Bottom line, people can get help, inspiration, motivation, in many different places, forms etc....
The application into your life is where it gets difficult.
My gauge of how "good" or "helpful" a particular self help book, cd etc. is, is if I can take but one thing from it and successfully implement it in my life.
It's one thing to expose yourself to the wisdom, and experience of those you may view as successful, it's another to identify the areas in your life that you would like to improve and take the necessary and often painful steps to remedy that situation.