I muscled through being an undocumented pregnant mom and the difficult phases of life to find my glow-up.
I wrapped up my Associate in Fashion Marketing, and the following year, I started an internship at a major Fashion House. Three weeks before completing my internship, I fell severely ill. Diagnosed with severe orthostatic hypertension and after two months in ICU, I was discharged with a warning…“Nicole, if you don’t learn to advocate for yourself, you will send yourself to an early grave.”
I’m Nicole Palmer, mom of two, multi-passionate entrepreneur, owner of Nicole Williams Collective, and now an author. 2003 I had one of my “know your value” moments. I leaned in so hard trying to be a strong black woman that I almost sent myself to an early grave.
As women, we are warriors when it comes to protecting, defending, and propelling the success of others. However, when it comes to knowing our value, we tend to undervalue our worth. Hell, it took me decades to understand how to know my value, as well as how to bet on myself. The thing is, for us women, self-care, most of the time, is a revolutionary thing. We wear this superwoman thing like a badge of honor, but it stands in the way of our mental and physical health… Not to mention us asking for help.
Recognizing that stepping into the best version of yourself starts with knowing your value, I decided to write Bet On Yourself. I wanted to share my own story to inspire other women to know their value and effectively communicate it. Filled with life lessons, practical advice, and commentary on all things self-discovery. Bet On Yourself will help you embrace your fears and harness your strengths to live your best life. You’ll be reminded that there are always lessons to learn even at the lowest points in your life and to see every experience as an opportunity for continuous improvement. You’ll be reminded that when you don’t attain the elusive work-life balance you’re not a failure.
Contrary to the Instagram depiction of success, life is not always sunshine and rainbows. The juggle for women who are growing careers and families is real. And though my journey hasn’t been a golden stair, it has taught me to love myself, trust myself, and feel happier, most of the time — but not without consistent effort. I love my glow-up because I found my strength in the struggle.
You see, my setbacks weren’t in vain; they laid the foundation for my future success. I hope this book helps you find yourself, accept yourself, and love yourself as an act of self-care and self-worth. Learn to bet on yourself, and don’t be afraid to go through life’s difficult and uncomfortable phases because your struggles will be your glow-up.
