I recently went one on one with six-time bodybuilding champion and fitness guru Nikki Walter-Nemickas. 

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth? 

Nikki: Adam, congratulations on your podcast, and thank you so much for taking time to visit with me!

I think you and everyone can relate to failures, setbacks and challenges, and depending on the season of life we are in we handle things differently. For me, my first experience was at age 17, losing my father in a car accident. I changed plans to go to the Air Force and attend college. Looking back, I forced me to appreciate life at a young age, and in a way, I believe, somehow become a situation to use after becoming a widow unexpectedly at the age of 32. At that point in my life, I had already handled loss, but I was also a parent. 

I learned that I was more codependent than I thought, which forced me to become solely independent with decisions and I learned that there was nothing wrong with the decisions I make, it actually empowered me to leave all codependent situations, and friendships in my life and I began to accept and love who I was meant to be. It was even more empowering to be the mom of a young girl, that I could choose the life I wanted for her.

The sacrifice I made, decision to take a traveling job to provide was difficult because time is our most precious gift, yet I could choose to stay in a small town and make minimum wage and remarry which is what everyone expected me to do, because they felt she need a dad and a family. I also know I did not want to introduce her to men, especially when I knew that I was capable of raising her on my own. If and when I was ready to introduce her to someone it would be someone, I felt met all of the qualities of a man that I would want her to see how a woman, a lady, and loved partner should treat me and her.  

In 2013 I decided to compete in bodybuilding as a goal, since marathon training was hard as a single mom, I built a gym im my basement next to my daughters play area, and wanted to include her in the process, making it a positive thing. One of the strangest adjustments of widowhood was cooking at night. Bodybuilding made it easy to eat healthy, and a great goal for exercise. My success in that sport is due to the support system of family and close friends,  I wanted to show my daughter discipline can get you anywhere. This opportunity lead to extra income, travel for the both of us and we started a small business for extra money. 

2019 was difficult, I would say worst year in almost a decade. That year I was t-boned in a car accident totaling my car. Because I wasn’t set up on autopay, I had missed two car payments, and when I woke up to take my daughter to school, the car company had re-possed my car. I had plenty of cash in the bank and was able to get my car back that day. But I learned fast to get that set up. In the process my credit plummeted, and I needed a new car, but it was difficult to get. Luckily, in a small-town people are willing to help, but what was most difficult was asking friends to assist with co-signing, many of them turned me down. I was able to meet with a woman who helped me financially get back on track and get the new car. Four months later, I had parked my car on a work visit on a main street on the Northern Range in Minnesota, and I walked out to a totaled car, hit by a semi-truck who turned too short.  That day, I landed a big modeling opportunity, which was amazing. Three months later, I was finally home, I played occasionally on a co-ed Kickball team, and first run ended up breaking my wrist. I drove to the pharmacy, and then to my house, where my dear friends drove me to the ER. I worked in MN with a broken wrist and had surgery that week in Minneapolis. Just when things seemed to feel like I was hitting rock bottom, I visited a friend who happened to be dishonest, causing me more emotional grief, and that week driving to my daughter’s tennis match, a woman ran a sign and hit me. T-boned again, six months later. I swore that day, any unfinished, toxic business in my life was gone, like a final wakeup call and three months later I met the love of my life Rimmy. He flew to South Dakota for our first date on less than 24 hour notice and took Addie and I out to lunch. We ended 2019 with she and him picking out a ring and we were engaged before 2020.

2019 was full of lessons, heart break, and necessary change. For me, even though the scare of the pandemic, it was a new beginning, and quarantine was a time to embrace slowing down, and spending time with my daughter and fiancé. 

My rock bottom, like many others have experienced seemed like a continuous hole of terror, but in the end looking back and pushing through, is yet another experience in which will prepare me for the next. 

This next challenge is health related, due to cancer scares I had a Prophylactic Hysterectomy, and now due to a family genetic mutation I am looking at a Prophylactic Double Mastectomy in 20202.  Definitely a test of strength, I’m channeling my energy to try and compete again before the surgery hoping my body responds to earn a seventh win and hopeful national title in Body Building. 

Adam: What are your best fitness tips applicable to those at all levels of fitness? 

Nikki: Go with how you feel. Do what’s best for you at the time. Your needs, and wants will change as you get older, or with any life changes, so try to remember routine is good, but write a note and tuck it away for the time when change happens, that reminds you change is hard, and good, and a new one is needed to adjust whatever it is you are facing! 

Adam: What are your best fitness tips applicable to those who are out of shape or who don’t work out? 

Nikki: If results happen, they have to be consistent. So, it’s so darn frustrating when you’re consistent and there are no results. But you will not know what to change if you are not consistent. So, start small with a goal to move every single day. Walk 30 minutes a day, then next week add an incline, then if you feel good do more. 

Personally, I love to challenge my sister on my apple watch for our move goals. She is an early riser, and I am not, so when I wake up, I see what she has done, I’m motivated to beat or match her that day! 

Adam: What are your best fitness tips applicable to those who work out regularly but are trying to get to the next level? 

Nikki: I’ve been here several times. The thing is we have to recognize complacency. We feel like we are working our hardest, but we need to keep an open mind to try things differently. We are used to seeing results, but setbacks such as injury can really mess with your mind. Because in your head you feel like you’re at the same level, but your strength isn’t there, starting from scratch is hard when your mind tells you differently! 

Adam: What are your best tips on the topic of nutrition? 

Nikki: Eat small portions often. I struggle with this so much because I’m constantly moving around. So if I don’t meal prep during the week, I skip snacks, and before I know it I’m exhausted, my workouts are short and I eat what ever I can at dinner. 

Adam: How do you motivate yourself on the days that you don’t feel motivated? How can anyone motivate themselves on the days they are not motivated? 

Nikki: I just move, I make myself walk while I watch a show. Then I remind myself my success has never been harder, I’m working twice as hard and that comes with consistency. Why work my ass off, and let one day break the cycle of consistency?

Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Nikki: As a  Chamber of Commerce executive for ten years, I coordinated both local and state programs for “Leadership”. Great programs, but I feel the most successful leaders back then were the ones who were more of a servant leader. Someone who leads with the intention to help others when no one is watching.

Are you leading intentionally, or are you one of those lucky humans that people gravitate toward naturally? 

I have seen more “leaders” feeling obligated to showcase their good deeds on social media, tooting your own horn is necessary. 

So for all of us as “leaders” we should remember it’s a privilege to lead others, and that we can learn from others. 

For me I strive to be one that responds with purpose and reason. I take time to talk with others, be kind and remember a following on social media does not matter if you make others feel in adequate or inferior.  

Have you ever met someone you have followed, only to find you are disappointed because they were not what you expected in real life? I have, and that only fuels me and I remind myself I do not want to be them. 

Heartbreak of leadership is more common than we care to admit, I remember a time when young influencers who came to me for advice now have a triple the following I have, yet do not take time to respond to my messages or requests. I remember meeting my fitness idol, only to be let down by their response to my successes.  I mention this not to complain, but to remind all of us we are leaders to someone, and that these are lessons to make us stronger, and give us tools to become better leaders. 

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?

Nikki:

1.)    Be Authentic, others will see through you. You may have a leadership position, but not the respect you think you have. Not everyone will like you, but be you, not someone else.  

2.)    Leaders have a reason, a purpose. Not just work, but most good leaders have other hobbies, things in life that keep them focused and motivated to push forward.

3.)    Be Kind. Clearly a business structure in corporate America is tough. But I have never been told by an executive, photographer, or anyone I have worked with in business or fitness that they didn’t enjoy a hand written thank you, or a simple phone call to see how they are doing. Be kind, be invested in others. People always remember how you make them feel, that will stick with them forever. 

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received? 

Coach Don Meyer and I worked together on a Leadership Program at a local university. Don Meyer was the all winningest coach in NCAAII, and as you see in the movie made about his life “My Many Sons” Don was a servant leader but also very blunt an honest. 

He wrote me a note with his bobble head on my desk one day, a slide from one of his key note speeches that stated “Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in a feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best”

In his handwriting he wrote, I hear that you are great at this- Don

 Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Congratulations Adam on your projects. Keep doing great things.


Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations.

Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter at @adammendler and listen and subscribe to Thirty Minute Mentors on your favorite podcasting app.