Wanted to read something light and entertaining during my short summer vacation, so I picked "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big" by Scott Adams.
It seems I couldn't have picked a better book. Fantastic summer read.
It seems I couldn't have picked a better book. Fantastic summer read.
Key takeaways:
1. "Your job is not your job. Your job is finding a better job."
You should play by the same rules your employer plays by — capitalism. Being loyal to your employer does not make sense since your employer wouldn’t think twice when replacing you or firing you.
1. "Your job is not your job. Your job is finding a better job."
You should play by the same rules your employer plays by — capitalism. Being loyal to your employer does not make sense since your employer wouldn’t think twice when replacing you or firing you.
2. “Fail your way toward success.”
A failure is a tool, not an outcome. It’s a tool that tries to teach you something, do not let it go until you have learned its lesson. Everyone will quit after failing a couple of times, use that to your advantage.
A failure is a tool, not an outcome. It’s a tool that tries to teach you something, do not let it go until you have learned its lesson. Everyone will quit after failing a couple of times, use that to your advantage.
3. “Goals are for losers.”
Use system instead of goals. Chasing goals will make you miserable until you achieve the goal and have a brief feeling of accomplishment. Instead of that, find your system and make sure you enjoy applying it.
Use system instead of goals. Chasing goals will make you miserable until you achieve the goal and have a brief feeling of accomplishment. Instead of that, find your system and make sure you enjoy applying it.
4. “Markets reward execution, not ideas.”
Ideas are abstract and exist only in your head, so nobody has any use of them. Focus on execution (bringing them to reality) and markets will reward you if you are right.
Ideas are abstract and exist only in your head, so nobody has any use of them. Focus on execution (bringing them to reality) and markets will reward you if you are right.
5. “When writing a resume, pretend you are going to earn $100 for every word you remove.”
I think this applies to general writing as well.
I think this applies to general writing as well.
6. “You can raise your market value by being merely good at multiple skills.”
Generalization vs. specialization. Specialization is just one way to increase your market value. I think generalization is better if you want to start your own business.
Generalization vs. specialization. Specialization is just one way to increase your market value. I think generalization is better if you want to start your own business.
7. “Trust people’s actions more than their words of encouragement.”
People that know you personally are generally careful when giving criticism not to hurt your feelings. You should pay more attention to what they are doing.
People that know you personally are generally careful when giving criticism not to hurt your feelings. You should pay more attention to what they are doing.
I still haven’t finished reading the book, so there are probably more tips like these. I love the quirkiness, humbleness, and optimism of this book. Read it if you need a boost of enthusiasm.
