How to be a Badass: First book for local author
By Racheal Fleury
While many people might have had writing a book on their “to-do” list over Melbourne’s months of lockdowns last year, Docklands resident Nikki Langman set her mind to the task and has just published her first book.
Released in April, How to be a Badass – navigating your road to self-mastery details the 43-year-old’s 30-year struggle with sobriety and the framework she has developed to overcome her addiction.
“My relationship with alcohol started exceptionally young. I was seven years old the first time I remember an upsetting event happening and turning to alcohol for comfort,” Mrs Langman said.
She has been completely sober since her late 30s and said the book was a culmination of all her life experiences.
“I watched through the pandemic so many people struggling, and I was wondering what’s the best way for me to help people. How can I best be that message of hope?”
Mrs Langman worked with local Melbourne publishers Ultimate World Publishing and wrote the book over the course of four months during Melbourne’s second lockdown last year.
“I got up at 4am every day, seven days per week, and I just wrote and wrote. I say this book was written in four months, but really this is a story that has been being written for 43 years,” Mrs Langman said.
The book details Mrs Langman’s life and the development of what she calls the “BADASS framework”; her blueprint for managing life struggles, setbacks and how to manage self-limiting beliefs.
“BADASS is an acronym that stands for Brave, Authentic, Direction, Action, Self-love and Self-talk. By holding myself accountable to this model, I have been able to access my most powerful self,” Mrs Langman said.
“At this time, particularly with everything that has gone on with COVID-19, I’m so grateful I have a message of hope. Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you’re going through or whatever what you might go through, here’s a framework to manage it,” she said.
Mrs Langman holds an impressive CV. She is a business consultant, professional speaker and emotional intelligence specialist and, since giving up alcohol, has become an ultra-marathon runner, competing in races up to 60kms long.
Originally from Orange County, California, Mrs Langman has been a Docklands’ resident for nine years. She said she felt lucky to live in a small community on the edge of a big city.
“I just love Docklands. Even though you’re in the city, Docklands has that small-town feel. It’s a real community. The dry cleaner knows my name; my concierge knows my name. You get the ‘cheers’ vibe around here,” she said.
“As a runner, living in Docklands, there are so many trails, there are so many beautiful places to run. I also realised when you’re only allowed to go five kilometres from home when you live in Docklands; you’re surrounded by everything, and you don’t need to go any farther than that ever.”
Mrs Langman said she hoped that her book would inspire people to own their story and also to empower them to believe that their story helped and inspired others.
“Every day that you show up in the world as a badass, you influence others. Even when you don’t feel like it, keep going. You never know who you are affecting along the way,” she said •