Self Help for Zoomers. How under 25s are selling out Self Help seminars in 2023
If you thought Self Help was a 80s fad that momentarily held our middle-aged parents attention and convinced them to declutter the house once or twice, you’d be forgiven.
The Self Help movement is still alive and well in 2023, and has an unexpected audience- Under 25s.
The building blocks that made Self Help an empire and drove names like Wayne Dyer and Tony Robbins into history haven’t changed, but how they’re communicated has evolved.
Once brightly lit auditoriums with strobe lights, now weekly in a dimly lit comedy club on a Monday night.
Hundreds of people come with their note books, holding them close to their face to be able to write in the dark room.
With over 120,000 subscribers on Youtube and over 2,000 paid Patreon followers, Jordan Shanks Self Help is giving Zoomers something they aren’t getting elsewhere. But, what is that? Let’s ask two of the mythical creatures!
⚡Tell us about yourself. How long have you been listening to Jordan Shanks Self Help?
Tash- My name is Tash, I’m 24 and I am a Freelancer. My work can go from working on house projects as an interior designer to social media management and content creation for other creators. I’ve been listening to Jordan’s Self Help since 2020.
(Note, you can find Tash @TashSikkes on Instagram and Youtube)
James- I’m James, 24, and I work as a radio producer. I’ve been listening to Jordan from around late 2019.
Did you have any prior exposure to self help?
Tash- I originally started my self-help journey at the beginning of 2020, I was in a really rough spot and going through a lot of change. I was at the bookstore and saw Tony Robbins; Awaken the Giant Within. I had heard a lot of mixed reviews on him, so I started reading the book in-store and was hooked so quickly that I bought it and read it religiously until I finished it.
James- Prior to watching the channel, I had barely any prior experience with self help. Watching Jordan got me into reading Tony Robbins, and ever since then it has been lots of reading, watching videos and listening to podcasts.
Why did Jordan's stick?
Tash- I honestly think that Jordan’s efforts in self-help stuck with me so well because I had always wanted an older brother to bestow their wisdom onto me with a no-bullshit approach.
Jordan does this for me on a really deep level because he’s so good at having a casual yet engaging discussion that I feel like I’m there having a D&M with him. We also have similar backgrounds, so I really felt he got me a lot more than a lot of the other self-help gurus out there.
James- I found that Jordan was a familiar face (from watching FriendlyJordies) and it related to me more.
A lot of the self help books I read were from people who were running teams, and I feel like it didn't focus on what you can do at an individual level. Jordan makes it interesting by throwing in jokes, and actually holds you accountable.
Recent shorts on the Jordan Shanks Self Help channel
What's been the most valuable thing you've found through Self Help
Tash- There have been so many valuable pieces of wisdom I’ve learned through self-help, but I think the most pivotal piece of information that made the most change for me is that I am the writer of my own story.
There may have been some truly low and rock bottom moments in my life, but I am the one who can decide how I react to it and whether or not I get back up and push on.
Learning to change the narrative in my head from the victim to the hero of the story has completely changed the direction of my life.
James- I think one of the biggest things for me is thinking about change in a different way. I used to always think that in order to change, I had to completely overhaul my life and start from scratch.
After being immersed in self-help, I've come to realise that it's small and consistent progress that ends up making the biggest difference.
Also, opening my eyes to how much social media has affected my life has really made me pull back on my social media use. Although it's hard to completely disconnect with my job, using it less has helped me be more productive and less off with the fairies.
Pros? Cons?
Tash- One of the biggest pros is the feeling of understanding in yourself that you get, you become self- aware towards things you’ve been doing. It taught me to be grateful for even the small things in my life.
I suppose one of the biggest cons around self-help is that you want to tell everyone about it, people will say you’ve joined a cult, or you’ve been suckered in by a “snake oil salesman.”
It can be pretty disheartening because all you want is for others to experience the transformation you have experienced but you need to let people come to it on their own terms I found.
James- I mean there are so many pros!
(Editors note: Thanks for the length on this answer, James! Haha…)
Would you tell others to give it a go?
Tash- I’m always recommending people to read even the slightest bit of psychology to better understand themselves or even the people around them.
I certainly think you need to find the right person or media to take it all in. Some people prefer reading others prefer to watch videos.
I personally like to have a mix of both. I will usually watch Jordan’s videos as quick reminders throughout my week but to gain a deeper understanding of aspects of self-help I prefer reading.
James- I would and I have. I introduced one of my friends to self help around mid-last year.
When I went to his place recently, he had laminated motivational quotes and daily reminders in his room! I felt kinda proud of that one.
Recent videos on the channel. Topics are audience requested and relevant, such as the horror of social media or dating app gripes.
Any notes or anything else you'd like to add?
Tash- I wish I could condense down what self-help has truly done for me but at this point, I’m getting close to writing a novel.
But regardless of whether you’re the hero, the villain, or even the damsel in distress in your story, as of now, you have the power to change that and have an extraordinary life.
James- I think the channel is the perfect gateway and resource into a movement that a lot of men in their early 20's need.
It feels as though the world is full of so much information about EVERYTHING, and learning about self help has made me understand what is important and what is a waste of time.
It also helps for someone like me who is optimistic about the future of their career and hoping to become their own definition of success.
In conclusion
We are all for creators that can make their niche engaging and interesting.
Self Help needed (and still needs) a serious face lift and revamp, and it’s encouraging to see it making an impact on under 25s.
This new wave of Self Help is filled of passionate individuals who are intensely dedicated to making the world a better place, through the two major Self Help principals of Contribution and Growth.
Thoughts about Self Help? Any Self-Improvement tips you’d like to share? Let us know below!
