This month I started reading (and listening because I’m a busy gal??) Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson. I loved Isaacson’s biography about Steve Jobs, so I knew this one would inspire me too.
Why it matters: As I continue to read more about 21st century tech innovators who have disrupted how we do things and live our lives, four common themes resonate with me about these leaders.
- They have a specific mission and vision. Musk makes it explicitly clear that he wants to create a multi-planet civilization even though people tell him, “You’re crazy dude!” Musk clearly sees the end result, even if others can’t. Every decision Musk makes at SpaceX is motivated with the end goal of sending humans to Mars. He repeats at nauseum with his staff that, “A fully reusable rocket is the difference between being a single-planet civilization and being a multi-planet one.”
- They never give up. They have relentless perseverance to achieve their mission despite hardships and failures. At one point, Musk ran out of money, Tesla was hemorrhaging cash, SpaceX crashed THREE rockets in a row, his marriage was on the rocks and he was houseless. Musk never ever gave up. He said, “Space X will not skip a beat in execution going forward. There is zero question that Space X will prevail in reaching orbit.” And he was right.
- They inspire others. They are focused, make quick decisions, dish out orders, set unrealistic deadlines, all while ‘leading teams out of despair and defeat into a massive buzz of determination’. In Musk’s case, SpaceX’s HR Director explained that despite all the failures, “A jolt of optimism spread through headquarters. I think most of us would follow him into the gates of hell?? carrying suntan oil.” And when Musk was asked how he maintained his optimism, he responded, “Optimism. Pessimism. ‘#@#$’ that! We’re going to make it happen. As god as my bloody witness, I’m hell bent on making it work.”
- They don’t care what others think and see themselves as alphas. This is evidenced throughout Musk’s childhood; college years; time as an entrepreneur in the 90s; and leadership at Space X, Tesla and Twitter (X).
So how is Musk’s story landing on me? I’m reminded:
- To stay true to my north star and filter all I do through my mission, vision and values;
- That I too, can do hard things and decide how to respond to failures and set backs;
- To lead by inspiration and help others achieve their full potential; and,
- Lastly, to be courageous, brave, not fragile.
When you see me at an upcoming NVTC event, if you read Elon Musk let me know how it landed on you. ??????????
The insights from the Elon Musk biography offer a unique perspective on modern leadership. What key lesson resonated most with you from the book?
Board Member | Trusted Advisor | Growth Oriented Transformation Executive | Value Creation | Performance Improvement | M&A | Speaker | Thought Leader | Consulting Magazine Top 25
10 个月Jennifer Taylor Reading it now. So many insights into a complex man with a clear vision. Curious how all the parts come together.
Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Acentra Health
11 个月Let is know how it is! I heard Isaacson interviewed on the writing of this book. It definitely captured my imagination.
CEO of Element: Memberships, Invoicing, Revenue and Accounting product for Associations | Founder | Advisor | Board Member
11 个月The following sentence from the book says it all: ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?? ????????-?????????????? ??????????????????. “???? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????,” ?????? ????????. “???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????, ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ??????????????.” In some individuals, you can’t have it all.
Vice President, Communications
11 个月I've been wanting to read that one. Thanks for sharing your insights. I hope to tell you my insights on the book next time I see you!