Book of the Week: How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big

27 Nov 2014

How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big was written by Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert. This book is about Scott’s life and contains advice on how to be successful at life. Since cartoon writers are good are reducing things to their core, there isn’t much fluff in the book. This book sums up a lot of the things I’ve read about happiness and success. Goals are for Losers Having a system is better than having goals. A system is something you live and practice. A goal is some you either achieve or you don’t. By employing a system, you should be constantly heading in the right direction. The Success Formula

Every skill you acquire doubles your odds of success

I’m conflicted, because some people say that you should get really good at one thing. Isn’t that what capitalism is about? But I’m a person who likes to collect skills, so I’m happy to hear that I’m doubling my odds of success each time. In the future, I believe that being able to apply multiple skills together can result in a lot of value. Maybe being good at one thing only applies to a cog. Passion is Bullshit

Naturally those successful people want you to believe that success is a product of their awesomeness, but they also want to retain some humility. You can’t be humble and say, “I succeeded because I am far smarter than the average person.” But you can say your passion was a key to your success, because everyone can be passionate about something or other. Passion sounds more accessible. If you’re dumb, there’s not much you can do about it, but passion is something we thin anyone can generate in the right circumstances. Passion feels very democratic. It is the people’s talent, available to all. It’s mostly bullshit.

Cal Newport agrees. After gripping with my own battle to find passion, I have to agree with Cal and Scott. A successful person telling another person to follow their passion is full of shit. They say it, because they don’t have anything worth saying. It sounds nice to hear someone telling you to follow your passion, but you’re left with the question about how to find your passion. You’re never going to be passionate about something if you spend all your time thinking about finding it. Happiness Formula

The only reasonable goal in life is maximizing your total lifetime experience of something called happiness.

Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg wear the same thing every day, because Steve Jobs wore the same thing every day. Steve Jobs wears the same thing every day as part of his brand and more importantly it reduces the amount of choices he needs to make. People have a finite amount of willpower and every choice depletes it. If you spend your choices on things that matter more, you’ll be less fatigued and make better decisions.

Happiness has more to do with where you’re heading than where you are

Jess Lee, the CEO blogged about why startup founders are always unhappy. She said that happiness is the derivative of success. Happiness depends on where things are headed and not on absolute terms. Having more money does not make you rich. Having more money than other people makes you rich. Marissa Mayer also has things to say about burnout, which is related to happiness. People get resentful. That is why flexibility is important. It prevents burnout and increases happiness. Don’t ever do something you are going to feel resentful for later. Don’t work extra hours at the cost hating work because of it. Coffee

Coffee also allows you manage your energy level so you have the most when you need it. My experience is that coffee drinkers have higher highs and lower lows, energywise, than non-coffee drinkers, but that trade-off works.

Coffee costs money, takes time, gives you coffee breath and makes you pee too often. Scott Adams is a big proponent of coffee. He sounds like a drug dealer. I must get my hands on some coffee to see if this is true. Exercise Exercise is very important for setting things on the right track. Exercising and being healthy is the foundation for success. I try to exercise everyday. Thankfully, my workplace has fitness trainers who come in and teach classes. This make is it part of my routine, so I don’t need to think about going to the gym. It does not use my willpower to exercise at work.