Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Portfolio (2013), Edition: Illustrated, 256 pages
Description
"Dilbert creator Scott Adams offers his most personal book ever -- a funny memoir of his many failures and what they eventually taught him about success. How do you go from hapless office worker to world-famous cartoonist and bestselling author in just a few years? No career guide can answer that, and not even Scott Adams (who actually did it) can give you a road map that works for everyone. But there's a lot to learn from his personal story, and a lot of humor along the way. In How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, Adams admits that he failed at just about everything he's tried, including his corporate career, his inventions, his investments, and his two restaurants. But along the way, Adams discovered some truths you're unlikely to find anywhere else. "--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Daniel.Estes
I didn't expect a lot of politically correct advice from the creator of Dilbert, nor did I expect too much hand-holding. This is life as Scott Adams knows it in a brutishly practical way. And it's more than worth your time if you can stomach his slightly outsized ego. But hey, I would think an
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overlarge ego is certainly correlated with being this successful. Show Less
LibraryThing member Neale
An interesting book. Some good advice through a few different techniques. Systems rule rather than goals for achievement. Worth a read.
LibraryThing member publiusdb
This book is appropriately named, though perhaps another subtitle could be added: "or how to fake it until you make it."
Scott Adams is known best for Dilbert, a "satirical office humor about a white-collar, micromanaged office featuring engineer Dilbert as the title character" (to quote Wikipedia).
It's this last quality, this modern entrepreneurial "daring do" attitude, that makes Adams' book so compelling. As he tells his story, it becomes clear that he has overcome significant obstacles to success. That he overcame these obstacles makes the things he did compelling and persuasive. Indeed, there are times when I had to remind myself that even Adams himself had opened by admitting that he was only sharing what had worked for him, was simplifying the information he had learned from others, and that the readers should figure out what works best for them. Adams is so persuasive a story teller that it is difficult not to be inspired. You too can be a rich and famous--something--if you only think it, believe it, and work harder at it than anyone else.
Also, get lucky along the way. There's no doubt that luck plays a part in success, and you can see it in Adams' tale, but it was his ability and tenancy at taking advantage of both the opportunities, as well as capitalizing on the setbacks, that led him down a road to fame and fortune.
I truly admire Scott Adams for his success. I'm not sure I'll apply his methods or suggestions, but just listening to his story had the effect on me to get my creative juices and ambitions going. It's easy to believe success is in reach and that I can make the changes I need to obtain that success as you listen to Adams' tell how he turned one lemon after another into lemonade. Luck favors the prepared and at the heart of Adam's story is his application of his preparation at the opportune moment. It's a lesson we can all learn from.
Scott Adams is known best for Dilbert, a "satirical office humor about a white-collar, micromanaged office featuring engineer Dilbert as the title character" (to quote Wikipedia).
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After listening to his story, it's hard not to see in the eponymous character much of Scott Adams. He is savvy, smart, and, in a way that is uniquely American, confident of doing anything he sets his mind to, regardless of whether he is qualified or not. It's this last quality, this modern entrepreneurial "daring do" attitude, that makes Adams' book so compelling. As he tells his story, it becomes clear that he has overcome significant obstacles to success. That he overcame these obstacles makes the things he did compelling and persuasive. Indeed, there are times when I had to remind myself that even Adams himself had opened by admitting that he was only sharing what had worked for him, was simplifying the information he had learned from others, and that the readers should figure out what works best for them. Adams is so persuasive a story teller that it is difficult not to be inspired. You too can be a rich and famous--something--if you only think it, believe it, and work harder at it than anyone else.
Also, get lucky along the way. There's no doubt that luck plays a part in success, and you can see it in Adams' tale, but it was his ability and tenancy at taking advantage of both the opportunities, as well as capitalizing on the setbacks, that led him down a road to fame and fortune.
I truly admire Scott Adams for his success. I'm not sure I'll apply his methods or suggestions, but just listening to his story had the effect on me to get my creative juices and ambitions going. It's easy to believe success is in reach and that I can make the changes I need to obtain that success as you listen to Adams' tell how he turned one lemon after another into lemonade. Luck favors the prepared and at the heart of Adam's story is his application of his preparation at the opportune moment. It's a lesson we can all learn from.
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LibraryThing member Tonestaple
I thought this book was OK. I detest self-help books, so that's saying a lot, that I didn't absolutely abhor it. But although his twist was to have a strategy rather than goals, I really didn't see how that was supposed to help. His personal stories were interesting, and I think I pulled the book
So really a moderately enthusiastic "Meh."
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back from my discards pile to re-read, just in case there's more there than I think.So really a moderately enthusiastic "Meh."
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LibraryThing member ShadowBarbara
Focuses on systems instead of goals, affirmations, good luck, diet-exercise-health habits, skills. Liked it a lot.
LibraryThing member glade1
I don't really know what possessed me to buy this book. I generally do not like Dilbert. But I bought it and have now finally read it and it seems to be pretty good advice. I feel I'm fairly late in life and unimaginative to go into "success" now, but there were some helpful tips in here, and his
Adams did not fail in the sense of being completely unemployed and living hand to mouth. He always had a 9-5 job. He failed at his other projects, which were all aimed at making him lots of money. So this is not really a rags to riches story. But his suggestions seem solid.
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emphasis on rest, exercise, and diet were interesting. Adams did not fail in the sense of being completely unemployed and living hand to mouth. He always had a 9-5 job. He failed at his other projects, which were all aimed at making him lots of money. So this is not really a rags to riches story. But his suggestions seem solid.
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LibraryThing member troymcc
This book begins with Scott Adams sharing his life story and projects, most of which failed, but each had its lessons. I'd give that part 5 out of 5 stars.
But then it turns into a fairly typical self-help book.
But then it turns into a fairly typical self-help book.
LibraryThing member therestlessmouse
I like Dilbert but the guy that draws it is a little off his rocker. If you read "The Dilbert Principle" you pretty much read a better version of this book.
LibraryThing member mykl-s
Who knew that Scott Adams, after making fun of everything about working for any corporation, had so many serious ideas about work and life.
LibraryThing member steve02476
Pretty funny and pretty good advice. Well, funny to me anyway. And I guess I like the advice because it comes pretty close to what I think anyway. Not sure anyone else I know would like the book. Maybe Scott wrote it just for me.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014
Physical description
9.29 inches
ISBN
1591846919 / 9781591846918