Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
November 17, 2018
In the beginning, I was a bit cynical of reading this
book. Because I thought that this book would be just another recap of most of what
we all have seen and heard many times all over the media. But the author -
Ashlee Vance gives us a deeper look that the media has never shown.
"How is it even possible that a man in his mid-40's can be a serial
entrepreneur of four audacious multi-billion companies - that too in different
fields (software, energy, automotive, and avionics)?". Elon Musk is definitely one of a
kind, but his successes aren't magical. This book reveals some of his secrets
of how he achieved this feat!
1. NEVER GIVE-UP
The biggest takeaway from Elon's life is "courage & determination". Reading about how Musk maintained his grit towards each and every obstacle thrown his way, and the way he has continued to deal with them, will impress everyone (even Elon haters😏). None of his success came without a struggle (checkout below) and it’s his "never-say-no" determination and perseverance that pushed him to heights.
2. MAKE AN IMPACT TO THE WORLD
Most of us get satisfied just with a secure and high paying job. We emphasis on the pay, benefits , company culture and other comforts; but never ever ask ourselves about “what’s the impact my work is making to the society” or “how likely my today's work is going to be useful for the next generations?”.
But Elon was different, he asked these questions to himself, at least at the point when he came out of PayPal. When the best minds of our generation were thinking about how to make people “click ads”, Musk wanted to create a business that would solve the problems that are likely to affect the future world.
3. OVERCOME WORRIES BY LEARNING TO SURVIVE WITH THEM
Fear of failure is the main reason why many of us do not want to become an entrepreneur. We fear about the situation of losing all the money (investment) and about struggling for the basic living.
But when Elon musk wanted to be an entrepreneur at the age of 17, he enforced himself to live within just $1 per day ; he just lived mostly off hot dogs and oranges. Though he had enough money at that point, he did it to check and be prepared himself for the typical struggles of an entrepreneur’s life!
4. FOCUS ON SIGNAL OVER NOISE
Many companies put billions of dollars into marketing strategies, whereas Elon completely believes that a good competent product can advertise by itself. He just focusses on what really matters and ignores the rest.
5. LEARN TO MAKE USE OF CRITICISMS
Elon Musk is for sure one of the most criticized persons of our era. It’s no surprise for a man who set the mission statement of “transforming sustainable energy for humanity” for Tesla and “interplanetary co-existence” for SpaceX😉. Elon believes that compliments make contentment with your work, but only criticisms can make you better.
Most of us get satisfied just with a secure and high paying job. We emphasis on the pay, benefits , company culture and other comforts; but never ever ask ourselves about “what’s the impact my work is making to the society” or “how likely my today's work is going to be useful for the next generations?”.
But Elon was different, he asked these questions to himself, at least at the point when he came out of PayPal. When the best minds of our generation were thinking about how to make people “click ads”, Musk wanted to create a business that would solve the problems that are likely to affect the future world.
3. OVERCOME WORRIES BY LEARNING TO SURVIVE WITH THEM
Fear of failure is the main reason why many of us do not want to become an entrepreneur. We fear about the situation of losing all the money (investment) and about struggling for the basic living.
But when Elon musk wanted to be an entrepreneur at the age of 17, he enforced himself to live within just $1 per day ; he just lived mostly off hot dogs and oranges. Though he had enough money at that point, he did it to check and be prepared himself for the typical struggles of an entrepreneur’s life!
4. FOCUS ON SIGNAL OVER NOISE
Many companies put billions of dollars into marketing strategies, whereas Elon completely believes that a good competent product can advertise by itself. He just focusses on what really matters and ignores the rest.
5. LEARN TO MAKE USE OF CRITICISMS
Elon Musk is for sure one of the most criticized persons of our era. It’s no surprise for a man who set the mission statement of “transforming sustainable energy for humanity” for Tesla and “interplanetary co-existence” for SpaceX😉. Elon believes that compliments make contentment with your work, but only criticisms can make you better.
OVERALL:
I found the book - the story of Elon Musk as incredibly inspiring and uplifting. It leaves you hopeful for the future and convinced to take on the world to make your own ideas come to life.
Elon may not be a great nor "the" supreme inspiration to copy everything from, but he's definitely something extra-ordinary and there are many inspirations from his failures & successes. So, go learn something from him!.
14 comments
It would be interesting to read about Elon Musk. He is a strange but intelligent man who has made himself into a "rockstar".
ReplyDeleteAn interesting review. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGemma @ www.gemmasbooknook.blogspot.com
Great post. I don't think that I have ever heard of Elon Musk prior to this.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to show this to my husband! Great post!!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea - my husband would love his hot dog and oranges diet ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, I love that advice about taking criticism!
ReplyDeleteI think he's a very intelligent guy but wouldn't be a book for me.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is always talking about Elon Musk. Thanks for the review. I'm going to have to suggest this to him.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachael. I hope he'll like it!
Deletegreat review! I love to read books like these once in a while and this person is one I'd definitely like to read more about, he's so interesting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Melisa. Sure, give a try, you won't be disappointed!
Deletethank you all for visiting this page. Hope you find it interesting!
ReplyDeleteFirst published in 2017? AFAIK, it's a reprint of the 2015 edition. Is there a new edition with actual updates?
ReplyDeleteCorrect. It was first published in 2015, I read the 2017 copy. I don't think anything new (except a few additional photos) from the original edition. Thanks for pointing it out.
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