[eternomi]

I would recommend helping yourself first. By doing this, you are actually helping others as well. Don't see this as being selfish. As you said, it builds credibility. Plus, you need to see first hand what you know does work before you pass it onto others. If it doesn't work for you, how would you even know that it works at all? Don't take others' word for anything. Apply it and see it working personally.

Secondly, helping others works only if they are ready to be helped. In other words, if they are not seeking help, you can't push help onto them. If they come to you looking for help, that's fine. If they are ready to change, they will. Otherwise, they won't. You might think or know for sure that they are in need of help, but not aware of it. That doesn't matter at all. They need to personally come to the conclusion that they need to change and they can in fact change. Until then, your efforts are useless.

On the other hand, you can start a blog and channel your helping energy outward that way. That's what Steve has done for example. He makes the information available to whomever wants it. I don't think he goes around trying to get people to think like him although if anyone asks, I am sure he tells. You can do the same. Put the information out there. Anyone who needs it will find its way to it.

Lastly, if you think about the broader sense of "helping others", you are always helping someone no matter what you do. If you are a nurse or a psychiatrist, it might be more obvious that you are helping people, but no matter what you do, you are helping others. Whatever your passion and talents are, use them to help others..