6 Life-Changing Lessons, Advice, & Tips From Elon Musk

In the landscape of modern entrepreneurship, few figures loom as large as Elon Musk. As the founder of game-changing companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and co-founder of PayPal, Musk has redefined what‘s possible and reshaped entire industries. But what is it about Musk that has allowed him to achieve such stratospheric success and impact? What lessons can the rest of us learn from his unorthodox approach and apply to our own lives and ventures? In this post, we‘ll delve into the key principles and philosophies that have guided Musk to the top and explore how anyone can learn from his example.

1. Think from First Principles

One of Musk‘s signature mental strategies is reasoning from "first principles." What does this mean exactly? In essence, it means breaking a problem down to its fundamental building blocks and constructing novel solutions from the ground up, rather than just accepting conventional wisdom.

As Musk explains, "I think it‘s important to reason from first principles rather than by analogy. The normal way we conduct our lives is we reason by analogy. We are doing this because it‘s like something else that was done or it is like what other people are doing. [With first principles] you boil things down to the most fundamental truths…and then reason up from there."

A classic example is how Musk approached the problem of expensive rocket launches. Instead of just accepting the standard industry prices for rocket parts, SpaceX started making their own parts, reducing the cost of raw materials from $80,000/kg to just $5/kg in some cases. By optimizing from basic components rather than accepting existing supply chains, they dramatically lowered prices.

The lesson is not to just follow the herd or get trapped by "the way things have always been done." Have the courage to question fundamental assumptions, break problems down to first principles, and let that direct you to imaginative solutions.

2. Embrace Failure and Take Risks

Another hallmark of Musk‘s approach is his astounding tolerance for risk and failure. Musk famously said, "Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough." He understands that doing big, bold things means a high likelihood of setbacks along the way. But he doesn‘t let that stop him from shooting for the stars (sometimes literally).

After the first 3 failed launches of SpaceX‘s Falcon 1 rocket, Musk was already thinking through contingency plans for a 4th launch if necessary. Where many would have given up, Musk persisted and was eventually rewarded with success. This embrace of failure was a key part of what allowed SpaceX to eventually make history as the first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station.

Musk exhibits a similar risk tolerance with his other ventures. Tesla was seen as a huge gamble, trying to break into the entrenched auto industry with a new electric car company. Many scoffed at the idea as foolhardy. But Musk charged ahead anyway, even investing his last dollars into the company to keep it afloat through rough patches. His appetite for risk paid off, with Tesla now one of the world‘s most valuable automakers.

The takeaway is that big rewards only come from big risks. Don‘t let fear of failure hold you back from pursuing bold ideas and world-changing goals. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. And when you inevitably experience setbacks, use them as springboards to learn and level up for the next attempt.

3. Focus Obsessively

Extreme focus is another one of Musk‘s superpowers. He is notorious for working insane hours, often 100+ hour weeks, when in the throes of a project. He focuses relentlessly on engineering and innovation, delegating or automating everything else in his life (at one point he even tried to optimize dating).

We see this focus in the companies Musk chooses to start as well. Rather than getting distracted by small projects or side hustles, Musk only works on efforts that he believes can change the world in a huge way. SpaceX wasn‘t just about launching a few rockets, but making humanity an interplanetary species. Tesla wasn‘t just about making a luxury car, but accelerating the advent of sustainable transportation. Neuralink‘s mission is to connect the human brain to AI. Musk only spends his time on the absolute biggest, most impactful projects he can find.

As Musk puts it, "People [in general] work much harder than they do even if they‘re working for themselves. When they have to, they will work super hard….What I ask of my employees is to be ready to die for the company, to fight to the last breath."

The insight is to hone a laser-like focus on the things that really matter. Say no to the daily distractions and shiny objects that compete for your attention. Double down on the small number of hugely important priorities and give them your all.

4. Seek Out Criticism

Many leaders surround themselves with yes-men who always agree and tell them what they want to hear. Not Musk. He actively seeks out and embraces negative feedback.

As he shares, "When my friends get a product, I ask them to please not tell me what they like. Rather, tell me what you don‘t like. And if I‘ve asked that a few times of people, then they will start automatically telling me without me having to always ask the question."

Musk doesn‘t shield his ego from criticism. In fact, he believes critical feedback is essential to making his companies and products better. With an ambitious goal like colonizing Mars, you can‘t afford to get complacent or rest on your laurels. You must relentlessly search for weaknesses and areas to improve.

Another gem from Musk on this: "Take as much feedback from as many people as you can about whatever idea you have…Seek negative feedback, particularly from friends." He has developed a thick skin over the years and is able to accept brutal critiques without taking it personally.

We can all learn from this to not just seek but demand negative feedback. Don‘t surround yourself only with cheerleaders; actively solicit perspectives from people who think differently. This is the only way to spot your blind spots and make your work bulletproof.

5. Work Harder Than Everyone Else

Perhaps the most consistent throughline of Musk‘s career is his absolutely relentless work ethic. The man is a machine, working non-stop across all his ventures. His capacity for execution is mind-boggling.

When Musk started his first company Zip2, he coded for 10-12 hours straight every day for weeks as the sole programmer. At X.com (which eventually became PayPal), he routinely worked 16-18 hours per day, 7 days a week. As Tesla was struggling to ramp up Model 3 production, he was sleeping on the factory floor to spend every waking minute fixing problems. And of course, he currently runs multiple world-changing companies simultaneously.

As Musk summed it up, "Work hard every waking hour. If you do simple math, like somebody else is working 50 hours and you‘re working 100, you‘ll get twice as much done in the course of a year as the other company."

He takes things to an extreme, but the general insight is powerful: Be willing to outwork everyone else. Make the most of every precious hour. Push yourself to your limits. Incredible results require an incredible effort. And putting in the work is one of the few things fully under your control.

The Takeaway

Elon Musk has accomplished near-mythical feats by doing things differently. He thinks from first principles, embraces failure, focuses relentlessly, seeks out criticism, and works harder than seems humanly possible. While we can‘t all be Elon Musk, there is much to learn from his unique philosophies and practices.

We may not be destined to colonize Mars or revolutionize the auto industry. But in our own way, we can all push the boundaries of what‘s achievable. We can all blaze new trails and have an outsized impact in our own spheres. The core principles Musk follows provide a roadmap: Challenge assumptions. Take big swings. Say no to distractions. Demand feedback. And work like your hair‘s on fire.

If even a fraction of Musk‘s prodigious success and impact rubs off, that‘s a huge win. Let‘s think differently, embrace our boldest ideas, and not stop until we make them a reality. The world needs more Elon Musks willing to take huge risks in service of a grander vision. Why not let that be you?