Book: How to fail at almost everything and still win big — Scott Adams
1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?
The general theme of this book is how to become successful by going about life in a different way. Adams talks about tips on how to stay motivated, keep your energy up and go about building your life around systems instead of goals. He thinks goals are just a series of failures until the day you reach the goal, but systems focus you on a plan of what you’re going to try to do every day, so that every day is a win instead of a fail. He thinks you need to have a reason to get out of bed every morning, if its not your job you have to find side gigs that you’re excited about. The whole book focuses on ways to simply better yourself and change your perspective in order to stay happy and motivated.
2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?
The book connects to ENT3003 because if you follow the tips and tricks Adams talks about in his book, it will make an entrepreneurial adventure that much better. Instead of focusing on an end goal for the business idea, just using a system like a game plan will make the process that much more fulfilling.
3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?
I would create an exercise for students to come up with a system of their own. I would have them change a goal they have for their entrepreneurial idea into a system. Like if they want to have sold $100,000 in sales in the first year, just come up with a system of day to day what to do to better their business instead of focusing all their energy on that one end goal.
4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?
I think the biggest surprise from this book was when he talked about the order of priorities he believes in for your life. He says it is important to put your health, exercise, and overall self first, then your economics, then your friends and family, etc. I was surprised because a lot of people may say this sounds like a selfish idea, but I totally understand where Adams is coming from and agree with it. You must be happy with yourself and your economics first, or else you will become a burden on your friends and family. If you are happy with yourself you will be a better friend/family member/ member of society to others.
Hey Madi, I think you did a great job with this post! I read this book for the last assignment and really enjoyed it. The idea you had for the exercise for the class is great, I think adding a blog post about changing a goal they had for their business concept to a system would benefit the students. Your 'aha' moment was also something I found strange at first but realized later that if you're not happy with yourself you, you can't expect to be happy and a good friend/family member, and even though it sounds selfish everything starts and ends with how you handle yourself.
ReplyDeleteHe Madi!
ReplyDeleteWe read the same book for this assignment! I really like what you said about having priorities in your life. It is true that often people scoff at the idea of taking care of yourself. However, it is something super important and very needed in order to be successful. I think it is interesting how we read the same book but took some different things from it and how that is reflected in our posts.