Ep 253 Do the Hard Work, Then Enjoy the Day

Welcome back! In this solo episode, Nik Fialka shares a glimpse into his fulfilling (yet sometimes chaotic) home life, including a special cameo from his two-year-old son. Between playing zone defense on daily chores and enjoying breakfast as a family, Nik draws the perfect metaphor for aviation and life: you’ve got to do the hard work before you can enjoy the day. But this isn’t just about housework or parenting. It’s a reminder to pause and look at the bigger picture. Whether you're grinding through flight school, prepping for a checkride, or climbing the ranks at the regionals, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. This episode is your permission to slow down, reconnect with the people who matter most, and do something that fills your heart—because fulfillment isn’t found only in the logbook.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How doing the hard things first paves the way to fun and freedom

The power of taking breaks to avoid burnout in aviation

Why hobbies, relationships, and simple joys help keep you grounded

A real-world call from someone who has been there to balance aviation ambition with real-life connections

CONNECT WITH US

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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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