The term “experts industry” was coined by Brendon Burchard in his book, The Millionaire Messenger. Brendon is one of the towering figures in the experts industry. His Millionaire Messenger was #1 on Amazon’s best-seller list for 40 weeks and catapulted the author to the top of the pile in the industry.Brendon went on to launch the now defunct Experts Industry Association and the run-away successful “The Expert Academy” and the “High Performance Academy.”, becoming an instant sensation. Oprah describes him as “One of the most successful online trainers in history.”But how did the self-help industry get started? The terms experts industry, self-help, self help, personal development, personal improvement, personal growth, self-improvement, and information marketing are often used today interchangeably.The industry is increasingly referred to as the experts industry in recent times because, according to Brendon Burchard, “It’s where experts operate.”The term self-help (also used without hyphen) was the term first used to describe the industry and was coined by Samuel Smiles, a Scottish Doctor, in 1859. However, the term (self-help) is now viewed as derogatory because of the assortment of snake oil salesmen or charlatans that prowl about, online and offline, seeking who to unleash their fake wares and cures.Sacramentochiropractic.com, points out that the origins of self help date back to the book “The Constitution of Man,” written by a Victorian phrenologist, George Combe, in 1828. It was followed, according to them, by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Compensation” in 1841.Quoting market research.com, Iulia-Cristina Uta shared the information that “the self-improvement market was worth $9.9 billion in 2016 and is estimated to grow to $13.2 billion by 2022, with 5.6% average yearly gains.” That’s a total growth rate of 33.33% meaning there is room for any determined soul to jump in.I her article in brandminds.ro and quoting Niels Eek, a psychologist, Iulia-Cristina Uta threw a sharp light on what the industry is all about. She asserted, “Self-improvement is about consciously identifying and developing one or more facets of your life. From the perspective of an entrepreneur, self-improvement will often entail some sort of mental training but can mean anything from practicing stress management to valuable goal-setting. Professionals are often keen to learn things like time-management techniques (for better prioritizing tasks) and increasing productivity without compromising mental wellbeing.”The self-improvement market is wide and encompasses a large variety of products and services, ranging from books, to e-books, online courses, coaching programs, webinars, “academies”, “universities”, “masterminds”, master-classes, conferences, and mobile apps according to brandminds.ro.Taking the digital angle, Hazel Davi, a guest blogger at virgin.com quoted various sources and research findings as pointing to the fact that compared to other age groups, millennials are the most driven to engage in self-development.Writing under the title, “What does self-improvement look like in the digital age?”, she asserted, “Millennials love self-improvement; whether it’s learning how to be an inspirational leader or change-maker, coding for beginners or leaning In – they seemingly can’t get enough of it.”Since its creation in 1859, the industry has become unstoppable with thousands of “gurus” peddling their wares to whoever cares to read, listen, view, try, and buy. When asked whether he was a “guru”, Peter Drucker had said, “The term charlatan was too difficult to pronounce so someone invented the word guru.”In that regard marketresearch.com has this to say, “Consumers are realizing that there are many so-called “experts” now peddling a variety of online “masterminds”, “academies”, “universities” and coaching services. Too many, in fact. As a result, gurus are trying to figure out how to cut through the clutter while consumers are trying to identify legitimate, competent experts.”The US is unique in that it’s the only country in the world I know of where a full month is set aside for self-help. According to sacramentochiropractic.com, September is National Self Improvement Month in the US. According to the blog, “It’s a time to reflect upon your life, set new goals and take strides to make personal changes in order to achieve the life you truly wish.” Any wonder the US is the global center of gravity for self-help?Any wonder the biggest names in the industry in the English speaking world are all Americans? The following 20 living and long gone legends readily come to mind, not in any particular order: Napoleon Hill, Jay Abraham, W. Clement Stone, Jack Canfield,
Dale Carnegie, Mark Victor Hanson, Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, Marcia Weider, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Joe Polish, Deepak Chopra, Gary Vaynerchuk, Zig Ziglar, Tim Ferriss, Les Brown, Peter Diamandis, Brian Tracy, Brendon Burchard.In the English speaking world, no two people have made bigger impact in the self-improvement industry than Sir Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey. But they belong to a special class of their own, the billionaire’s class.Branson’s business empire spans the globe and he always finds time to motivate the new generation. His book, How I Lost My Virginity, is an evergreen classic on motivation.Oprah is not far left behind. Her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and The Oprah Winfrey Show attract millions worldwide. Get your book onto the Oprah Book Club and you’re made for life. Such is the magnate of the Oprah brand.According to webwire.com, the self-help industry was worth $11 billion in the US in 2019. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is growing even bigger in 2020 as the explosive growth for the services of online webinar companies such as ZOOM, Webinar Jam, and Microsoft Teams illustrate. The future of the industry has never been brighter.The dollar-worth of the various segments of the self-help industry in 2019, according to marketresearch.com, as quoted in brandminds.ro, was as follows:
• Self-help audio books – $769 million
• Self-improvement books – $800 million
• Self-improvement apps – $27 million
• Personal coaching services – $1 billion in the US
• Motivational speakers – $1 billion per year combinedTo make a killing in the self-help industry and join the long list of millionaires, you need to pick a niche and pitch your tent. If you know your onions and choose the right strategies, you can make a killing within a year or two.The internet has put self-help within the reach of anyone with something of value to over. Indeed with a laptop, internet connection, and a message or a product the market is hungry for, you can create impact with blistering speed and dance all the way to the bank.The key to success is identifying a lucrative niche that matches your expertise. Here are the top nine niches according to marketresearch.com:
1. Infomercials
2. Audio books
3. Self-improvement Books
4. Self-improvement apps
5. Personal Coaching
6. Motivational Speakers
7. Weight Loss Programs
8. Public Seminars
9. Holistic Institutes & Training CompaniesI first stumbled on the self help industry some 30 years back. Brian Tracy’s motivational tapes wetted my appetite. At about the same time, I stumbled on Jay Abraham’s “12 Pillars of Business Success”. That led me to “Success Magazine”, and later “Excellence Magazine”. It was not long before I stumbled on Tony Robbins’ best-selling books “Unlimited Power”, and “Awaken The Giant Within”. I’ve never looked back.While the industry as we know it today took off “officially” in 1859 with the publication of Samuel Smiles book, Self Help, which sold 250,000 copies, motivating people, with oratory, dates back to antiquity.As Adlai Stevenson once alluded, “When Cicero turned to the crowds in ancient Rome, people said, ‘great speech’. When Demosthenes spoke to the crowds in ancient Greece and people turned to each other, they said: ‘Let’s march.'”So self-help dates back at least 2400 years. However, it really took off with gusto with the advent of newspapers, radio, television, and now, the internet. There is no better time than now to jump into the experts industry and make a fortune for yourself. With a free 90-minute webinar, you could make $10,000 before the webinar is over. Is that not worth giving it a try?

Tony Molla is the Vice President of Communications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in Leesburg, VA. With over 35 years experience in the automotive service industry, Tony has held positions at all levels, including technician, service manager, parts store manager, new car sales and automotive technical editor writing service manuals for the Chilton Book Company. He has authored more than a dozen technical and car care manuals. Prior to joining ASE in January, 2000, Tony spent nine years as the Editorial Director of Motor Age magazine and Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN).ASK PATTY: Can you tell us a little bit about your job and your position at The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)?Tony: I am responsible for all Corporate, external and internal communications at ASE. This includes things like press releases, industry presentations, trade shows and our website content. I also manage our Consumer Outreach efforts, which include free articles sent out to consumer publications like newspapers and magazines across the country. I also manage our outreach programs which involve our sponsorships in several areas. The largest is our participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where we sponsor Ted Musgrave’s No. 9 Team ASE/Germain Racing Toyota Tundra. We also have smaller sponsorships with the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, with a presence at air shows across the country, and a sponsorship of three Professional Bull Riders in the PBR Series. We also have a grassroots racing program called Team ASE which involves our ASE certified professionals who race their own vehicles. I am also the publisher of the ASE Tech News, our Corporate publication which goes to over 500,000 subscribers consisting mostly of ASE certified professionals and our industry supporters.ASK PATTY: What does it mean to be ASE certified?Tony: ASE Certification works like any other professional certification. Auto and truck professionals must take and pass an industry-developed competency test in one or more areas of expertise to become certified. There are eight tests in the auto series, for example. If an individual passes all tests in a series, they achieve Master Technician status. Being ASE certified means you have demonstrated the knowledge necessary to be proficient at a given task, plus have at least two years of hands-on repair experience. ASE also certifies parts professionals, service consultants, machinists, alternate fuels technicians, transit bus technicians, truck and collision technicians. It’s important to note that ASE certification is a voluntary program, so the individuals who have achieved it have also demonstrated a pride and professionalism that goes above and beyond the norm. These are the individuals you want working on your car.ASK PATTY: Why are you promoting automotive careers to women? Are more women needed in the automotive field?Tony: ASE has continuously promoted the value of an automotive career to both men and women, but the demand for women in particular has risen in recent years. This rise in demand has several reasons, not the least of which is the growing shortfall in qualified technical individuals available, but women have been proven to be particularly effective in the role of service consultant. As more and more women assume the role of primary caretaker of the family automobile, it’s becoming more important to improve the communications process at the service desk–and it’s been shown that female service consultants are very effective in that role. It’s also important to note that traditionally, women have made up about one percent of the technician workforce as well. In fact, there are a few shops out there that are exclusively staffed by women.ASK PATTY: Can you tell us about your speaking program at schools? How are you educating and inspiring young women to consider a career in automotive?
Tony: I participate as a speaker in several Career Day events around the country each year. It’s really more a question of being invited back rather than a formal program by ASE. That said, I consider my time in front of young people some of the most important work I do. I speak with kids from the elementary to the high school level and always make it a point to spotlight the opportunities for women within the industry. Some of the best automotive diagnosticians I’ve met have been women, and the opportunities for a woman with a good technical background in the automotive industry is outstanding. These presentations I mention also use some brochures ASE has developed which outline some of the opporutnities within the industry for both male and female candidates.ASK PATTY: Are women aware of the opportunities available to them in the automotive industry?
Tony: Actually, I’m continuously surprised at just how few women and men are aware of the wealth of opportunities available. We in the industry work hard to keep both Guidance Counselors and parents informed of what a great career choice it can be, but it’s clear we have some work yet to do to get the message out more widely.ASK PATTY: What other types of jobs are available in automotive that aren’t service or mechanic’s jobs?
Tony: The possibilities are almost limitless. What I find interesting is how a technical background can open doors down the road in ways most never even imagine. I myself started out as an auto technician and worked part time while I went to college. Once I graduated, I found the earning potential much better in the service bay. In fact, it was largely my technical background, along with a degree in Journalism, that led to my current position. Along the way, I’ve held positions writing service manuals and as Editorial Director of two national trade magazines for auto and collision shops. But I’m just one example. There are opportunities in the automotive industry in sales, marketing, engineering, design, manufacturing, human resources, advertising, the list goes on and on. If you think about it, the automotive industry is a lot more than just selling and fixing cars.ASK PATTY: What are some resources to women who are interested in starting a career in the automotive industry?Tony: Perhaps the best resource is your local Technical Training program at either high school or junior college level. Getting involved in the automotive program can provide a deeper insight into the possibilities. There are also several initiatives within the automotive industry to recruit young people into the business. You can find out more by contacting the University of the Aftermarket, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, or some of the dedicated technical colleges like Universal Technical Institute or Wyo Tech, just to name a few. You can also contact us here at ASE with any questions. We’ll be happy to help in any way we can.Thank you for the great interview Tony!

The hospitality industry employs a wide variety of people, all whom are essential to the productivity of any hospitality business. This service industry includes theme parks, cruise lines, event planning, lodging, and transportation, among other areas. Large organizations within these areas typically employ hundreds, and sometimes thousands of individuals to ensure the organization runs at optimal efficiency. These are some of the careers, both entry-level and those requiring higher education, that are usually found in the majority of these areas.Hotel general manager
While this is specifically directed towards those in the hotel industry, general managers are one of the most important parts of any organization. In a hotel, this individual focuses on both the daily and special operational functions of the building, as well as monitoring financial aspects. General managers also deal with guest complaints and, overall, ensures the hotel has a good reputation. While these positions don’t usually require a four-year degree, the larger hotel chains told education in a higher regard. Full-service hotel chains may ask general manager applicants to have a degree in hospitality or hotel management.Flight attendant, stewardess/steward, air hostess/host, cabin attendant
This position isn’t typically remembered as being in the hospitality business, but it encompasses one of the larger areas of the industry. Individuals who have flown in an airplane will be familiar with these professionals, and the services they provide to passengers, such as seat direction, customer service duties, and safety instruction. In fact, the sole responsibility of flight attendants is passenger safety. The educational requirements for this position do not require a degree, although it is looked upon as a favorable attribute. A training school, however, is required, and may take a few months to complete.Travel agent
Typically, travel agents are employed within a travel agency. However, some choose to work on a self-employed basis. These individuals work to offer advice on traveling and destinations, as well as actually book flights, plan itineraries, and make other travel arrangements for their clients. Some also choose to specialize in certain destinations, while others offer their services to individuals traveling to a multitude of different countries. This job requires some additional training after earning at least a high school diploma. Also, travel agencies look favorably upon applicants who have taken classes related to the travel industry, such as marketing and international courses. These can be found at multiple community colleges, although some universities offer degrees in tourism and travel.