Reading Reflection No. 3

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The general theme or argument in How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams seemed to be that it was in your best interest to work with your body and mental state to create a happy life. Mainly to stop setting goals and instead to work a little bit each day to make yourself happy and to not fight your natural moods that may occur. Pay attention to what makes you truly happy and make your day fit around what works best for you. We are always in control and that its important to not be afraid to make mistakes. Most of our life will involve making mistakes and this allows us to learn and advance. Even though failing can be embarrassing it happens to everyone and those who embrace and accept the faulty part of themselves succeed and grow much quicker than those who allow their mistakes to handicap them.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

While taking this course, there has obviously been a focus on personal growth so reading any kind of book that promotes personal growth and reflection will resonate with many things we have been learning in this class. For example, in this class we have been asked to interview people for personal comments and to gain outside information to support or criticize some of our venture ideas. Hearing criticism is an important part of creation. Knowing your market and being able to adapt and innovate according to your consumers is crucial to success. You cannot get caught up in someone calling out all the faults in your venture but instead embrace them. This is part of failing and fixing your mistakes.

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would ask my students what their biggest fears are and they would write them out and reflect before burning them. They have to be honest to themselves about this. Whether its disappointing your parents or not finding a job after college, it doesn’t matter, having my students truly reflect on what they fear can help them handle their fears better, if they need to face them. Fears that have grown and been ingrained in you can never disappear but they can be conquered over and over again. Having my students reflect on this can help them think through the possibility of facing their fears. In one way or another we all have to face our fears. Being mentally prepared can help them in their time of need so that they don’t panic and can approach the situation calmly.

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?

My favorite part of the book had to be Scott Adams talking about himself as a regular imperfect human. What most people don’t see is that every successful person out there is a regular human with the same limitations as anyone. They just figured out how to best utilize the skills they had to accomplish what they wanted to do. Scott Adams refers to himself as a “mediocre artist” and nothing special yet what matters is what is created when you put all his individual talents together. Power and success do not come from being great at one thing. Power and success come from the unique blend of talents someone is ready to use with confidence. I really resonated with this specific part of his book due to my belief that with hard work and perseverance anybody can accomplish anything they set their mind to.