NdukuOutLoud

Elon Musk– Ashlee Vance

I’m not a big fan of biographies. Or of the main star in this one, to be honest. But I have been trying to finish every book I start, and believe you can’t know less from reading. Even if it’s not a favourite, there are always lessons to take away.

This book was a gift from a big fan of Elon Musk. They heard me dismiss him a little too quickly and thought the book might help me understand him better- maybe even change my mind.

It’s not working- At least not yet. I’m not done, though, so maybe it still will.

There are plenty of things that I do not like. About the man, the vision, the grand plan. But I do appreciate ambition. Holding on to a vision as fiercely as Musk has is admirable. To stick with something regardless of what the people around you think. To attempt what hasn’t been done before. Or what already has- but to do it differently. To try anyway.

I am also struck by the importance of support- friends, colleagues, people who believe in you and share your goals. Everything becomes easier when you have a strong support system, though finding it isn’t simple. It requires effort, vulnerability. And above all, you have to believe in yourself before you can bring others along. Still, with support, the journey feels far less daunting.

In every enterprise Musk has started or joined, there’s been a team of people that were willing to spend hours -working, sleeping on the floor, pushing forward- even before their projects looked like they would amount to anything. Not because they had to (not always at least), but because they wanted to. That kind of passion is rare. And enviable.

Then there’s sacrifice. I dislike that it often means giving up time with family or other important parts of life to focus on one or two consuming goals. But it’s clear that sacrifice is almost unavoidable if we want to achieve the extraordinary. To achieve what hasn’t been done before.

At the same time, I struggle with the idea of one man holding so much wealth while the world faces pressing challenges. And I wonder why we invest so heavily in exploring Mars instead of caring for our beautiful Earth.

Yet, who am I to judge those who choose to chase their dreams to the very edge of possibility?

I may not fully appreciate Elon. But it is becoming less about him and the questions his story leaves me asking.