Ep 59_NikkiNovak_GLP_FINAL

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Jen Thyrion: [00:00:00] Hey there. I'm Jen Therian and I'm so glad you're here. I'm a former nine to fiver that dove an entrepreneurship eight years ago with zero business experience. I'm a wife mama of two young girls, boutique owner, jewelry designer, and now the proud owner and coach leading Goldie Links permanent jewelry. I have a passion to empower fellow business.

This podcast is made to equip you with everything you need to succeed from actionable marketing steps to digging deep on your mindset. I know firsthand the heart. Hard work and let's be real at times, a struggle that makes up this amazing journey. You wanna know what has enabled me to shine the brightest Coaching Plus community?

Here at Goldie Links we share openly, educate and lift each other up. Expect to get linked with fellow PJ owners that will do just that. Sprinkle with plenty of fun along the way. Competition is an old school thought and connection is the way. Get ready to feel inspired. Welcome to the Goldie Links podcast.[00:01:00]

Hey there. Did you know that we offer handmade permanent jewelry supplies? Go to goldie link supplies.com to view our beautiful chains, connectors, Bengals, and more, including our non-permanent stretchy bracelets that are available to you for wholesale. Everything is created by our tribe of mama makers.

What is a mama maker? Stay-at-home moms that create on their own time between raising their children, serving as a self-care creative outlet, and supporting their families. Your items come with signage on how these supplies are made, along with Gemstone property info, as each gemstone has a special meaning.

If you wanna level up your business with handmade supplies, not made by a machine, but made by hand with love, then check it out@goldielinksupplies.com. Now onto the show. Hey friends. Today's episode is a really special one because I'm sitting down with someone who has been here before and someone who is about to become a very familiar face around here, Nikki Novak.

Nikki is officially stepping into the role of one of the admins for the [00:02:00] Goldie Links Facebook group. It is going to be Nikki. Ashley Slater and I we're gonna be offering our support and we're creating a more well-rounded, connected, and value packed experience inside the group. I'll be the first to say I haven't always been as active in there, or active at all as I want it to be, but that's changing.

I truly wanna connect with you, show up consistently, and add real value, and Nikki is gonna be a huge part of making that happen. In today's conversation. We're talking about community. Growth, support values, and what is next for Goldie Links? I'm also making a huge announcement and you're hearing it first, starting today, I am doing a huge giveaway.

I am giving away a PJX ticket alongside of a lot of Goldie Links supply. So if you've been wanting to try the handmade chains, the Bengals, the Wrangles, the Engraved Bengals, the connectors. The glow ups, now's the time. So go to Goldie Links Society on Instagram or find me on Facebook to find out how to enter.

So this episode's all about connection, momentum, and what's [00:03:00] coming next. So let's dive in. Welcome, Nikki. We are back today with Nikki. Oh my gosh. We are gonna talk about a couple different things, but I wanna start off, Nikki has been on the podcast before, but let's do a quick intro and kind of tell people a little bit about you in case they haven't listened to that episode.

Okay?

Nikki Novak: Yeah. Let's do that. I am Nikki Novak. I'm located in Colorado, not too far from Jen, actually. We're sitting in person together. So exciting. Yes, we're doing it. If you're watching us. Hey. Yeah, so I own adorable permanent jewelry. I have a private studio in Parker, Colorado, which is just south of Denver.

I've been doing permanent jewelry for about two years now, and in June. Ish of this year, June, I don't know. I know what time's crazy. A few months ago. I know, right. At some point in 2025, yes. I started a wholesale business called Kice. Kuni is K-A-U-N-I-S, and the reason that I chose the name is because my dad is Finnish, and Kice in Finn means beautiful.

Love it. [00:04:00] Yes. So what Countess does is that we do training and wholesale. Gentle ear piercing. So we sell the supplies as well as the training, and we also have hypoallergenic retail earrings. Love.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Nikki Novak: Love

Jen Thyrion: it. So why I have Nikki back today, A couple different reasons, but number one, I would like to talk about Goldie Links Facebook group.

That is very non exciting right now. It's not exciting. It's about to be lit. It's we're, yeah, we're doing a re So I've been talking to Nikki about this for months. So Nikki, and I think we talked about this in the other podcast episode, going back to how we met, which is always a blur, I think, over Facebook Messenger.

We determine we're both close to each other, right? Yeah.

Nikki Novak: Because I wanted to dingles your, no, I wanted your hand. You took the like hand a wire wrapped connector training. Oh, okay. I wanted that. Okay. And then literally never did anything with it. And then remember we were talking about Bengals for a minute?

Bengals. Yep. We did

Jen Thyrion: connect over [00:05:00] Bengals. Yep. Anyway, so yes, it's a blur. But anyway, we connected 'cause then I think you took, well you were in my membership for a minute. Yep. You were making glow ups. Yep. Do you still make glow ups

Nikki Novak: by the way? No, in theory. Yeah. I. Would. Okay. If I ever found the time to do them.

I hear you. Yes. I'm wearing one. Okay.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, they're beautiful. I love that one. They're so cute. Just, I know I'm wearing a couple. So Yes, we connected and I feel like we just became, we started chatting. You were in the membership, you would be on the calls, and then we were close. We met up When I first purchased the piercing, I had Nikki come over and just walk me through it.

I was like, just show me how to do this thing. I'm such a hands-on person. I talk about that all the time. I'm such a hands on girl. She had like

Nikki Novak: multiple friends just bust through the door to get randomly care.

Jen Thyrion: It was great. Just, it was fun. It was a lot of fun. But I think just over time, getting to know each other, obviously I feel like we have very similar mindsets and perspectives about business and just customer service.

Customer service. Just like just people in general. I don't know. I think we align. We're technically, you could [00:06:00] consider us competition. I feel a little bit,

Nikki Novak: I,

Jen Thyrion: I mean like my studio is probably 20 minutes away. It's 20 minutes. Yeah. Yeah. But this is the thing. That's why, you know, I talk about this of course, in my view of competition and whatnot, but I feel like why I am a believer in befriending and not be competition.

'cause I feel like it's only served us. Oh, agreed. I've talked about Nikki before to people. People have come to me that have said they've went to you. And if I knew that I couldn't be somewhere or Sam was gonna do mobile, we're not doing as much anymore, to be honest. So she's on my list of someone I would reach out to and be like, Hey, we're not gonna do this event.

Do you wanna do it? You

Nikki Novak: know what I mean? So it was like, we also had friends here. I actually meant to tell you, my son, preschool teacher, who we adore, she came here with her sister. It was so cute. They took a little photo out front. I was like, bring out,

because

Jen Thyrion: it's awesome. Yeah, so I was like, I was talking to Nikki about, it's honestly, I'm not gonna lie to you.

I'll be totally honest. The Facebook group has been a source of guilt for me for a long time. I did create it, and then it just kind of, I'm not [00:07:00] very vocal on there, interact. I don't post, I don't think about it. I'm not gonna lie to you, but I'm like, I really do want to chat with you guys more on there. I think that there, the Facebook group, definitely you can get so much more.

It's definitely different than Instagram. There's, it's more interactive. You can ask questions, we can have conversation, meet people. I'm sure you guys can agree if you're active in any of the Facebook groups, sometimes you do connect with people that you feel like you end up being friends with, you know?

Oh yeah. And honestly too, which is such a great. I want to be, and this is why I reached out to Nikki, 'cause again, I feel she has that same vibe about her, is I want it to feel inviting and fun and informative and nonjudgmental and feel like a comfy place where you can come and just be yourself. Be yourself freak.

Totally. No, but I do. 'cause I hear it from, I have my small membership, I talk about GoldLink society and I do hear from them like my members sometimes where they feel like intimidation when certain groups get very big. And don't get me wrong, they are a beautiful place for so much information. Like when I first [00:08:00] started, I went on there all the time when using that search bar.

So if you're new to permanent jewelry or you're listening and you're newer or you have a question and. That search bar is like gold. Oh. You know what I mean? Yeah. I still learned so much from those big groups. I think there's a a time and place for everything. One of those things. Mm-hmm. Like even X tool, like if I bought a X tool, we were engraving.

I'm somewhat new at it still, and I belong to some X tool groups and I'm always using that search bar, trying to find specific things I'm looking for, whether it be settings or if someone did something particular I'm looking for. So that's the beautiful part of those groups. I think for Goldie Links, I mean, not to say I want to be.

A step, but I do want to be more specialized. And if you've already gotten to a place where you have like more, you're kinda like more experienced, you know, you're more a little bit more seasoned, you wanna dig a little deeper. And also too, obviously, as you know, Goldie Links is all handmade. Okay. I'm very passionate about handmade.

We sell all handmade supplies and now along with Nikki, which is so funny 'cause we don't really, we don't sell earrings. So Nikki has earrings. So Really it's a one stop shop. No, I'm just kidding. But [00:09:00] like, you know, it's just, I feel that we're both in the supply space, which is beautiful. Yeah. But I just think that there's a lot of people out there that want to add more to their business and I think, of course there's so much beauty, of course.

And handmade, and I truly believe that sets you apart, which I, I'd love to start talking about more on the group and kind of getting. Little bit into the nitty gritty of that. Yeah. And really talking about like, I have so many amazing guests on the podcast I could be sharing on there, and like we could be chatting about their specific parts of that.

Like episode you had questions about, because I get dms all the time about that. Like specific parts of like me talking to someone, being like, oh, how can I find out further? What, what does she mean by that? You know? So it'd be a great place where you can know that you can post and we will respond because I'm not gonna lie, I have not been very.

Active on there. I'm not gonna lie to you. So I want that to change and I want Nikki to be involved, which she will be a big part of the Goldie Links like Facebook group along with which she was not here. But I do wanna talk about this. Ashley Slater, she [00:10:00] is amazing. She's been with me, she's been on the podcast as well.

So if you wanna listen back to that, we actually did an interview at the airport on the way out from PJX, but she's been studying SEO. Actually, and as she talks about in the episode, it's got spurred from the first PJX. We went to, she went to an SEO course and like fell in love with SEO. So she's been studying it ever since.

And now she does my website, SEO. She's helping all the people in the membership. She has a course on SEO, so she's gonna be the other admin. So there'll be me, Nikki, and Ashley, which I feel like is very well-rounded group of just knowledge and experience. Because Ashley is gonna be able to help you like on your Google profile.

Again, if you want a website, help you how to get searched and pop up on Google. And so all those keywords you need to know about everything that me and Jen know nothing about. No, seriously, like I don't care to know. I don't like I say that because I know there's is funny 'cause when me and her went to that class, I was.

Oh my God. I know I need to know this, but I don't have the time or [00:11:00] care to know this. The minute that you said keyword, I popped out. I was like, keyword. Yeah, I was like, do like thinking about what I'm having for dinner. It's a beautiful union of knowledge. Like I said, if you want knowledge about like, again, experience too, obviously.

Let's talk about your experience really quick. You guys know where I'm from? I've been entrepreneur for like 11 years, so having the boutique business now having, we're sitting in my brick and mortar right now with the experience boutique, but. Nikki, which she talked about in her pocket. She did quit her job last year.

Right? I did. Because we literally had the chat your last day, wasn't it? Yeah, it was like crazy. So tell us about your past in the corporate world and what you feel your strengths are. I know that's kind of a weird question to talk about your own strengths, but

Nikki Novak: No, it's not because I'm actually a certified coach for Clifton Strengths StrengthsFinder.

Well, oh my gosh. Imperfect. Yes. And talking to the, yeah. Okay. So my background. Has nothing to do with jewelry or creativity or anything like that. I do organizational development and training, which is a really fancy way of saying corporate training. [00:12:00] That is what my entire background is from the time that I, like when I was in college, I started working in it until, yeah, until I quit my job.

Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Which has been such an identity shift because if I'm being totally transparent and vulnerable. So much of my identity was based on feeling important because of my job title. Yeah. It felt good, but to be like, oh, we'll have to hop on a call with the CEO and and yeah. And now it's just different.

Like I'm like, oh, I am the CEO. Yeah. Which is totally different. But yeah. So my background is in corporate training, so delivering training, public speaking, putting on. Conferences and events, things like that. Marketing and communications, winning people over. Yeah. Is actually my number one strength. Amazing.

Yeah. Winning is over. Maybe that's, you won me over. Is that what

Jen Thyrion: happened? Is that what

Nikki Novak: happened? I, I [00:13:00] feel

Jen Thyrion: like you have that strength too though, so. Well, that's the thing, and that's why I think I aligned with you because I think a lot of people going into this are just so new and from what I, I mean that's, I shouldn't say that, but I feel like there's a lot of people out there that are just very new to business in general.

So I think what really I loved about you is that you do have a way of like talking to people and seeing things in a way where like in a fair, honest way and really honoring people rather than jumping right to, it's like you're more of like the best case scenario person and the worst case scenario, if that makes sense.

Thank you. And yeah, so I feel like you're just, even your, the way you deal and have dealt with like customer service and stuff like that, and I think that's obviously, as we know that is like. I, it's hard to like label what's number one. Number two in business of what's important. Yeah. But honestly, I say this all the time.

The way I grew by business was the way I treated people. Yeah. Like hands down, you know? Like, I mean, you can talk about strategy, you could talk about Instagram and marketing. Sure. But it's like, but across

Nikki Novak: the board, like Yeah. In the way you talk about other people in the community. Mm-hmm. Your competitors, [00:14:00] everything like that.

Yeah. I would say so that's another, if you're familiar with StrengthsFinder, that's another one of my strengths is competition. And I think this is where Jen and I align. 'cause competition isn't like what you think. It's not that I need to be the best at everything. It's how I view competition. So like, competitors make me better.

Yes. And it's not because I need to like crush them into the ground. No, it's because I'm like, damn, Jen is like doing the thing. Mm-hmm. And I wanna be good too. Yeah. And so. You know, like using your relationships are like huge. So yeah, I think that's where our values align. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, you're right. The word values I should be using.

I feel like our values align. You're right, because like I said, I mean, it's rare for someone to have that view of competition. Hey, busy entrepreneur. As you know, being a business owner, you have to wear all the hats. You're a social media manager, marketer, graphic designer, accountant, photographer, videographer, web designer, business coach, scheduler, and the list goes on.

I know how overwhelming it [00:15:00] can be, and this is why I created the Golden Links is. Society. It's our monthly permanent jewelry membership. We have a weekly call to talk about all the things, but not only that, including monthly photography and video to use your social media and marketing. Canva templates, monthly business expert, monthly training, support group discount and verse dibs on gold link supplies and more.

My intention is to create a beautiful community of permanent jewelers that wanna level up their businesses together by creating lasting friendships and having fun. This is what I wish existed when I started my business almost 10 years ago. If you wanna know more, check it out@goldielinkssociety.com or at all the things permanent jewelry.com.

I hope to see you there. Don't get me wrong. Me, and we will talk and say, oh, this person just popped up in our area. That's, oh my gosh. I'm not gonna say I'm not. I'm human. I am not gonna be like it's, it's like that's why it's so hard to do, like to put into words sometimes when you say community over competition, I don't mean, yeah, just move right next door to me.

We're totally cool. [00:16:00] Copy me. Love it. You know what I mean? Yeah. No, I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that, but I'm saying I grew my business in a place of competition. It was a merchant market and I'm so grateful for it because there was so many business under one roof. I talk about this all the time.

And I, like I said, I literally cried so many times the first couple years because I was like pissed about someone was carrying or felt like they were copying me. And then it got to a point where I'm like, I keep focusing so much on other people and like my energy's going there and I'm so upset all the time.

And I'm like, so like fix, fixated on it. Like I'm like, oh, what are they doing now? I'd be like, look 'em up on social and be like, gosh, what are they doing? Oh my gosh. Oh my God. Like I was there, I was that girl for a while and then it got to a point where I'm like. First of all, my mental health is not good.

You know what I mean? Yeah. I can't do this. So it's like, what can I do? And I have to, anything's about perspective. I feel everything that happens in life. Right. You know, I've lost obviously a lot of things that happen to us. Obviously we can't control. But we can control how we look at it and how we use it.

Yeah. So it's like, you know, even just being in the shop, it [00:17:00] was like, okay, well I'm in this position, there's nowhere else for me to go and I still wanna do this business, so how can I make this better for myself? How can I use this as a strength versus a weakness of the fact that I'm with all these people and the under is the same group, be better to nation down.

Exactly. And that's what I did. I was like, what am I, who am I? Yeah. 'cause also too, when you're focused on someone everywhere else, you're feel like, oh, because she's doing this now. Like I feel like I need to, oh my God, she's doing hat bar. Oh, I should do that. Yeah, when you really don't even give a shit about hat bar.

Nikki Novak: Oh, that's thing. You know? You know what? This actually happened the other day. I had a customer come in and she had come here, Uhhuh, and she had an opal connector. Love it. And I knew it. It's so, she was like, I want you to know, I didn't mean to cheat on you. I just saw this OAL connector and my daughter made me get it.

And I said, I know where you got that. You got it from Goldie Links, didn't you? And she said, I did. And I was like, I love Jen. Yeah. And I was like, I knew it was her because she is the OAL queen. I don't [00:18:00] carry oal. Yeah. It's not my thing. There you go. But that's what I'm saying is like a competition makes me better.

Makes Jen better. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. Yes. It really just forces you, like, as you know, if you had no competition, you would know you could do whatever. 'cause you're the only person you go to. You'd be like, oh, heck yeah. Yeah. But it just forces you. Yes. Like I said, it forces you to be better. It forces you to figure out who you are, who you

Nikki Novak: are.

I'm not an opal girl. No. Yeah. No, I never will

Jen Thyrion: be. Yes. And even your vibe of like, there's so much that goes into it and that's why it's like. This goes can branch onto a different conversation. But I feel like brand is so much more than what you offer too. It's who you are. And I think that these things are overlooked.

And again, if you're jumping right to being like, oh, this person, this person is like, no, dig deeper into who you are. Mm-hmm. Like even there's Olivia, if she's listening, she's in my membership, I love her. She is in California and she's all like, she's brought to my mind, like her brand. She's very like tatted up.

Right. She's got blue hair. Her brand is like very, you know, black. 'cause she's like, you know, I, and it came out with the display recently. I'm like, yeah, I made a black one for [00:19:00] you girl. You know what I mean? Like, because that's her right. I would never have black displays. Mm-hmm. Never. Not my thing. And obviously there's a certain person that's gonna be attracted to her and there's certain person's gonna be attracted to me, not even just by my, what I offer, but what I look like.

Yep. By what I, how I communicate, the words I use. It's just, I'll never have blue hair. I'll tell you. Yeah. You know, I won't. I freaking love it for her. Yeah. And I'm like, and there's certain people I know in my life that would go to her versus me. Oh yeah. You know what I mean? So it's absolutely, it's like, so it's not just about that, it's like freaking like dig deeper into who you are and this is the stuff that I wanna talk about and dive deeper and like.

I love these conversations obviously, which is why I create a podcast. Obviously I like to talk, I know I love talking about this stuff 'cause it's like so important. But I feel that it's not talked about enough in the other groups. You know what I mean? Yeah. From what I see. Right. And so I wanna, wanna start these conversations of like mindset or just kind of like, and feel like it's a safe space though too.

'cause I feel like a lot of times in those bigger groups, like, and not to put 'em down because again, they're beautiful and wonderful. They're amazing. They're amazing. If you're just like, if you need information on where to get [00:20:00] a chain. Use those groups. Holy crap. Like, you know what I mean? But I think that for Goldie Links, I just want it to be a little bit, not saying you can ask those simple questions.

It's different, but I just want be more like a little bit deeper, like getting deeper into, you're in this now, you're, you've been doing this maybe for, I feel like when you're doing about a year, you kind of like, you're getting into groove. You're, you're evolving. I mean, you should be constantly evolving.

And it's like you, you tend to deal with these issues. You have different issues or thi, I shouldn't say issues, but like, you know, things that you, in your mind, like renewals. That's the number

Nikki Novak: one example I always give is like, I wish that I had known. That when you go to renew your lease, they're gonna up your rent.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, yeah. I mean, every, even the, the building I'm in right now, the lease I'm in is like every year it goes up. Yeah. You know?

Nikki Novak: Yeah. Yeah. I wish I would've known that. Yeah. But again, it's like, how, how would I know before I was in it? You know? Exactly.

Jen Thyrion: Well, it said, yeah, there's totally different things that you're worried about when you first start and that you're dealing with versus when you're year 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, you know?

Completely. I mean, I [00:21:00] can even say the things. Obviously my business is we opened a brick and mortar nine months ago, so the things I thought about a year ago, totally different. What I'm thinking about now been nine bucks. Isn't that insane? That's crazy. I know. It looks so good in here, you guys. Yeah, come visit Casser Colorado.

Come take a like little tour. But yeah, so I just think that, I think also too, like I love that your past experience also because I never was in the corporate world. I've always been like this ladi DA creative being a massage therapist, rubbing bodies. And then stop saying rubbing bodies. I know we say rubbing bodies.

Well, it's true. That's what I did. It's legit what I did. Rubbing bodies

Nikki Novak: leave my

Jen Thyrion: number of my body.

Nikki Novak: What? How would you describe it? I don't know. Okay. I try, I try not to think too much. Melt me rubbing bodies

Jen Thyrion: in the best way, you guys, but yeah, so it's like I feel like your experience is so different than my experience. And I feel like, but our, our, like, again, our, our values are very aligned. And [00:22:00] then Ashley, she has a corporate background as well, which she probably talks about, she does talk about in her podcast.

So if you wanna know more about her, you can find her in a couple different episodes. Actually, we talk about like more or less her business in the second time. We talk about the SEO portion. She's on a couple times. She also has the same aligned values, but also. Just that SEO like and all that knowledge Oh, is so good.

Like a powerful, because I'm more the creative and I feel like she's, she's the yin to my yang or yang to my yin, whatever. You know what I mean? Yeah. Because I just feel like I'm that person. I, I'm dreaming up all the ideas. I'll tell you all day long, I'm not a planner. We talk about this in our first episode because.

Ashley was my first Goldie girl when I franchised Goldie Links and she's like, Jen, if it wasn't for you, I would be still researching three years later. So I'm the person who's like, Nope. I have the feeling. I go for it. Like I'm not somebody who will research, but then I'll be like, wow, I should have did this because I, I'm still figuring how to do it like months later because I figured out along the way, that's me and I'm one who dreams.

I'm a dreamer. I'm always thinking of how to creating [00:23:00] something new and am I creative? I'm just totally, that's totally me. Where she is, the other side of the brain. Like analytical. Yeah, very much. Oh my gosh. So it's

Nikki Novak: such a, like that's such an aspect. It really

Jen Thyrion: is. And so that's why it's like such a beautiful married of us.

Three, I think of her being that quality, me being the creative. Talk about the handmaid, talk about the mindset, the perspective, which I love to talk about and just growth because I have loved self-development from a very young age. Have you ever read the four Agreements? Of course I have. Okay. So I read that when I was 18 and I was like, I, I bought copies and like gave them to my friends and they were like, nerd Larry, 18, getting into four agreement.

You're like, shut up. Like what is this? And I was like, it'll change your life, you know? And so I was like, I was, I've been always into that, like I've always won, wanting to stretch myself and evolve and, which is why I think as an entrepreneur that it's like you have no choice if you wanna stay in this.

And as a business owner, oh yeah, you have no choice but to develop as a human being. Because it'll just make you look at everything. You'll [00:24:00] challenge your self worth, your money mindset, literally everything. Entrepreneurs have to be cut from a different cloth. Seriously. You gotta be resilient. You gotta have some grit.

I feel the best entrepreneur. You have to be honest with yourself. You can't be as your way through to be sustainable and grow a business that's successful. I think you have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and be honest with yourself. Oh yeah, I don't know. So I love talking about that stuff and I feel that.

I don't know. I feel

Nikki Novak: like I'm excited about where this is gonna go. I am too. I think there's so much opportunity in this group to create just a different kind of community.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. So I'm excited. I'm excited too. So I just wanna like chat about it, talk about the plans. You'll see me on there more. You'll still see Nikki.

We'll do maybe do like a little intro actually in the group so when this goes live. It'll be the day where we do that, I think. So get, decide which day we're doing it. Yeah. I don't know.

Nikki Novak: Let's do that. I know I've been randomly posting in there, so if you, I, that, that posts from, uh, Nikki Novak. That's [00:25:00] me.

Yep. Yep. I'm

Jen Thyrion: like, thank you. Someone's posting in there. And then let's real quick talk about PJX because you are on a committee. I'm on a committee. Tell me your thoughts and feelings about PJX for 2026.

Nikki Novak: Yeah, so the first year that I went to PJX was last year in San Antonio. And I'm excited about it.

Moving back to Vegas, I don't know, I just feel like it has a vibe to it. I agree. I agree. I never went to the years when it was in Vegas before, but I've heard really great things. I was telling Jen this earlier, one of the things I really love about Sunstone is that I really do think they're committed to improving the experience every year.

So I've just been really impressed with how they've actively sought feedback on how they can improve and. Just what they're doing to plan PJX for 2026. So like the committees are new. Mm-hmm. I say that I don't actually know. Well, they're

Jen Thyrion: new in the sense of like, yes. I mean each like category, so to speak, has a committee, which is great.

Okay. So I feel like it's very well-rounded. I feel this year is, I don't [00:26:00] know if that's a great word for it, but I do feel like there's a lot of, yeah, a lot of knowledge and help there for

Nikki Novak: each area. And it seems that. The way that the committees were selected is really good. Yeah, so like, so I'm on the instructor committee and I'm on it with three other gals who are so experienced, knowledgeable in this area.

In particular, choosing instructors and topics and like supporting them and being able to put on a great conference mm-hmm. With a range of topics. I'm really excited about it. Yeah, I've been just super excited seeing as we saw the applications come in, seeing the different people apply because man, you know, you just don't know people's backgrounds.

Yeah, it's really cool. Yeah. So like in the application, if you didn't apply, it asks you what topic you wanna speak on, what your unique perspective is when it comes to that topic, why you're qualified to speak on it, why you want to speak at PJX and. [00:27:00] It's been so cool just seeing what people have to say.

Jen Thyrion: Yep. So I'm excited. I'm really excited. I know I'm on the exhibitor committee, so I'm passionate about that. Being an exhibitor myself, I think it depends on the person who you ask what they love the most about PGX. But one of the things, of course, is the best is that you can shop all the things at one place, and as we know.

Everything we shop for, it has to be online, you know what I mean? There's no like place we can just go. Yeah. Unless you live like in by Genack where you can go and shop, for example, in California or something like that. But it's like in the end it's like it's all online, right? Yes. Guys,

Nikki Novak: if you like, if you haven't been to PJ X before, as a reminder, it is an expo.

Yeah. With extra room in your suitcase. 'cause you love, don't even tell you how much I

Jen Thyrion: spent tell, I don't know if I ever said it on the show, but I spent a lot of money. Yep. As you should. A lot of money.

Nikki Novak: It's one of the only opportunities you get to see stuff in person. Oh yeah. You're like me. I'm like, what is two millimeters?

Jen Thyrion: I

Nikki Novak: don't know what that means

Jen Thyrion: still. I talk about it all the time. 'cause I've been making jewelry for 15 years and I still don't sometimes think [00:28:00] to myself, if I'm buying something, it's a six millimeter and then I have it in my head as something completely different. It comes and I'm like, oh wait, what?

Yeah. I was completely thinking of something. I just did it recently with a blank. It was a 12 millimeter, like brass blank I got for something. And I'm like, that does mean bigger. Like what? You know what I mean? It doesn't matter because I know as a supplier I get that, like I'll have people be like, oh, it's beautiful, but I thought it was gonna be bigger.

And it's like, well, the measurements are there. We say what measurements of beads are, but still, I get it. I've been there. I mean, I, I understand because what a different experience to see it, but. Again, I mean, I know I've talked about it so much and I will probably talk about it a lot in the next few months as we of course lead up to PJX 2026, but I do feel it's so valuable.

I do feel it's something that you should be putting on your calendar if you wanna grow in this business, because not only, I mean, we were just talking about it before we start talking. I've been to every PJXI was only exhibitor. We are two and three, but one I wouldn't as an attendee, and again, like. Even though I had already been in business, like I said, I mean, granted, this is a different business, but I had already been in business, been to many business [00:29:00] retreats and whatnot, and masterminds and things prior to starting permanent jewelry.

But I feel like still, it's like no matter what, when you're a person, like I feel like it's, you're gonna leave with some, even if you take one class that kind of changes the trajectory of your business, it's worth it. You know what I mean? Even if you meet three people, or two people, or one person that you feel is your PJ Bestie that you can be like.

For, you know, that just really enriches and you learn from, because I have to say the Mastermind I belong to in 2018 that I talk about a lot, it's like not only the person I took it under, it was the people I've met and like feel like that also just changed my business and changed my mindset and like opened me up to so many things I would've never known.

So even, even the first year I talk about Ashley, like she wouldn't be doing the SEO stuff. It wasn't for us going to PJX. You know what I mean? So you talk, you kind of think about things like, well if it wasn't for that, it wasn't for that. But really when you go to somewhere like that, where. You're seeing it all.

You're connecting with people. Just even talking to the suppliers, and I encourage you to try to like, just meet as many people as you can. Oh yeah. Talk to as many vendors as you can.

Nikki Novak: Try to use the tools. Yes. I'm [00:30:00] so happy that last year at PJX, Sunstone had just released the eclipse. Yeah. They had a whole station where you could actually try it out because I don't know that I would've bought it.

Mm-hmm. Had I not tried it. And then when I had the opportunity to try it, I'm like, instantly. And now

Jen Thyrion: aren't you addicted to it? Like I, I can't function it. I don't know how I could do without Yes. Yeah. Because, okay, so I still have to come out with an episode. It might, is probably gonna be maybe after this one, but I went to Sunstone.

I was in Utah, and I hung out with them for a little bit in June. That's how long ago? It was it in June. And I, we had talked about eye protection during this. Yeah. And it was, this was right after PJX. So I, I don't, didn't have my eclipse in hand yet.

Nikki Novak: Hmm.

Jen Thyrion: I talked about how, oh, I left

Nikki Novak: with one.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, did you? Oh.

Oh, I didn't, yeah, I did not. I was very vocal and honest about the fact that like, I. Blink. I shut my eyes with, with the spark And Jen is blind now. Actually. I cannot see that's And so, no, but we talked about and how I was talking to the welding expert who I was like interviewing and will come out with the [00:31:00] episode and he was saying, and I verified what the eye doctor I went to here.

That does protect your eyes by closing your eyes. Okay. So I got really good at that. But having said that, now knowing I don't have to do that. Oh, and granted it's still a habit. I probably blink my eyes. 'cause it's habit. Yeah. It's after three years of blinking my. But it's so nice just to know I don't have to worry about that.

And like even if, 'cause it's one thing. And this is another subject, but having said that, I just wanna caveat this. 'cause if you're listening, you're like, oh my God, that's terrible. You shouldn't be telling people that, well, like this is the thing you shouldn't, because this is the thing. I mean, when I would train people, that's what's hard.

It's like you can't train someone to weld by, just tell 'em to shut their eyes right away. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So with like over time, I knew exactly when, whatever, sure. But sometimes you might miss it and then you will get the spark. So it's not the best, it's not the best practice because you're not, you might not shut your eyes completely every time.

Yeah. So of course I don't suggest. That. I think that just over time, that was my way and that was what I was comfortable with, to be honest, you know? Yeah. But now I'm like, oh my God, thank God, and thank God I have something I can train my employees to know that like they're having [00:32:00] their eyes protected from the beginning too.

Right. Does that security worker,

Nikki Novak: worker's comp, there were other tools though that I am glad I saw PJX because I was going to buy mm-hmm. Until I saw it there. Mm-hmm. And then, and there was nothing wrong with the tool. There's something wrong with me. Yeah. That I was like. Oh, again, it's like knowing who you are.

Yes. And I was like, I'm not this kind of person. Yeah. And I love that other people are, but like I just need to outsource my myself.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. Well, yeah, it's funny you say that. 'cause I talk about this story too, where there's another permanent jewelry in this area and that's not her main business, but she had a permanent jewelry onto her business and you know, she never went through an actual training and whatnot.

But even if you do, that's why I'm such, I'm like such a proponent of hands-on because it's one thing to watch a YouTube video. And think you're doing it how you're taught by the someone to be in person and you actually sitting down with a welding expert or sitting down with someone being like, oh my gosh, no, I was holding this weird.

Yeah. And I didn't realize I was holding it weird. Yes. And now this made my life so much easier. But she was like, oh my God. I convinced her go to the second year of PJX last [00:33:00] year. And she was like, oh my gosh, I'm so grateful. I went, I'm so ma like, glad that you like convinced me to go because we were doing so many things wrong.

And now it's just like so much easier to train, you know? 'cause she has employees and it's really easy for her to kind of train and just improve her welding. So anyway, I could talk about it all day. But I do feel like we have some great committees who I feel amazing about and you one of them being on education exhibitors.

We're trying to get as many exhibitors so you can one stop shop for so many things. 'cause as I know as I'm sitting in my experience boutique where we offer like every experience probably under the sun, maybe sort of. That like, you know, people are adding onto their businesses. So we're, we're aware of the evolution of permanent jewelry, right?

And the fact evolution of your businesses. So taking that in account, and if you wanna add something on. And you have questions about it, this is the place to go to get your answers.

Nikki Novak: You know, that's it is you get out of PJX, what you're putting into it. Totally. So like Totally. I challenge you to go and when you go sit down at a table with people that you don't know Yeah.

[00:34:00] And actually talk to them. Like, put your phone away. Talk to them. Yeah. Ask the questions in the classes. Go to the classes that you're curious. Mm-hmm. You know, like look at the schedule ahead of time. I think we'll have it 90 days out and just kind of highlight what you're interested in. Talk to the vendors, like establish relationships with the vendors who are there.

That is so helpful. I know having know relationships with them and being able to ask questions, so Yeah. Go. But, but you know, like get outta your

Jen Thyrion: comfort zone. I agree. I agree. Like you said, I, I love that you said that. 'cause I mean, I feel like that's one of the models I just say in general is like, what do you put out is what you get back.

Because just anything, any, you can put anything in your life, you know what I mean? What you put out is what you get back. So it's like if you go in there and you're guarded, you don't wanna talk to anyone, or you're like, you're gonna look at everything as like a, I already know this, I already know that.

Yeah. Or I already have my friends make no friends. And also approaching, which I had to check myself after a while too, is like going into everything with a beginner's mindset. Like when you think you know something, but there's still like, you don't know every, [00:35:00] and things are changing all the time. So just there's no time.

I feel like I've been in business where I'm like, I know it all. Oh my God, I'm done it. It's the opposite. I know nothing. Yes. That's where I'm at. I'm sos far because that's where you're gonna get yourself in trouble. I think, you know, I've gotten to little situations like that in the past where I feel like, oh no, I'm good.

And it's like, then I'm like, no, I actually like had to have a humbling moment. Yeah. Like, nope, I don't know. It all, we all, yeah. So there's always something to learn and something to improve on. So I'm super excited for PJX. I am too, and I'm excited for the Goldie Links Facebook group to grow. Me too. I am so excited.

I'm so excited to just have a community, like again, community is everything. And so to have something where, again, I guess just like repeating this real quick before we say goodbye, but I do want something where it just feels the same way we, me and Nikki were talking about this, is we feel about our businesses like I am huge on the way my customers are treated when I train new employees because it is hard to hand that off and you not to be the face, right.

So I've entered that this time of this year for me, and it's like my [00:36:00] number one, I can train you to do anything, right? I mean, you can train someone how to weld, you can train someone how to put a charm necklace together or how, whatever. But it's like if you like can't connect with people and treat every person walking through the door, like they're important and like they're seen.

Then you just don't have a place here. You know what I mean? Yeah. So I wanna feel the same way with this group. And I know that I haven't really made people feel that they're great in that group, but I'm not gonna lie to you because I just, it's, you know, but it's like really I'm ready to kind of dive in and really connect with people inside that group outside of what I already have going in.

Connect people. Well, you know, if anyone's dmd me, you know that I voice memo you back. So. There I am. I will do that. But in the group I want it to be like just, you know, 'cause it's more than just me. I want it to be this community of like really, again, same way I feel about my membership. Just like-minded women that wanna lift each other up and feel that like they have a safe place to, and just get really good, valuable information and feel like, yeah, it's just a value in so many different ways.[00:37:00]

So, I dunno. How do you feel?

Nikki Novak: I feel great. Good. Yeah. Yeah. Excited for what's to come. So much opportunity. I know. It's exciting. Okay. And opportunity for you all too. Oh, for

Jen Thyrion: sure. I mean, yes, like I said, we're all, I just want it to feel like, again, community of competition, but we're all like cheering each other on because the more we lift, if I lift you up, it's, it's lifting me up too.

'cause again, I feel whatever you put out is what you get back. That's right. Right. Amen. Okay, that's a perfect ending. But real quick, where do we find you if when people wanna get to know more about you again?

Nikki Novak: Yeah, I'm on Instagram probably more than well in the Goldie Links Facebook group. Well, of course we're there all the time.

Yes. Yeah, we're now there all the time. Now we are also on Instagram. I am at Countess Jewelry. That's K-A-U-N-I-S. Jewelry spelled the US way.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. I

Nikki Novak: know that's important

Jen Thyrion: to

Nikki Novak: say, right?

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Cool. Alright. Thanks for being here. Thank you. Okay. See you in the group. Right? See you in the group.

Well, how do you feel? I hope you found [00:38:00] value in today's episode and you walk away feeling inspired. I would love to hear from you. Let's link up. You can find me on Instagram at Goldie Link Society. You can find out more about our permanent jewelry membership@goldielinksociety.com. Our handmade permanent jewelry, supplies of connectors, chain, and more@goldielinksupplies.com.

Okay, I will see you next time. Have a golden day.