Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki La Croce

Hi Nikki, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I’ve always had a strong desire to connect with people. Growing up, while I always had friends and could pretty easily bounce between social groups, I never fully felt a sense of belonging and for a long time, I internalized that feeling with the belief that something must be ‘wrong’ with me. Recently, my closest friend from childhood came to visit and as we were reminiscing about growing up together, she made a comment that fundamentally shifted how I saw myself back then. She shared how when we were younger, she noticed I was a lot more emotionally aware and introspective than most of the people around us. Because of that, I would often pursue deep connections with people, who in many cases, didn’t have the desire or possibly even ability to build a more meaningful friendship or relationship with me. It wasn’t until I left an abusive relationship that I realized my low self-worth was at the root of this pattern and I finally decided to prioritize my emotional well-being.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

To break the toxic patterns that had ruled my life, it required me to be completely honest about the fact that I did not love myself and that I never really set any sort of standard for the type of person I desired to have as a partner. The turning point for me to move past this was deciding to make a list of my core values and from that list, taking a long hard look at what my wants, needs and dealbreakers were. This was the first time in my life I could actually see on paper what I truly valued in myself and in my close relationships, which really helped me establish a much stronger sense of self. Since then, I’ve been so much more confident in setting boundaries and communicating with the people in my life, which has improved my personal and professional relationships across the board.

As you know, we’re big fans of Full Spectrum Friends. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

What do you do:
I’m most excited to share that I’ve partnered with my wife, Nicole, to create a membership community, Full Spectrum Friends, which helps people who are a journey of personal and spiritual growth to make friends with others on a similar path.

What are you known for?
One of my podcast guests shared with me that my unique gift is the ability to create a sense intimacy in a short amount of time. It really shined a light how I’ve created a safe space for others to explore their own journeys, without fear of judgement and has helped many people open up to developing deeper connections. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to harness that skill within our Full Spectrum Friends community to make an impact that extends far beyond the reach of my podcast.

What sets you apart from others?
Community seems to have become a buzzword for creators who are marketing their products and services to groups of people with common interests. The idea, presumably, being that if you are interested in the same thing, then you will inherently cultivate relationships with the people in these containers. While it is absolutely possible to meet new friends in these places, it’s no guarantee. What we’re building brings the community aspect to the forefront, with an emphasis on shared values and vibration rather than simply connecting over a shared interest.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand/offerings?
Unlike other friend-finding apps or interested-based meetups that take a ‘catch-all’ approach to building community, we use a carefully designed application process to give our members the greatest chance of making meaningful friendships with people who share their values, match their vibration and are equally committed to their journey of personal and spiritual growth.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?

In my experience, risk-taking is essential for our growth. While I’ve never been someone who completely throws caution to the wind, I understand the importance of listening to your intuition and expanding your comfort zone to discover what truly makes you feel happy and fulfilled. It requires having faith that things can and will work out, while also setting goals that hold us accountable to achieving our greatest desires. Whether it was skydiving over the Alps during my semester abroad, making a cross-country move to start a new job, or leaving my tech career after 15 years to start a new business, I can say with confidence that the most transformative and empowering moments in my life have been because I was willing to take risks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://canijustsaypodcast.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkilacroce
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nikkilacroce
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nic_and_nik