𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒏 's Key Ideas from How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
by Scott Adams

• The author believes that systems are more effective than goals. Systems are firmly grounded in the present. This means they can be grounded in your life right now, and you will get daily pleasure from successfully operating them. Author describes the time he first learned of the power of systems. He sat on a flight next to a man who explained how systems had transformed him from an employee to a CEO. The CEO said he became successful by always looking for a better job. You see most people wait until they need a job to start looking for one. When they reach their goal of finding a job they stop

• An exercise system would focus less on an end goal and more on day-by-day improvement. For example, committing to daily exercise. This shows one of the greatest strengths of systems, which is that it helps establish habits.
• Author used systems as a young man to help him achieve the success he now has. He created a system around writing and drawing things people were receptive to rather than having a clear end goal. This meant he did not feel like a failure if it was not successful, which helped him keep going. This continual motivation meant he could create the hit comic strip Dilbert.

• We must understand our talents but we must also be willing to favour new skills over our talents to become a generalist. The business world was previously obsessed with specialization. Adams points out that general knowledge about several fields is more useful in the modern world. This does not make ypu mediocre or your average Joe.
• Author explains that he has always been a generalist. When he started Dilbert, he was not a talented writer, artist or businessman. He was just relatively proficient at each skill. This general competence is what allowed Dilbert to become success.

• As well a developing general skills, you must use introspection to identify your unique skills. Parents and teachers often pressure people to pursue specific careers. You are in the best position to notice your special skills and think about which career would suit those skills. 
• You should consider the areas in your life where you have always been comfortable taking risks.
• Once you have found your skills, you have to find a career that matches this skill. This process requires sampling, which means trying many jobs or businesses until you find one that is enjoyable and uses your skills.

You've likely experienced occasions where you have gone on a run when you have gone on a run when you have felt drained and unmotivated. These circumstances occur when you adhere to a schedule rather than listening to your bodily rhythms. This is an inferior approach and recommends using energy levels as a metric for allocating tasks. You will feel far more energized and become more efficient if you allocate the right tasks to the right time of  day. 

Instead of worrying about which task to prioritize first, you should always make personal energy your priority. This is because personal energy allows you to achieve all your other priorities. Exercise, food and sleep are all essential for looking after your your energy levels. So, these should be the first buttons to push to elevate your attitude and raise your energy. 

• Moods are infectious, so the moods of those around us heavily influence us. This is called associate energy and means we should always strive to associate ourselves with people we want to be like and people who give us energy. This idea was brought to author attention when one of his friends decided to live in an affluent neighbourhood, as he felt this would push him to become affluent himself.

• Society tells us that selfishness is something we should avoid at all costs, and you should make other people's desires your priority. Author challenges this view and points out that there are three kinds of people in this world: stupid, a burden on others, and selfish.
• Stupid people are solely interested in satisfying others before themselves. The reason they are stupid is that it is impossible to please everyone. So, these individuals end up living an unsatisfactory life.
• Those who are burden on others are not necessarily a burden because they want to be. 

These individuals have often been dealt a difficult hand and left to struggle with an illness or something similar. In these situations, you might become a burden, but you should remain selfish to cure yourself.

• Finally, selfish people focus on what they want from life. This doesn't mean they neglect others. They are simply focused on doing what they want, succeeding in life, and then helping others once the first two are accomplished.

• Affirmations should be used by all individuals with aspirations for their life. An affirmation is a positive statement about what you want to achieve. You can engage with an affirmation in whatever way you want. Still, the affirmation should be imagining what you want and repeating it several times.

• The six filters of truth are:

1. Personal experience: Because human perceptions are iffy and unreliable.
2. Experience of people you know: Because they are even more reliable
3. Experts: Because they work for money, not truth.
4. Scientific studies: Because correlation is not causation.
5. Common sense: Because it's an excellent way to be mistaken with complete confidence.
6. Pattern recognition: Because patterns, coincidences, and personal biases lookalike.