Routes to Self Improvement

The world of self improvement as a market place tends to focus on fame, business, wealth and high profile achievements. Certainly, that is the case in the western world. The on the ground reality, though, is very different. Everybody in the world has the potential to improve their lot, however humble it may be.

One inspiring example I came across last month was Sammy Gitau, a former Kenyan slum dweller who found a Manchester University prospectus on a rubbish tip. That was his inspiration for the dream of studying at the university one day. Many years later, his determination overcame massive odds, and he not only went to Manchester but graduated from the university last year.

Sammy' s example itself can hopefully be an inspiration to others in similar, worse, or only slightly better situations. For billions of people, being able to increase their income by only $50 a month can make the difference between extreme poverty and living rather well. Such people would rightfully delight at their own success at doing so.

Many self development “commentators” and “specialists” in the industrialized nations might well frown at that in a dismissive and snobbish way. However, self development is there for everybody to seize, as Sammy Gitau showed in such a fine way.

As it happened, Sammy came from a very poor background in Africa; but it is not from Africa alone that the Western economies, in the long run, face competition from determined individuals. Asia, of course, has been steadily becoming an economic powerhouse over recent years. It is only the beginning, and it is already having an impact on the self improvement market.

Next time, I will be looking at self improvement trends in Asia, especially India, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.