True, you have a point there where Robbins, Swift, and many other who hold expensive shows can get away with much higher prices. They do have fans who can afford those kinds of things. Not only that but the value that's delivered can be genuinely helpful.

I've never been to a Robbins seminar, but from me indulging in free webinars, I can see how these can deliver great value to people.

It's also mitigated again by those free or cheap resources. Gary Vaynerchuk is an example since I do recall watching a video years ago where he said his books were just recycled content he's created over the years. It's more that the books serve as a convenient reference point. On top of the fact that many people have covered these topics in their own way, rich self-help gurus aren't providing anything really new, just the medium and their own flare to it is the new to it.

I also agree that these events can also be valuable for connections, inspiration, ideas too. Connections most importantly these days.

I'm not expecting self-help gurus to be giving away everything for free - those in the middle and lower parts of the self-help industry earnings do have to make a living after all. But I'm thinking self-help gurus can be making it easier to apply what they are offering.

For example, I know Matthew McConaughey got into self-help recently and was selling a course called "The Art of Livin'". I don't know the full course details, but one thing I did like was that those who bought VIP tickets to the free webinar and those who bought the course itself resulted in McConaughey donating 25 (or 50) meals to Feed America.

I don't know if he donated those meals or not, but I think incorporating non-profits into the mix who are working to address systemic problems is at least a start. It's not connected to the buyer itself exactly, but it is a way of elevating people that I think is what self-help is about. In order to grow, you need to ensure that you're able to look after yourself.

I think that's where I think the additional steps come in and why self-help can be tougher for some. Just the living circumstances don't always accommodate the one working to grow. At least in some situations.