Nikki Munro's Story – with Update!

Hi Fiona,

Five years ago my husband and I lost every thing we owned. The house was repossessed, so was the car. We had to move into a tatty rented house, which my teenage daughters were bullied for at school.

We then had to move countries because of his work, things should have picked up for us but for some reason failed to do so. We were depressed with what we saw as our lot in life. We struggled on and managed to borrow money for a deposit on a house in Norway where we were living. We expected to make money on this and come back to Britain victorious. Imagine our shock when he was made redundant and we were sent back to Scotland once again losing money. He was however re-employed by the same company based in Aberdeen.

My husband never gave up. He refused to rent a rotten house again. Instead he rented us a large country house that we love. Then he said that I needed to work if we were ever to reach our goal of owning a beautiful house and being a success.

I was so scared, despite being a qualified beauty therapist / aromatherapist and chef, I had only ever taken jobs as a sales assistant. Deep down inside me I was certain that If I ever took on a job I was qualified to do, I would fail. Then the world would see me for a fraud.

The fear of failure has for twenty years kept me from even trying. I was miserable for this. I had a low self-esteem that seemed to be holding me down for ever. My husband always saw me as beautiful, talented and fun. I always doubted his opinion, I was always waiting for him to realise the truth and leave me for someone more worth while. This as you can imagine made me difficult to live with.

Then I saw you on Lorraine Kelly and it was like receiving an electric shock to the brain. I told my husband about this and he ordered your book for me as a surprise. I started it straight away and immediately saw my life as something I could actually take control of. You helped me to see myself the way I should have years ago.

I managed the bankruptcy like a hero. Ditto for moving countries. Same again for having managed to find work in a foreign country, What strength I had when we had to move again! The evidence was there all the time. With these fortifying thoughts I applied for work in a salon. The salon is up to the minute in its technology. At one time this would have freaked me out. Instead I calmly told them just how excellent I was as a therapist and that I knew it would take very little time for me to train up in the new treatments. Before I went in for this interview I pictured myself as a gorgeous self assured women who would just exude confidence. It worked, I got the job and start training next week. They are even sending me to Glasgow for three days and I’m not scared! I am merely excited at the prospect. My goal is to have my own salon. We don’t have the funds yet. So I am happy to work and be trained so that I will be up to date and ready to go.

This is only the start for me. I am grateful for your book and so is my husband. Interestingly though, I did all the self help work only for me. The fact that my husband has benefited to is just a fantastic bonus.

Thanks again,

Nikki Munro
19th March 2001

Nikki’s Update

I have now been made beauty manager at the salon, something I achieved within two months of starting the job!

Nikki Munro
23rd September 2001