Copy/paste of a post Facebook offered me. I think Adams is essentially correct.
You don’t expect the creator of Dilbert to write a conventional success book and Scott Adams doesn’t disappoint. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big is part memoir, part guide, part comedic riff on the absurdities of life, and it offers one of the most refreshingly unpretentious takes on personal growth you'll find.
This isn’t the kind of book that shouts “Never give up!”—it calmly points out that you probably will, and that’s okay. In fact, Adams himself failed at dozens of ventures, restaurants, inventions, product ideas, before ever finding traction with his comic strip and writing career.
What sets this book apart is its paradoxical tone: it’s humble but confident, skeptical but sincere. Adams isn’t trying to be your guru; he’s just sharing what’s worked for him in a voice that’s both self-deprecating and weirdly wise. His thesis? Success isn’t about goals, it’s about systems.
You don’t need passion, you need energy. And positive affirmations might actually be useful not because they’re magical, but because they help focus your brain like a missile on what you want.
This isn’t the kind of book that fits neatly into a category. It’s success literature with a side of dry humor and a dash of philosophical shrug. And that’s exactly why it works.
8 Lessons from How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big:
1. Forget goals. Use systems.
Goals are specific outcomes that often rely on luck and timing. Systems are repeatable processes that keep you improving and moving forward every day. Focus on daily habits, not distant trophies.
2. Be selfish (strategically).
Adams argues that taking care of your own health, energy, and mental state first makes you more useful to others in the long run. It's not about ego, it's about sustainability.
3. Passion is overrated.
Passion often follows success, not the other way around. Most successful people weren’t passionate about their field until after they got good at it. Skill, not raw enthusiasm, tends to win.
4. Maximize your energy, not your schedule.
Managing time is secondary to managing your energy. Learn when you’re most productive and design your day to match. Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and exercise above everything else.
5. Failure is a necessary investment.
Every failure carries knowledge, and every attempt is a data point. Adams treats failure as normal, expected, and even beneficial, provided you extract a lesson and apply it forward.
6. Learn a few valuable skills not just one.
You don’t need to be world-class at one thing. Being “pretty good” at a few complementary skills (e.g., writing + public speaking + design) creates a unique and marketable combo.
7. Affirmations may actually work.
Though he admits it sounds hokey, Adams claims affirmations (repeating your goals to yourself) helped him focus his mind and clarify what he truly wanted. Whether placebo or psychology, it helped.
8. You can create your own luck.
By staying in motion, networking, trying things, and showing up, you increase the odds of good fortune. Adams doesn’t believe in waiting for inspiration—he believes in building momentum.
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