Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, Ashlee Vance
Due to the exciting news that Elon Musk and his company SpaceX successfully launched a rocket in to orbit this week; I was exceptionally curious to read the biography on him from the first section of the ENT3003 reading list. The biography was definitely well written, and had a variety of anecdotes and interesting information about Elon Musk from dozens of people close with him. Elon Musk is an entrepreneur, innovator, and one of the most influencing philanthropist thus far in the twenty first century.
What surprised you the most?
- I was most surprised with Musk's fierce determination with staying focused on his work during very complicated and high stress situations. There was mention in the book that Musk would sleep on a beanbag next to his desk in his 20x30ft office in Palo Alto.
What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
- The traits that I learned about Elon Musk that I find most admirable is his ingenuity and ability to identify opportunities that exist in the future.
What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
- The traits that I learned about Elon Musk that I find least admirable is the way he sometimes treats his employees. This was just based on hear-say, but apparently he demands a lot from his employees and would easily eliminate them if they failed to adhere to work properly. I could understand this with his fiery determination.
Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
- There were account in the biography that detailed how Elon Musk was hours away from bankruptcy with Tesla Motors, and during those stressful hours, managed to make a deal with NASA in the pursuit of SpaceX that allowed him to make over a billion dollars, and save himself from failure.
What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?
- Consistent competencies that I learned about Elon Musk besides his determination and innovative thinking, was his desire to learn how to do things himself; instead of relying on other people's works.
Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.
- The only part of the reading that was partially confusing was the descriptions on Elon's social personality because the biography gave both positives and negatives; sometimes contradicting itself.
If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
- If I had the opportunity to as Elon Musk two questions I would first ask him what advice does he have for someone to make a meaningful impact in a society that seems to have too much of everything, because it is a theoretical concern of mine. I would secondly ask him what does he plan to do with potential colonization of our own moon.
What do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
- I would presume that Elon Musk's opinion of hard work would be tireless relentlessness, and also a determination to stay on top of societal trends, and exploit these trends.
Hey Alex! Oooh, interesting pick for an entrepreneur! I enjoyed learning more of your perspective of Elon Musk because I honestly don’t know too much about him even there is always news circling about him. The trait of being able to identify opportunities in the future is so important because in markets like the space industry, people and companies are always striving to do what has never been done before so they must think in new ways that break the mold of what technology and exploration we already have.
ReplyDeleteAlex, Elon Musk is definitely one of the most interesting people of our generation. I think his plans show how ambition and hard work can make something great. I am sure you learned a lot that you can apply through your own journey, should you want to be an entrepreneur. Good job!
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