Few people who write about Elon Musk get the kind of access to the controversial genius as Walter Isaacson did. Simon & Schuster sent me an early copy of Isaacson's new, 600-page biography, Elon Musk.
It has everything you'd expect from a book on Musk – stories of tragedy, triumph, and turmoil. Isaacson spent two years shadowing Musk, watching him make decisions, and getting a peek – as best as anyone could – into what makes Musk tick.
While the stories are fascinating and guaranteed to spark a mountain of coverage, founders and entrepreneurs will also unearth valuable lessons, especially in the book's first half. One such lesson can be found in Musk's relentless pursuit of a mission.
"It's what makes him a force of nature," says Musk's former PayPal colleague Reid Hoffman. Mission seekers, says Isaacson, are bold, relentless, and consistent communicators.
Mission Seekers Are Bold
If you have an idea for a business, the overarching mission you're trying to achieve had better be big and bold. Otherwise, you won't have the energy to keep going when times get tough and you'll likely give up when hurdles inevitably arise.
According to Isaacson, "Musk is driven by mission more than any person I've ever seen." As far as Isaacson can tell, Musk pursues three really big missions:
- To make humans a spacefaring multiplanetary species (the first step is to get us to Mars).
- To bring us into the era of sustainable energy.
- To make sure artificial intelligence is safe and aligned with human values.
Mission Seekers Are Relentless
The 20 chapters of Isaacson's book that trace the early years of SpaceX and Tesla are page-turners because of the constant ups, downs, and near-death experiences at both companies.
It's easy to forget that, given the success of SpaceX and Tesla today, there was a time when neither company looked like it would survive.
Tesla was "hemorrhaging cash," and SpaceX had crashed three rockets in a row. But Isaacson says Musk's relentless pursuit of his vision prevented any outcome except one – success.
For example, after the third failure of the Falcon 1 rocket launch, Musk's team thought it was the end of the road. Another great idea has gone up in smoke. "But he was not ready to give up," writes Isaacson.
Musk told the team: "There should be absolutely zero question that SpaceX will prevail in reaching orbit. I will never give up, and I mean never."
People in the meeting that day told Isaacson that the team's mood instantly changed – from despair and defeat to "a massive buzz of determination." On the fourth attempt, Falcon 1 made history as the first privately built rocket to launch from the ground and reach orbit.
Musk didn't have time to celebrate because Tesla was close to bankruptcy.
He was advised to sell one company, Tesla or SpaceX, giving the surviving one a reasonable chance to succeed. "No," said Musk. If Tesla fails, "we'll never get to sustainable energy." If SpaceX failed, "We might never be a multiplanetary species."
And so Musk decided to save both.
Mission seekers cannot bear parting with one of their children.
Mission Seekers Are Consistent Communicators
Isaacson makes a fascinating observation about Musk's sense of mission. When Isaacson first heard Musk talk about getting to Mars as a step toward making humans a multiplanetary species, he thought it was simply a "pep talk" to motivate the team.
After hearing it the 20th time, Isaacson realized that Musk really believed it.
Mission seekers often sound outlandish because they know that all great accomplishments once seemed ridiculous, too. But they relentlessly express their bold mission and, in doing so, motivate others to do more than they ever thought possible.
"This is a land of adventurers," Musk told Isaacson. "Life cannot be merely about solving problems. It has to be about pursuing great dreams. That's what can get us up in the morning."
Inc
