Elon Musk's Work Ethics Will Give You Goosebumps

Summary

In this candid interview, the subject reflects on his grueling work schedule, often exceeding 100 hours a week, and the sacrifices made to keep companies like Tesla afloat. He shares his philosophy on the importance of advancing technology to achieve what seems magical, the challenges of starting a business, and the resilience needed to overcome failures. Despite facing criticism from heroes like Neil Armstrong, he remains undeterred, driven by a passion for innovation and the desire to create products that bring joy.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The speaker worked an extreme schedule of 22 hours a day, 7 days a week, even sleeping in the factory to fulfill his work commitments.
• 🚀 He acknowledges the grueling nature of his work, stating that it was painful and not recommended for anyone, but felt compelled to do so to prevent Tesla from potentially failing.
• 💡 The idea of inventing things was inspired by the quote that advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, which he found appealing.
• 🤔 Initially, he was unsure of his career path, but eventually decided that inventing could be 'really cool' due to the potential to create things that were once considered magical.
• 🚗 Starting an electric car and rocket company was not thought to be easy, and he expected they might fail, but he was committed to nurturing them like a child regardless of personal cost.
• 💸 In 2008, during a financial crisis, he faced a difficult decision to either invest his remaining funds into one company, risking the other's failure, or split the funds, risking both might fail.
• 💡 He values creating products that people love and find joy in, which he believes is rare, and aims to make things that people truly love with Tesla.
• 🔥 Starting a business requires a high pain threshold, and he likens the experience to 'eating glass and staring into the abyss', indicating the hardships involved.
• 🤝 He emphasizes the importance of seeking out and listening to negative feedback, as it can provide crucial insights for improvement.
• 🚀 Despite multiple failures and criticism, including from his heroes, he never considered giving up and remained committed to his vision for SpaceX.
• 🌟 The speaker's life has been full of surprises, and he did not expect to achieve the level of success he has, highlighting the unpredictable nature of one's journey.

Q & A

How many hours a day did the speaker work at one point in his career?

The speaker worked 22 hours a day.

What was the speaker's routine like during the period of intense work?

He was working seven days a week, sleeping in the factory, and had worked in various departments including the paint shop, general assembly, and body shop.

What health concerns did the speaker express about working such long hours?

The speaker mentioned that working this hard was painful and not recommended, affecting his ears, brain, and heart.

What was the speaker's mindset like when he was young?

When he was young, he didn't know what he was going to do when he got older and felt strange because his mind was always filled with ideas.

What quote influenced the speaker's interest in inventing things?

The quote from author C. Clarke stating that 'efficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic' influenced his interest in inventing.

What was the speaker's initial perception about building an electric car and a rocket?

He didn't think it would be easy and believed there was a high chance they would fail.

How did the speaker describe the experience of starting a company?

He compared starting a company to having a child, where you have to take care of it even if it ruins you.

What was the most difficult financial decision the speaker faced in 2008?

The most difficult decision was whether to put all his remaining money into one company, risking the other, or split it between two companies, risking both might die.

What is the speaker's approach to seeking feedback on his products?

He actively seeks out and listens carefully to negative feedback, even asking friends to tell him what they don't like about his products.

What was the speaker's strategy when trying to buy rockets in Russia?

He visited Russia three times to look at buying refurbished ICBMs, despite being thought of as crazy.

How did the speaker handle the criticism from his heroes like Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan?

He felt sad about the criticism and wished they would visit and see the work being done, hoping it would change their minds.

What is the speaker's attitude towards giving up when faced with failure?

He never gives up, stating that he would have to be dead or completely incapacitated to stop.