--- title: How To Fail at Almost Everything And Still Win Big description: Scott Adams created a multimillion dollar empire. That empire is more commonly known as "Dilbert." I mentioned him on this blog before because he gave... canonical: https://time.com/34081/how-to-fail-at-almost-everything-and-still-win-big/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-23T14:00:50.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:53:52.835Z article:section: Ideas og:title: How To Fail at Almost Everything And Still Win Big og:description: Scott Adams created a multimillion dollar empire. That empire is more commonly known as "Dilbert." I mentioned him on this blog before because he gave... og:url: https://time.com/34081/how-to-fail-at-almost-everything-and-still-win-big/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3c7556f1ab9b8822/698686f1adae44b8b85421d6/scott-adams-dilbert.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, poses for a portrait with the Dilbert character in his studio in Dublin, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How To Fail at Almost Everything And Still Win Big twitter:description: Scott Adams created a multimillion dollar empire. That empire is more commonly known as "Dilbert." I mentioned him on this blog before because he gave... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3c7556f1ab9b8822/698686f1adae44b8b85421d6/scott-adams-dilbert.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How To Fail at Almost Everything And Still Win Big by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 23, 2014 2:00 PM UTC  Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, poses for a portrait with the Dilbert character in his studio in Dublin, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006. Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, poses for a portrait with the Dilbert character in his studio in Dublin, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006.Marcio Jose Sanchez—AP by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 23, 2014 2:00 PM UTC Scott Adams created a multimillion dollar empire. That empire is more commonly known as “[Dilbert](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0740777351/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0740777351&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20).” I mentioned him on this blog before because he gave some of the simplest, most profound advice for getting along with people that I’ve ever heard: [_Be brief and say something positive._](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/are-you-a-conversational-narcissist/) If you’ve read [Dilbert](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0740777351/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0740777351&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20), you know Adams understands a great deal about human nature. (Then again I probably relate more to Calvin and Hobbes than most of the western canon.) **His new book,** [**How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20)**, has a number of useful insights about life.** **And what’s really fascinating is they line up with a lot of the research I’ve posted about before.** Here are 5 great life lessons he gives and the research I’ve posted that backs them up: ## **Have A System, Not A Goal** This is such a powerful distinction. **Losing 20lbs is a goal, eating right is a system.** Which one do you think provides a better path to success? Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- A system provides a method and requires activity on a regular basis. That’s how successful people operate. Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- Oliver Burkeman pointed out research that made a very similar distinction in [my interview with him](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/the-art-of-negative-thinking/): --- > “” --- ## **Success Creates Passion More Than Passion Creates Success** Many people are passionate about things but don’t follow through. Passion is great — but it’s not everything. Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- Dilbert didn’t start out as a passion project. Adams describes it as another get-rich-quick scheme he had. But once it became successful he _developed_ passion for it. Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- This sounds a lot like [what Georgetown professor Cal Newport said](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-author-cal-newport-on-how-you-can-become-an-expert-and-why-you-should-not-follow-your-passion/) in our interview: --- > “” --- ## **Focus On Energy, Not Time** **Scott Adams determines what activities to engage in by his energy level.** To be creative he needs peak energy, so he draws Dilbert in the morning. By the afternoon, his brain is fuzzy. That’s a good time for busy work. Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- How can you do this if you’re not a rich and famous cartoonist? [**Wake up early to work on your own projects first**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/productivity-ninja/)**.** Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- Sounds like my main takeaway from [The Power of Full Engagement](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743226755/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743226755&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): **_Energy, not time, is the fundamental currency of high performance._** ## **Fake It Until You Make It** **How do you overcome shyness? Out and out acting.** Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- And what are other tips to conversational expertise? **Focus on making others feel good and act interested (even if you’re not.)** Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): --- > “” --- And scientific research on “[fake it until you make it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/fake-it-until-you-make-it/)“ agrees. In this TED talk, Harvard professor Amy Cuddy explains her research on how acting powerful can make us feel powerful: In [The As If Principle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061QAS3G/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0061QAS3G&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), Richard Wiseman shows how [your actions might determine your feelings](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/is-improving-your-life-as-easy-as-changing-ho/). **Researchers told people to smile. What happened? They felt happier.** Via [The As If Principle: The Radically New Approach to Changing Your Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061QAS3G/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0061QAS3G&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- ## **Increase Your Happy Thoughts Ratio** Good things happen to all of us all the time. But we often fail to keep them “top of mind” and to appreciate them. **Scott Adams recommends making an effort to increase the number of times you think about the positive things.** Via [How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COOFBA4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00COOFBA4&linkCode=as2&tag=barking-20): **_A simple trick you might try involves increasing your ratio of happy thoughts to disturbing thoughts._** This lines up perfectly with [Seligman’s 3 blessings exercise](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/how-to-live-a-happy-life/) — the most powerful happiness booster out there. Via [Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439190763/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439190763): --- > “” --- **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/) [Here are the things proven to make you happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/) [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/) _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/34081/how-to-fail-at-almost-everything-and-still-win-big/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/34081/how-to-fail-at-almost-everything-and-still-win-big/"},"headline":"How To Fail at Almost Everything And Still Win Big","datePublished":"2014-03-23T14:00:50.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:53:52.835Z","description":"Scott Adams created a multimillion dollar empire. 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