Self-help books are big business. It is approximated to be worth $11 billion. There are always more people under stress, underestimated potential waiting for that motivational kick that will change their lives. That is their belief. They seek self-help books like a honed pigeon. They keep picking one book after another. It must be doing something right for them otherwise there is no reason for them to buy them. Or there is a possibility of getting addicted to self-help books.
Once you dig deep, you will find self-help books provide temporary relief, a conduit of confidence and possibility of feeling good. They do have their placebo effect. Their impact is really short-lived. Once trapped in this cycle, the addicted reader keeps on venturing out to get a different drug or a higher dose. They externally seek induced motivation to correct what is wrongly wired inside.
Self-help is an ancient tradition and tool. However, to get the real advantage, one needs to practice what one reads. And the reader needs to be selective in adapting what will suit a situation.
Reading a self-help book is nothing new. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is estimated that in the current generation, every adult at some stage would have read, sourced or flipped through the self-help books on subject of their interest.
There is a wide spectrum of subjects on which books are available or possible. Subjects spectrum range from ‘How to become a Millionaire’, ‘Gaining confidence’, ‘How to flirt’ to ‘How to convince and close sales’. Weight loss, dieting, yoga, health and better sexual pleasure dominates the arena.
There are two things that matter in case of self-help books, One, to decide which book to read and two, how to implement what you read.
This is where your need to be selfish. It is more than investment of time and money.
So, start with your SWOT analysis and identify the areas you want to address with the help of books. Scan the market for the same. Read reviews. Check author’s credentials and experience in the subject. If it is spirituality and religious spectrum, it is adviseable to follow writers of your faith. Check which you are included in its core target group. Do not restrict yourself to a fix set of authors or genre. Sometimes you will find the answers in a different category. Maybe write your need, in terms of ‘I wish someone had a book that can help me ……….’
Now that you have a shortlist, on the internet or in a shop, read few pages and see if the writing style is in sync with your way of reading. If it is, chances are you will enjoy adapting some part of it. Do not pick anything that makes a hugely impossible promise. Do not have over expectations. Be prepared for long haul and gradual change.
Pick up from the latest set or an updated reprint incorporating development in understanding of human behavior. Once you finalise on the book, don’t procrastinate, pick it up and read it.
This is the stage where the second issue of how do you adapt the self-help book learning into your life becomes critical.
Go ahead and take few more books on the same subject. Pick books allowing moderation and adaptability. Avoid books promoting ‘only my way’ kind of philosophy. Assimilate tips and create your recipe that will work for you.
Take baby steps. Look at gradual changes. Find the simple tips that you can adapt to without many problems. This will build in self-confidence and enhance your capability to implement tips. Be strict with yourself and give it time to demonstrate the effect.
Be wiling to fail and learn. Be ready for few lapses and to restart. There is ample possibility of lapse and initial failure, Be prepared for it.
Set your target and create your own matrix of measuring success.
Finally set yourself rewards that you will give to yourself when you succeed or see the change.
Self-help books can be of help but only to people willing to experiment and implement learnings. So, be selfish and be very wise in shopping for the self-help book.
Sanjeev Kotnala with 28 years of corporate experience is the founder of Intradia World; a Brand, Marketing & Management Advisory. His focus area includes Ideation and Innovation; he also conducts specialized workshops like IDEAHarvest, Liberate and InNoWait. For soft skill training, he follows SHIFT (Specific High-Intensity Frequent training), a process of continuous training with frequent shorter sessions. Email sanjeev@intradia.in tweet @s_kotnala web: www.intradia.inwww.sanjeevkotnala.com.
