Beware The Self-Help Grift

Kendall J. Glynn
Nov 4 · 4 min read

You know the cliche: art imitates life. Specifically in this case, writing imitates life. Young/beginner writers, including and especially myself, tend to fall into a paradox. We have imposter syndrome. We have writers that we admire, but we don’t believe that we could ever be like them. Yet, we acknowledge that they were once in the same position of inexperience. So we seek their guidance. They all have their own stories, their own style, and their own technique. But one point of advice is the same. Nothing happens unless you sit down and do it. That’s the only common denominator. Besides that, everyone finds their own way. So we try it. We try and cultivate our own technique and style based on our own interests and experiences. But it never goes perfectly. And guess what? We find ourselves once again reading about our favorite writer’s writing processes rather than actually writing. And around and around we go.

This paradox exists in everything that requires time and experience. Art, science, math, life, and success. I’m at an age where a lot of peers are entering into the real work force for the first time. Some are getting corporate jobs, some are starting companies, some are freelancing, etc. All of us are trying to figure out the best way to become successful in whatever field we’ve decided to go into. All of us have people we admire who have done it. And we look to these people for guidance and support. What’s the problem? The problem is when these people start charging for the guidance. When they start preying upon the ever-present fear of never being successful.

First, most people equate financial success with success in one’s general life. So the self-help and business aid industry have almost become one in the same. How many times have you seen someone tell you to drink water, sleep, and meditate as the first steps to becoming a millionaire? Those are habits held by most millionaires, but they’re certainly not mutually exclusive to hedge-fund managers and CEOs. That implication is nonsense.

Of course, you should take care of yourself. You should sleep. You should drink water. You should exercise. You should do anything you need to do to maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health. But I assure you that most of these things are obvious. And free. But what comes after that?

Two of my favorite writers of all-time have masterclasses online. You pay the fee and get access to hours of their in-depth look into their craft. I’ve read Stephen King’s On Writing three times. Every time I read it I pick up a little more about the way he cultivated his gift. I bought On Writing for four dollars at a used bookstore back in my hometown. Those Masterclasses will cost me at least 100 dollars. Of course, they may be worth it. But I know what the biggest piece of advice will be in those classes. It’s the same advice from Stephen King. Get in the chair and get it done. Whether it’s crap or brilliant, you’ve got to keep going.

Therein lies the rub. The self-help charlatan will NOT give you that advice. They’ll give you basic self-care advice. They even may give some technical advice on how to properly manage your finances or invest correctly. But they will never tell you to stop looking for their help and get to doing. If they’re someone you admire, someone who truly has put in the work to become successful, they’ve put in thousands of hours to become that person. They should tell you to start putting in those hours. They should NOT be telling you to sign up for their course or buy their books. It’s possible that their course or book would help. Maybe there is really advice on how to develop your skills. But there’s never a secret sauce. There’s never a silver bullet. And if they tell you there is, they certainly just want your money.

Here’s the thing: we’re all looking for the right way down the road. We all want some help from time to time. But self-help books should not take up your life. Just like reading the wise words of other writers should not be my career. I have to sit down and write. I have to make the things that will eventually be the basis for me giving someone advice some day. Self-help books should answer a question. If you’re reading 15 a year, you’re not being helped. You’re being subdued. You’re not doing. You’re reading about doing. And that’s no way to proceed. Get to work and beware the charlatan. They’re everywhere and they’re looking for a mark.

Kendall J. Glynn

Written by

Reader by compulsion. Writer by delusion. Learner by requisition.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade