All This Self-Help / Self-Development Stuff Can Really Annoy Me!
Happy 4th of July!
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Sounds funny coming from me given that I just started IwillFight.com right? Well, let’s see what I mean…
I actually LOVE self-help and self-development, but there are certain “kinds” that drive me insane. The reason I’m talking about this today is because I recently bought a book, we’ll refer to it as “Book X” that talks about how to change your life in “X” days.
It came in through Amazon yesterday and I was pretty excited to start reading it, broke it open today and within 2 minutes, I read just one phrase that made me wanna slap myself.
“Good work! Give yourself a pat on the back, look in the mirror and tell yourself ‘I’m Awesome!”
Are you kidding me? What’s this hokey pokey blabbady blah advice? Look at myself in the mirror and say I’m awesome? WHO DOES THAT?
Don’t get me wrong, Book X (I’m about 25% done) has SOME good concepts, but mostly it’s just too “common.”
TRULY good self-help books present unique concepts that help shape the way you think and react. The BEST ones use live examples to allow you to vividly picture what they’re talking about.
I’m hoping to write a book soon. I can only hope that mine will be very targeted. My goal is really to only present 10 key characteristics that can help awaken the fighter mentality.
As for what the TITLE of Book X is? I really don’t want to hurt any feelings just yet. Also, I’m only 25% of the way through it, when I finish it, maybe I’ll have changed my mind?
If not, if I’m even more irritated, maybe I shall seek revenge by naming the book here 
With those happy thoughts upon you, go enjoy 4th of July or if you’re not in the U.S. - Enjoy the day anyways!
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Tags: self development, self help
July 5th, 2008 at 5:51 am
I think that self-help books are like cookery books. When I buy a cookery book, if I get out of it one single recipe that ends up as part of my regular cooking repertoire, it was worth the investment. If I get one good idea from a self help book, an idea that becomes part of “the way I see things,” then it was worth the investment.
I don’t expect self help books to fix everything. It’s enough if they add one little tool to my self-help personal toolkit. As you say, it has to be something unique. Not some time-wasting happy-clappy nonsense like “tell yourself you’re AWSOME!”. I mean really.
[Reply]
July 7th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
[...] Read the full article at I Will Fight … [...]
July 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Hey Fighter, I have a rant about your rant … You can read it at
CindySense.com/positive-thinking/self-help-self-talk-is-it-for-you
Just another way of thinking
Cindy
[Reply]
July 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
So true and so funny. There is a place for affirmations but that particular place probably isn’t it!
So many self help books and systems - and your job as an upcoming author is to say something in a different way and to create a true solution rather than yet another “seminar stew” book.
Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady
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September 16th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I totally agree! I want to improve myself, so I’m constantly looking for something inspirational…..but it’s hard to keep looking after sifting through so much sap. I can’t do things that feel so contrived.
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