What is Self Help?

If you search for 'Self Help' on Google right now the first thing you would come across is this definition :
"the use of one's own efforts and resources to achieve things without relying on others."

Being proactive and stuff like that.

However I'm not really satisfied with that definition. How can you help yourself if you're unaware that you need help?
That was my case, and still is for a lot of people that are unaware that they desperately need help. But if you are reading this I assume you probably heard about self help already and you are just exploring this overwhelming topic.

The first thing I came across in the whole 'self help' world was 'Speed Reading' a book by Tony Buzan. (https://goo.gl/dm9jfe)
I was amazed to see HOW MUCH you could improve such a basic skill like reading. I mean we take stuff like that for granted.

Soon after that I found out about Dale Carnegie. Dale (November 24, 1888 – November 1, 1955) was an American writer, lecturer and the developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.

I started reading his book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'. (https://goo.gl/gwGTE7)
My whole perception of the world changed after that book. Then AGAIN, I was astonished.

"You can actually effect something like this? REALLY?!"

That's how I got into the whole self help thing. And that's why I don't like the definition google pops out.
I didn't know I could greatly improve 'people skills' UNTIL I SAW WHAT OTHERS ACCOMPLISHED WITH IT AND HOW IT BENEFITED THEM.

With that said I would love to know your thoughts on this matter. Do you think the definition is accurate? How would you describe it?