it for the money. |
| 0:51.3 | You did it for that moment. |
| 0:53.3 | That moment when the wheels lift off and the earth |
| 0:55.7 | falls away beneath you. But flying is just the beginning. The journey to your dream job takes |
| 1:01.7 | more than just skill in the sky. It takes strategy on the ground and a lifetime of learning. |
| 1:08.0 | Most pilots don't understand what career opportunities are available in the world of aviation. |
| 1:14.4 | Learn how to go from good to great, from flight school to regional to major, and from hopeful to |
| 1:21.1 | hired. Whether you're sharpening your skills, building your resume, or preparing for that big |
| 1:26.7 | interview, this is where pilots come to level up. Let's get ready for pilots. your skills, building your resume, or preparing for that big interview. |
| 1:29.8 | This is where pilots come to level up. |
| 1:32.0 | Let's get ready for pushback. |
| 1:35.5 | Here's your host and my dad, Nick Fialca. |
| 1:42.6 | I am thinking about something that my buddy, Tron Williams, said the other day in our meet and greet. |
| 1:43.3 | We had a sit down with with pilots |
... |
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