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How big is the market for self-development services?

Posted October 22nd, 2009 by Robb Smith
In Reference to:
Making Things Happen: The Integral Incubator

I get asked a lot (a LOT!) about how to work in the integral field.  Everyone seems to want to make a living doing integral (careful what you wish for!).  Don't get me wrong, it's fun and fulfilling, but also frustrating.  And the core of the dilemma for many is that there are tons of ways to help people but integral doesn't yet show up in any meaningful way in any of them (i.e., if every dollar spent on human growth and development was a beach of sand, spending on integral services would be just a few grains...).  So I decided that we should try to crowdsource this very good, very relevant question:

How much money is being spent every year on human development?

I know, I know, big field, lots of options, from coaching to events to magazines, and from the U.S. to India, but that's why it's a crowdsourcing exercise!  If every third person that reads this find one data point to add to the mix then by the end of the run we could be almost like a certified research organization.  Probably with as much credibility as the credit-rating agencies (aim high).  Seriously though, I bet everyone would find it helpful if we developed a clearer picture on this question.

Here's my contribution: According to 2 reports I read in 2007, total annual spending on coaching was approaching US $3.0 billion and was growing at double digits annually (pre-recession!).  The spending on personal development products and services - I believe this is LOHAS data - was about US $11.0 billion, which includes everything from books to yoga mats to events.  I know in the past 2 years several events companies went out of business and many more are close; that business is absolutely thankless...

Thanks for playing.

Robb

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I wonder too

Posted October 22nd, 2009 by Robin Roberts

I know that I could benefit from additional coaching and perhaps a seminar or two, but my bank account isn't large enough. Most of what is currently offered is too expensive or distant for me to take advantage of (love this web site for these very reasons). I am saving my pennies in order to try and make at least one worthy seminar next year, if possible. I wonder how many other people out there would like to take advantage of more opportunities if they could afford to do so. The market seems to be more geared toward high incomes. That being said, and left to my own devices, I probably spend about $500.00 a year on Books, Internet and other.

-Robin

 

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Success

Posted October 23rd, 2009 by Stanley

I wish people working in this field success. I think it is fine to serve the rich with expensive events and services and I agree with Robin and Astrid that there should also be affordable events and services for the rest of us. For example, I would love to be coached if I could pay a coach per hour about what I earn per hour. And I also think that we should also be thinking about ways we can be together and help and support each other in non-comercial, non-business ways that cost nothing at all.  This website is one way this could be accomplished. Thank you.

Wealthy people can consider becoming patrons to the integral community at large. This would actually be a very good investment and is a good idea. This idea could be shared at our expensive events. Just some thoughts.

Stan

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[Comment Deleted]

Posted October 23rd, 2009 by admin
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Spirtuexploitation!

Posted June 3rd, 2010 by Daruma Matsumoto

I think exploiting as much money as possible from vulnerable, gullible, lonely people who have more money than sense sounds wonderful! The best thing everyone can do right now in the current economic climate is to try to sell people stuff that they don't really need! Keep being Integral, guys! And don't forget to offset your Karmic foot prints!

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Self Development Market

Posted July 15th, 2010 by Arlene

Robb,

I found your post very interesting and pertinent to an industry analysis I'm doing right now. I'm thinking that the numbers you wrote about from a report in 2007 can most definitely be updated. As I find that information I'll make another post. Oh, I really appreciated the comments written by Robin and Stan...gives me insight into the thinking of the consumer.

Blessings,

Arlene, Creating Abundance Enthusiast