Reading Reflection 1: Elon Musk

Elon Musk is a fascinating individual. Regardless of the good or bad things said about him, the man has an unrivaled work ethic. I had no idea of his commitment and grit towards making his visions become reality. I was surprised to learn about the connection between Tony Stark ( Iron Man) and Elon. I also didn’t realize how many other companies he had created or been an integral part of. It’s interesting to see the evolution from dot com and Silicon Valley to SpaceX, Tesla and Solar City. He really has combined the start up world with the sci fi world and created the unthinkable. Well, the unthinkable for most people.

I think I most admire his determination. The world is telling him he is crazy for many of his ideas, including taking humans to Mars, but he never quits. Not only does he not quit, he dreams bigger. If he takes the harsh criticism to heart, he doesn’t let it affect his goals. He is driven and doesn’t let what others think of him or his ideas stop him. Yes, he needs support in the form of employees and investors, but the negative press and comments only seem to enhance his resolve. I think this determination comes from the honest belief that he can do these things. He genuinely wants to make the world a better place for humans.

His treatment of people does demand better of them, but can also seem cruel and unnecessary at times. He’s extreme, which is part of the reason he is so successful, but also leads to harsh treatment of the people around him. I think it’s ironic that he cares so much for the human race, but on a one to one level, he can be pretty mean to people. Maybe he is looking at the average. I think hard work and expecting the best of others is great, but you also have to be kind and have compassion.

Elon’s entire life has been met with adversity and failure. He has lost companies, faced bankruptcy, gone toe to toe with major corporations and nay sayers and gotten divorced; he doesn’t quit. He’s been driven out of companies, taken advantage of and used. It’s as though these hardships and challenges have defined a core element of who he is. He has learned more, tried new things, pushed the envelop, taken risks and is constantly working to be better and make products better. If he can't find the right part or the right company to build it, he figures out how to build it in house. He has continuously risen, despite being knocked down. He is relentless. His work is probably an outlet for some of the emotion he has carried since childhood. It doesn’t seem as though he has dealt with issues from childhood, so he has spun them into a work ethic that keeps him in constant motion. I am sure he feels these things, but he hides it very well. His coping mechanism appears to be hard work. This hard work is based on a passion, so this is probably why it continues. No one could do the work he has done and made the sacrifices for something they do not care about.

Elon is clearly a very intelligent person, but I think it’s really impressive how much he has been willing and able to learn. Many CEOs would just hire the right people to do the job, but Elon wants to also know how to do the job. It’s incredible to think how much he has learned about rockets, solar power and electric cars, when he could have sat back and just managed. His knowledge of the inner workings of these systems has also been an valuable aspect in pushing all of these companies forward. He has actually learned how to build and launch rockets! It’s pretty remarkable when you think about it. It also shows his commitment. As an entrepreneur you are the heart and soul of your business. You knowledge, passion and energy drives the cycle. You can hire other people with the knowledge, but by combining your own knowledge with passion, Elon has defined a different level of success. He is more self reliant. Explicit knowledge means he can oversea all aspects of the company and production, enhancing the overall feasibility, production and success of the companies.


I didn’t find any of the reading confusing, but parts were definitely boring. They shared a lot of numbers from the different companies and I am not sure these really mattered. Yes, talk about how a company was near bankruptcy, but there were a lot of details which seemed unnecessary. They made the book longer and a bit clunky. I didn’t pick up the book to see a glimpse into their books, I wanted to learn about Elon.

I would ask Elon why he truly wants to put people on Mars and why he himself wants to go there? I would also ask how he pushes forward despite a constant negative commentary. People want to see him fail and he ignores it.

Elon’s opinion of hard work is probably matched by very few, if any entrepreneurs. He has taken it to a whole new level, living and breathing his work every moment of his life. He has scarified business partners, friends and wives to stay focused on his commitment to his goals. He doesn’t stop. I think all successful entrepreneurs have a strong work ethic, but I think there is something to be said for a life work balance.