How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life

by Scott Adams

When it comes to any big or complicated question, humility is the only sensible point of view.

Good ideas have no value because the world already has too many of them. The market rewards execution, not ideas. From

This was my first exposure to the idea that one should have a system instead of a goal. The

Goal-oriented people exist in a state of continuous presuccess failure at best, and permanent failure at worst if things never work out. Systems people succeed every time they apply their systems, in the sense that they did what they intended to do. The goals people are fighting the feeling of discouragement at each turn. The systems people are feeling good every time they apply their system.

It helps a great deal to have at least a general strategy and some degree of focus. The world offers so many alternatives that you need a quick filter to eliminate some options and pay attention to others. Whatever your plan, focus is always important.

Had I been goal oriented instead of system oriented, I imagine I would have given up after the first several failures. It

In any kind of negotiation, the worst thing you can do is act reasonable. Reasonable people generally cave in to irrational people because it seems like the path of least resistance.

Step one in your search for happiness is to continually work toward having control of your schedule.

Pessimism is often a failure of imagination.

Recapping the happiness formula: Eat right. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Imagine an incredible future (even if you don’t believe it). Work toward a flexible schedule. Do things you can steadily improve at. Help others (if you’ve already helped yourself). Reduce daily decisions to routine.

Having great hair is a short-term goal. Fitness is a system. Systems are for winners.