Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nik Pollina. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nik, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience in life from my dad, John Pollina. He was a beacon of resilience and strength, even in the face of immense suffering. For most of his life, he battled chronic pain, a consequence of a botched back surgery at the age of seventeen. Despite this constant physical pain, he remained a source of inspiration and positivity.
I was fortunate to have him as a father for twenty-eight years. I only knew him during his years of pain, but his spirit was a testament to the human capacity for resilience. He was a wise and compassionate person in all of our lives, offering invaluable life lessons, spiritual guidance, and a true model of work ethic. His dedication to helping others was evident in his career as a pain management doctor, a role he fulfilled with unwavering commitment despite his own physical limitations. He was a mentor to many, inspiring his patients to overcome their own challenges with pain.
After my dad’s shocking sudden passing, I found myself grappling with a series of more personal setbacks. The unexpected loss of my cousin, coupled with health scares for my sister and losing my dream job, life tested my limits in ways I never imagined. I was at a crossroads in this moment – the choice was mine on how I was going to proceed with my life – and truthfully – I wanted to give up. But, I drew strength from my father’s example and refused to let adversity define me. He often said “you can either get bitter, or you can get better”.
Inspired by his words and his life, I chose to “get better”. I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Despite the grief and anxiety I faced, I chose to embrace life’s adventures. I traveled the world, started my business, and married the love of my life – all within two years. These experiences brought me joy, fulfillment, and a renewed sense of purpose even though I really struggled almost everyday to get through. I also founded a thriving vintage store, using my social media platform to share stories of resilience and hope. Through my own experiences, I aimed to inspire others to overcome challenges and embrace life’s opportunities.
My dad’s life taught me a profound lesson: tomorrow is not promised. The fragility of life became apparent after his and my cousin’s passings. I realized that I couldn’t wait for grief to subside before pursuing my dreams, just as my dad couldn’t wait around for his pain to subside. I had to live life to the fullest.
My father’s memory served as a constant reminder to live authentically and with gratitude. Even in the darkest of times, he found joy and meaning in life. His example inspired me to do the same, to embrace the beauty of every moment and to live with intention.
As I continue my journey, I am determined to honor my father’s legacy by living a life of purpose, compassion, and resilience. Just as he inspired me, I hope to inspire others to overcome their own challenges and find their purpose in life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a vintage store owner and a content creator on a mission to make shopping sustainably and secondhand mainstream and accessible to all.
I always have had a love for fashion, thrifting, and vintage. I took my love for that and started creating content on where to go shopping in the NYC area. As my follower base grew, I found that there was a missing piece in the vintage market. There were vintage stores of all types, but size inclusivity and affordability were not really the vibe.
When I met Siena, my now co-owner of Thx It’s Thrifted, I felt that I found someone who shared my obsession in entrepreneurship, girl-bossery, vintage, and making a store that was accessible to all people. Thus – our studio space opened in Brooklyn this April.
Our vintage studio is not just a store, but a community space where likeminded people can gather and make friends. We really want the studio to be a space where you can come, relax, shop vintage, and enjoy life. It’s a third space that many of us are missing these days in NYC.
Check out our instagram @thxitsthrifted.nyc to keep up with our events and pop-ups. While you’re at it, follow me @nikpollina_ for more information on where to shop in NYC beyond just my shop!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three Key Qualities:
1. Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges is essential for any journey, especially one that involves risk-taking and uncertainty. You will get embarrassed on this path. You will be hurt and you will compare yourself, but you have to cultivate a spirit of resilience to get you through everyday.
2. Adaptability: The world is constantly changing, and successful individuals are those who can adapt to new circumstances and learn from their experiences. You can’t get bogged down by worrying about what could come. You just have to trust that you will know what to do when you get there. You will navigate challenges as they appear.
3. Growth Mindset: A thirst for knowledge and a willingness to explore new ideas and perspectives can open doors to new opportunities and growth. I never stop the hunger to get better. Each day I try to learn and push myself to do something new.
Advice for Those Early in Their Journey:
You should just start putting yourself out there. Talk about what you are trying to accomplish, take feedback from others, and continue to network with new people. It sounds simple, but just telling everyone what you are doing can open doors that you never expect.
I also would get into the pattern of saying “yes”. Early in your path of opening a business, it’s important to say yes to seemingly unimportant opportunities. You never know what one connection or one event may lead to.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
As a business owner, you are going to have to be well rounded in a lot of different areas.
It will become increasingly obvious what you are and are not good at. It will become really clear what you are and are not interested in. When you realize you really hate or really love something, it’s important to document it down. When you do get to a place where you hire employees, this is your opportunity to delegate.
For example, I hate sending out products that are purchased on my website. I don’t know why, but I always procrastinate going to the post office and I can’t seem to get myself to do it in a timely way. Since recognizing this, I have asked my intern to take over this task for me. This gives me time to do things that I want to do like create content, think of new ideas for my business, source clothing, and more.
I also think as business owners we take on too much. It is important for business owners to have time to think and be creative. Be realistic on what you are the best at, and execute on only high impact tasks if possible.
So long story short – you will have to be well rounded at first, but use that time to identify your strengths. Once you grow, lean into those and delegate your weaknesses to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nikpollina.com
- Instagram: nikpollina_
- Linkedin: Nikki Pollina
- Other: TikTok: nikpollina
Image Credits
Kyle Logan Manning @kyleloganmanning
Daria Barbacheva @barbacheva
Jamal Momon @momonphoto
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
