How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big

A goal Is a specific objective that you either achieve or don't some time in the future.

If you are waiting to achieve it someday in the future, it's a goal.

A system is something you do regularly which increases your odds of happiness in the long run.

If you do something regularly, it's a system.

Think of your priorities in terms of concentric circles, like an archery target:

1st ring - you. Take care of your health.

2nd ring - economics. Your job, investments, property. If you don't get your personal finance engine working right, then you place a burden on your family and the country.

3rd ring - family, friends and lovers. To truly enjoy life, you need to be right with these relations.

4th ring - your local community, your country and the world, in that order. Dont bother to fix the world before controlling the inner circles.

The smartest system for discerning your best path to success involves trying lots of different things - sampling.

It's generally true that if no one is excited about your art/product/idea in the beginning, they never will be.

Don't be fooled by the opinions of friends and family. They are all liars.

Every business or social activity requires a basic understanding of how the human brain perceives the world.

We are all in the business of selling some version of ourselves. Psychology is embedded in everything we do.

How much more effective would you be if you had a greater understanding of psychology?

Answer: a lot.

It's a good idea to make psychology your lifelong study. On a scale of one to ten, the importance of understanding psychology is a solid ten.

A list of important patterns for success:

1. Lack of fear of embarrassment - this allows one to be proactive. Its what makes someone take on challenges instead of writing it off as too risky.
2. Education - having the right level of education limits the risk of unemployment.
3. Excercise - good health is a baseline requirement for success. Exercises makes a person smarter, psychologically braver, more creative, more energetic, and more influential.

People who enjoy humour are simply more attractive than people who don't.

Humour raises energy, this boost in energy makes you more willing to excercise, which raises your overall energy even more.

A map of traps to avoid:

• Overcomplaining is never funny
• Don't overdo self deprecation
• Don't mock people
• Avoid puns and wordplay

People become unhappy if they have too many options in life.

You want to feel like you have researched and considered all your options. Find great comfort in routine.

The happiness formula:

1. Eat right
2. Excercise
3. Get enough sleep
4. Imagine an incredible future
5. Work towards a flexible schedule
6. Do things you can steadily improve at
7. Help others (if you've already helped yourself)
8. Reduce daily decisions to routine

Focus on your diet first so you have the right energy to excercise.

Excercise improves your energy which in turn makes you more productive, more creative, more positive, more socially desirable, and more able to handle life's little bumps.

Happiness is the only useful goal.

Acquire as many key skills as possible, including public speaking, business writing, a working understanding of psychology, an understanding of basic technology concepts, social skills, proper voice technique, good grammar, and basic accounting.

Think in terms of systems, not goals.