Table of Contents
Introduction: Study Scope & MethodologyExplanation of where the information came from: “primary” & “secondary” sources: methodology, definition of the self-improvement market, scope of the researchExecutive Overview of Major Findings Highlights of ALL chapters--Discussion of market nature & definition, characteristics, major developments of past two years, avg. customer profile, why demand exists for programs, customer demographic profile.Findings of interviews with market insiders: technology trends, marketing methods.Changing of the guard: older gurus retiring and dying, who will replace them?Effects of the pandemic: How the market pivoted to virtual delivery of services, recoveryTrends: focus on Millennials, apps emergence, shortage of female experts, Internet’s larger role,Creator economy, hybrid learning, mental health integration,Market Size & Growth, Segments: Table/Discussion of total market size, growth rates, outlook (2003-2024, 2028 forecasts), estd. $ size of major segments: motivational speakers, seminars, holistic institutes, self-improvement books, audiobooks, personal coaching, apps, weight loss programs Market Segment Outlooks & Status Reports: discussion of mkt size/growth and characteristics/trends for: Motivational speakers mkt., Personal coaching market, Holistic institutes & training organizations, self-improvement books mkt., Audiobooks mkt., public seminars, Weight loss programs, apps mkt. (personal growth, weight loss mkt., meditation)Tables:$ Size of the self-improvement mkt. 2016-2028 Forecast, by mkt. segmentEstimated Size of the U.S. Professional Speaking Industry: 2005-2028 FEstimated Value of U.S. vs. Global Coaching Industry ($ millions): 2006-2028 FThe Leading Public Seminar Competitors: 2018-2023Holistic Institutes & Training Companies Revenues: 2016-2024 FEstimated U.S. Retail Sales of Audiobooks, SI audiobooks: 2009-2028 FSize of the weight loss programs market: commercial & medical plans: 2017-2028 FSize of the Total U.S. Weight Loss Market: 2020 – 2028 F The Motivational Speakers MarketDiscussion of number of professional speakers in the U.S., avg. earnings, estimatedincome for the top speakers (table) - from speaking engagements, books, consulting, training, list of top speakers’ bureaus, how speakers operateEffects of the pandemic, how speakers shifted to virtual services, effect on earnings Industry trends: what clients want, services mix is changing, more coaching, virtual eventsDemand factors: what meeting planners want, top speaking topicsIndustry size/growth: 2020, 2023 & 2027 growth forecasts“State of the Speaking Industry: 2024, 2023 Reports” – major findings, extensive industry metricsNSA and Espeaqkers.com discussion of industry trends, speaker demographic profileHighest paid motivational speakers rankingAvg./high yearly earnings of motivational speakers, % from products/speaking/other servicesOverview/size of corporate training marketTables: Size of the total professional speaking market: 2005-2028 FEstimated annual income of the top 19 speakers: 2016, 2020, 2022, 2024The World’s 50 Most Popular Motivational SpeakersList/ranking of top 101 self-improvement experts, compiled by Self-Improvement Online,In-depth profiles of top self-improvement experts/celebrities - descriptions of their organizations, biographies, revenue estimates when available, products/services offered, books authored, speaking fees, consulting, specialties, headquarters address, websites, for...…Anthony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey, Joel Osteen, Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey, Brendon Burchard, Brian Tracy, Tim Ferriss, Dr. Phil McGraw, Mel Robbins, Robin Sharma, Robert Kiyosaki, Gary Vaynerchuk, John Maxwell, Dave Ramsey, Gary Vaynerchuck, Malcomb Gladwell.The Personal Coaching MarketDefinition & summary of the market, number of active coaches in U.S., worldwide, coaching specialties, differences between coaching and consulting, corporate vs. personal coaching, most common myths about coaching, phone coachingStatus report of the market, topics in demand, corporate vs. consumer customersFindings of interview with ICF President: mkt. trends, growth, outlook, status2025 major trends/findings of survey by Coachinggenie.com, analysis of group coachingCoaching metrics: Avg. annual earnings, fees, no. of clients, outlook, extensive operating ratios2023 ICF Global Coaching Study – Major Findings, PricewaterhouseCoopers Survey data, consumer attitudes & awareness of coaching services, extensive metrics, no. of coaches and earnings by region, client profile, coach demographics, etc.Results of 2020 ICF consumer awareness study, why people use coaches, why they don’t, their objectives, by sex, ageProfile of coaching users, by generationMarket $ size and projected growth, 2008-2024, 2028 estimates & forecasts –Market Segments: types of coaches (life, health, business)Tables:Estimated Value of U.S. vs. Global Coaching Industry: 2006-2028 F ($ millions)The Self-Improvement Books Market and New Age BookstoresStatus of book buying in 2024 – Why book sales soared during the pandemicData from NPD Group (NPD Bookscan) and StatShot Annual ReportDiscussion of recent self-help bestsellers, no of titles published, the importance of a book for gurusSelf-improvement book market statistics, buyer profile (Gitnux.com data)List of bestselling self-improve. books in 2022-2025, bestsellers by genre, e-booksSummary of “new age” bookstores mkt.: chains vs. independents, how many in the nation, products sold, growth, customers, specialties. estd. sales, share of sales by major topicMarketdata and Simba Information $ estimates of size of self-improvement books mkt., 2003-2024,2028 F, the major book distribution channels.Forecasted top-selling personal growth topicsDiscussion/analysis of the diet books market, buyer demographics, what makes a bestseller,$ mkt. valueThe Self-Improvement Audiobooks MarketMarket status and growth (2011-2028 forecasts), strong unit sales growth in 2020-2024, buyer demographics, popularity rank for 14 topics, where audiobooks are purchased, segments, total audiobook sales vs. share for SI audiobooks, major competitors.Latest 2025 APA consumer survey results on market growth, audiobook formats, sales trends, comparisons to earlier surveys, NPD Group survey findings, digital audio growthConsumer spending on audiobooks - discussionAudiobook Buyer DemographicsLatest audiobook user surveys by Consumer Electronics Assn., APA, etc. (frequency of use, no. bought, where listened to, etc.) – why Marketdata estimates differ from APA’sSelf-improvement audiobooks mkt. size vs. total spoken audio mkt.Tables: Estimated U.S. Retail Sales of All Audiobooks & self-improvement audiobooks: 2009-2028 FLeading publishers address list Company profiles: Nightingale-Conant, Audible.com, Centerpointe Research Institute. Holistic Institutes & Training Organizations(Self-improvement facilities with workshops, seminars, courses, retreats, training organizations)Nature of the market, status and 15 U.S. centers’ philosophies, course offerings and prices, enrollments, growth since 1960s, nonprofit/for-profit status, specializations, estd. & actual revenues/budgets, workshop topics in demand, mkt. size and 2023 forecasts. Status of the market: pandemic devastates most facilities, recovery since then Analysis of revenue growth of institutes vs. training organizationsIn-depth Company Profiles Holistic InstitutesDescriptive profiles and background, sample courses, no. attendees, for leading facilities: Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, New York Open Center, Oasis Center, Naropa, Option Institute, Wainwright House – 2018-2023 financial statements/budgets/expenses by type Training OrganizationsFranklin-Covey Co. – profile, history, training/consulting, retail business, financials: 2008-2024Sandler Training – profile, services, history, estd. revenues, no of franchises Dale Carnegie Training – profile, services, history, estd. revenues, no of franchisesToastmasters International – profile, services, history, actual revenuesHay House – profile, services, history, estd. revenues.Tables:Company Revenues: Holistic Institutes vs. training Organizations: 2016-2024Address List of top holistic centers in the U.S., estd. attendance The Public Seminars MarketDiscussion/analysis of large group vs. small group seminars, difference in coststructure, profitability, fees, individual speakers doing public seminars, mkt. size andstatus report, why this is a difficult model to make profitable, estd. mkt. size., IRS Form 990fiscal 2016-2023 actual revenues/expenses/profit statements) Competitor Interview: Landmark Worldwide: market status report, trendsAnalysis of the Speed reading market, main players.Table:The Leading Public Seminar Competitors: Revenues for 2018-2023Company Profiles: (Description of company operations, courses, specialties, income statements/revenues)Fred Pryor/CareerTrack (Park University)Learning Strategies Corp.Skillpath Seminars (Graceland Univ.)National Seminars Group (Rockhurst Univ.)Landmark EducationSuccess Resources America (formerly: Peak Potentials)Self-improvement Websites, Apps, Online CoursesWebsites: Discussion & summary of the market, leading websitesWebsites: Competitor Profiles: ConsciousOne.com, BeliefNet.com, Success.com, ThirdAge.com(History, description of services/content, ownerships, estd. revenues)Internet Mastery Programs & Courses: description/what they teach, focus, top names: JeffWalker, Ryan Deiss, Callan Rush, Russell Brunson, Daniel Hall, Glen Dietzel, Eben Pagan, Jay Boyer, Steve Harrison, Mike Koenigs, Apps Market: key players in the weight loss apps market (Noom – company profile), the top apps for weight lossApps Market: Meditation Apps: Market size, Company Profiles: Headspace, Calm, online meditation courses, websitesMajor SI apps, by user base, revenuesLists: Top self-help blogs, magazines, top personal growth apps.Tables:Self-improvement Websites, Ranked by Traffic: July 2025Status Report of The U.S. Weight Loss MarketSummary/status of the industry in 2024-- recent and emerging trends, Marketdata forecasts, why GLP-1 drugs are dominating the market and killing commercial diet companies2023-2025 Performance of leading commercial, medical, online chains (Medifast, NutriSystem, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers – public & private companies)Discussion of major industry trends & developments of 2024 & 2025Change in dieter behavior since the pandemicStatus Report of Commercial Weight Loss Programs MarketStatus Report of the Medical Weight Loss Programs MarketDiscussion and $ size of the digital (virtual) weight loss marketTables: Marketdata estimates of the 10 major segments of the diet industry, $ values (2006 to 2028 F)--diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, health clubs, commercial programs, medical programs by type, low-cal foods, retail meal replacements, diet pills, diet books, etc.) Comparative $ size of commercial vs. medical weight loss programs marketsRevenues of commercial diet centers, market share of top chains (2017-2024).The Largest U.S. Weight Loss Companies & Brands, By Sales: 2024Revenues of the commercial weight loss chains: 2006-2028 F.Census Bureau statistical snap of commercial diet centers: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022Number of Medical Clinic Chain U.S. LocationsReference Directory of Information Sources( Names, addresses, phone, key contacts at relevant trade groups, journals, periodicals in the field, surveys, reports)
