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Steve Salerno
Billed as a book which shows how the self help movement made America helpless, SHAM is indeed an interesting read although it lacks the devastating exposes its publicity suggests.
The book title is an acronym for the Self Help and Actualization Movement (SHAM) and basically questions why if the self help gurus are so good, much of their business is repeat business. Indeed, author Salerno suggests that much of the core market for the SHAM movement is addicted to self help programs.
As one who is dubious about many of the motivation and self help programs available, Author Salerno was pushing a relatively open door with me. The book is an interesting read, highlighting many of the industries gurus, some with dubious pasts or qualifications. He fails to convince me though that the industry is full of conmen and women, although he does cogently argue that many of the motivation and self help gurus create followers rather than independent minds.
I think a more fertile ground for this thesis might be some of the evangelical preachers who seem to prey on the most vulnerable and poorest members of our society. Salerno dedicates individual chapters to Dr. Phil and Anthony Robbins, the latter at least in terms of revenues is the undisputed motivation maven.
Some gurus suggest that Dr. Phil does not stay within the limits of his expertise and have requested the FCC to rein him in, particularly by presenting a larger disclaimer during the show’s credits that the program is neither “therapy nor a substitute for therapy.” Probably a valid objective, but does his audience see his show as anything more than entertainment?
The author does of course find a number of less than saintly incidents in McGraw’s past, but nothing to seriously condemn him in this writer’s opinion. The profile of Tony Robbins is more of a testament to the man’s incredible business acumen than anything else. Business Week suggests his business empire provides him with $80 million per year. Robbins reported one-on-one clients include Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher (now if he got her to listen, he’s worth his fee!) Francois Mitterand, Princess Diana and Mother Teresa. Some of the criticism of Robbins is rather pedantic e.g. criticizing this six-foot-seven physical giant for misspelling a key ingredient in promotional material for a line of his nutritional products. It is unrealistic to expect Robbins to proof read this material, surely a task delegated to ad agency or design teams.
Salerno also writes about the very significant number of sports personnel – most of them retired – who command huge fees to speak to corporate audiences. Good for them, I say, if corporate HQ are happy to pay these fees to effectively entertain an audience. My favorite line in the book is from soccer player Mia Hamm who says “Many people say I am the best women’s soccer player in the world. I don’t think so. And because of that, someday I just might be.”
Maybe it is a little trite, but is also a compelling message which if taken on board by audience members will surely help them to develop. MENTIONS Tony Robbins, Tommy LaSorda, Pecos River Learing Center, Peter Lowe, Dr. Phil, Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Joel Osteen, Greg Behrendt, Stephen r. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Zig Ziglar, John Gray, Tom Hopkins, Dan Neuharth, Dale Carnegie, Napolean Hill, Norman Vincent Peale, Thomas A. Harris, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brokaw, Bryant Gumber, Wayne Huizenga, Andre Agassi, Jon Peters, Larry King, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton.
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