The man who knows no boundaries to limit his ambitions, the man who thinks way ahead of the time, a successful entrepreneur, an ideal engineer, a creative inventor, and undoubtedly one of the most successful investors of the century, Elon Musk is no stranger to the world. For every person who wants to dream big and live that dream, Musk has set a huge example. He is known for his out of the box imagination and revolutionary ideas, and has managed to turn most of his ideas into actual inventions.
There are many ordinary companies led by ordinary leaders, and then there is rare visionary like Elon Musk, who is in a league of his own. The traditional concept of business was to find the solution to a current problem. However, according to Musk, business is all about finding the ideal solution to problems that are expected to rise in the future. He has convinced people to dream big and proved that dreams can turn into reality. His success is fuelled by several qualities that he possesses. We have analyzed Musk’s career and tried to find the qualities which make him stand out from his competitors. No doubt he is successful: but being different is the mantra behind his undisputed success. So, let’s have a look at what makes him different than the rest of us!
Dreaming Big is the Key
“First step is to establish that something is possible, then probability will occur,” says Musk. Elon Musk is often regarded as the man of impossible dreams. His father was an engineer and the family was financially stable. Musk was never in need of money. Yet, he had a strong desire to be successful. To fulfil that desire, he chose unconventional ways of doing business.
His dreams were never accepted by many and were often termed as unrealistic. In 2008-09 when he introduced the concept of an electric car, people laughed at him saying it was impossible and unnecessary. But today, his predictions about the depleting energy resources seem to have come true and he has risen as the only ray of hope for the future of automotive industry because of his invention of the electric car and Tesla. Imagine what would have happened if he had paid attention to the laughing people. So the important thing here is that he did not bother about what others said, and regardless of the situation, he always chose to dream big and so should you!
Rising Above Failures
Elon Musk’s failures are perhaps the most talked about. If you talk with his supporters or critics, what’s inarguable about Musk is that he has failed multiple times in his life. Musk famously quoted, “Failure is an option here, If things are not failing, you are not innovating.” His optimistic attitude towards his work and the ability to rise above failures make him different than the rest of the world. In every stage of his personal and professional career, he faced a number of failures. But in every tricky situation, supreme confidence in his ideas didn’t let him give up. He often failed in his life, but what’s more important is his faith in himself, perseverance and dedication towards his goal which has made him what he is today.
His Leadership Traits
Successful entrepreneurship and leadership are two sides of a coin. A good leader plays a crucial role in any company’s success. Elon Musk’s leadership traits have been a highlight of his success as an entrepreneur. His qualities as a leader make him an inspiration for all the aspiring businessmen around the world. The leadership traits of Elon Musk include transparency about highs and lows, using his sense of humor to get the work done, and setting an example by himself. Musk is well known for his quality of speaking his mind. This ensured transparency among the employees. Moreover, Musk’s most significant leadership quality is leading from the front. This kind of approach breaks the walls between him and his employees and also brings a sense of belongingness among them. “Smart teams won’t be told what to do. They work together to figure out what to do,” quotes Musk. His leadership traits should be inculcated by one and all.
Being a Bibliophile
Good books are pioneers in building a sophisticated society. “I was raised by books, books and then my parents,” Musk said in an interview. For him, reading books is as important as anything to widen the wings of your imagination. Right from his childhood, he has read many different kinds of books. His family says that as a kid, he always had a book with him wherever he went. It is said that he read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica at age nine and would read Sci-fi novels for more than 10 hours a day. He often confesses that reading books has changed his life. His out of the box ideas, creative thinking has a lot to do with his reading. Musk’s success as an entrepreneur is highly relevant to his reading. Not many people read books; and neither implement what they read. However, this Musk is the best example of implementing what he reads. Elon Musk’s book list is a vast one and a must-read for all the aspiring businessmen. If you ever want to follow his footsteps, then reading books must be one of your primary preferences.
To be different from others, you don’t have to do different things; you have to follow simple things with thorough dedication and passion. These were the qualities which made Elon Musk, ‘THE’ Elon Musk! If he can do it, why can’t you?
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