By Jaideep Shergill
I have always been wary of self-help videos, books and all the other paraphernalia which are now all-pervasive in the world of today. It’s interesting how the business of “self-help†as I would like to call it has taken over our very existence. All indicators show us that while various forms of self-help have existed for hundreds of years, it’s only in the latter third of the 20th century that this business really took off.
Essentially, it’s a good way for a bunch of so-called experts to make a lot of money via books, seminars and all other forms of “therapiesâ€. Some of the top self-help gurus charge upto USD ten thousand for a seminar on self-help/motivation. The funny thing is that as we humans got more socio-economic freedom, better education, amazing technological prowess and fundamentally improved our lifestyles manifold, the need for self-help grew exponentially.
At the start of the 21st century, the self-improvement industry, inclusive of books, seminars, audio and video products, and personal coaching, was estimated to be to the tune of USD 2.50 billion dollars-a-year industry in the United States alone. By 2006, research firm Marketdata estimated the “self-improvement” market in the U S as worth more than $9 billion—including infomercials, mail-order catalogues, holistic institutes, books, audio-video aids, seminars, personal coaching etc. and the same market is now estimated at 15 billion USD++. As you will notice, the number of techniques and channels have grown and so has the revenue.
Just to illustrate my point with an example in our very own backyard, if you go to any half decent bookstore around our major metros, you will notice how the self-help sections started out in one corner of the store to then moved onto separate shelves and then cannibalised entire sections and large ones at that.
I for one believe that the best way we can help ourselves is by embracing new ideas and learnings from new age thinkers and then really take them and adapt them to our lives. One of my favourite platforms in none other than the TED talks which are devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks which are really contagious. Over the years, I discovered some great talks and then followed the speakers and their inspirational ideas in every other form I could consume them in. I then went out and read their papers and books, watched their films and followed them via their blogs and websites.
Interestingly some of my favourite “ideas people†on these TED talks are not listed as self-help gurus but as philosophers, economists, historians, musicians, film-makers, business leaders and entrepreneurs, travel writers, anthropologists and more. Some of my favourite “ideas people†(and you may want to check them out) are: Alain De Botton, Dan Ariely, Malcolm Gladwell, Simon Sinek and Rory Sutherland.
Always remember, ideas are contagious and the best help we can get comes from everywhere, anywhere and at anytime, so just open your minds and soak in the best ideas.
And never forget what the Beatles wrote-Help, I need somebody, Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone, help When I was younger (So much younger than) so much younger than today (I never needed) I never needed anybody’s help in any way (Now) But now these days are gone (These days are gone), I’m not so self assured (I know I’ve found) Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Jaideep Shergill, Co-Founder Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting LLP is a PR and communication veteran and has always been contrarian about most things, drawing extraordinary amounts of irk and ire from industry peers. He can be reached on jaideep.shergill@pitchforkpartners.comÂ