Self Improvement Month reminds us that we all need to improve — and we all need to care for ourselves. It’s an opportunity for us to assess how satisfied we are with ourselves and to take the necessary steps to become who we aspire to be. Note: The self-improvement industry, valued at nearly $11 billion in the United States, offers books and other products intended to improve personal, mental, and physical health.
Self Improvement Month timeline
- February 29, 1960
Tony Robbins birthday
Robbins is perhaps the most recognized self-improvement "guru" of the modern era. Thousands attend his seminars at arenas around the world.
- August 1958
Self improvement comes to television
Dr. Joyce Brothers, a psychologist, began her own TV show — offering advice to viewers. Brothers also wrote many self-improvement books and was a syndicated advice columnist.
- October 1936
Winning friends and influencing people
Dale Carnegie published "How to Win Friends and Influence People," the first widely read self-help book and one of the bestselling books of all time.
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5 Self-improvement Facts And Figures
Self improvement is big business
The self-improvement industry, which includes books, magazines, seminars, and a host of other products, is worth $11 billion annually in the U.S.
Publishers love self help
Self-help books account for 5.7 percent of all books sold each year in the U.S.
Next stop: Mars (and Venus)
"Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus," by John Gray, is the bestselling self-help book of all time, with more than 50 million sold.
Women outnumber men in the market
Women make up 70 percent of the consumers who purchase self-help products.
The speaker circuit
There are more than 5,000 motivational speakers on the road each year, some commanding as much as $50,000 per appearance.
How to Observe Self Improvement Month
Adopt an exercise routine
It happens every year — the annual migration to the gym after the holidays to shed all that turkey weight. Why wait? Get a jump on the holidays and start an exercise routine or join a gym to be in tip-top shape before the holidays arrive.
Read some books
There are a million self-help books on the market that cover everything from work/life balance — to improving self-confidence — to managing relationships with family members and friends. Crawl up with a book or two that might introduce you to some new and helpful ideas.
Volunteer
People who volunteer are happier and feel volunteering gives them a sense of purpose. Identify one or two charities that align with your interests and commit to volunteering a few hours a week or month. You'll be helping them, and yourself.
Why Self Improvement Month is Important
It's an annual personal health checkup
We can think about how to improve our mental and physical health. It acts as a catalyst for us to get better.
It's self-empowering
Only we have the power to make the choices that improve our lives, whether it's changing our diet or lifestyle, starting an exercise regimen, reading more books, or joining groups or clubs that expand our social circle.
It's an industry
The self-improvement industry offers many tools. These include life coaches and therapists, books, diet suggestions, and other products that help millions live better lives.
Also on Sun Sep 1, 2024...
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