27 A Reading Reflection 3

For my reflection I read "Elon Musk: Tesla, Space X, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" by Ashley Vance. It was very intriguing to see an influential entrepreneur, and how he grew up.

1)

• What surprised me the most about Elon was honestly that he was always different. He loved things that people didn't even admire back then (like computers and coding), and his mother stated he'd always go into long, deep thinks where he would sit for hours imagining things outside our comprehension. Very interesting.
• I most admire Elon Musk's persistence. Bullied terribly in South Africa, he came to America where he wandered and did odd jobs for a bit, then failed multiple companies until striking gold on Paypal.
• I least admire Elon Musk's fear of intimacy. Ashley Vance, the author, said Musk is built like a walnut, who is extremely hard to crack and dive deep into his thoughts. I'd like to be an open book to everyone and a friendly face to all.
• The adversity that Elon Musk endured is incredible. Born from divorced parents, he was bullied for being a nerd by the jocks of South Africa. He was pushed down stairs, left to bleed, and one time they made his best friend shun him or they'd beat him up. This would tear down a regular person, but Musk put his passion into his brain, thoughts and future.

2) Elon Musk had three main, awesome competencies that are essential for entrepreneurship. One was his ability to think and visualize solutions. Not many people can see things so clearly, but any solution Musk had, he had the ability to create it in his head down to the smallest details. This is extremely helpful in problem solving. Second is his persistence. Stated above, he was bullied extremely hard, and most of his companies were shot down for being "too absurd", when in reality he was designing the future he dreamt of. Third, I think Musk's ability to solve issues is impeccable. From the multiple failed launches of Space X to the almost impossible build of the Tesla, Musk has solved all types of issues with the help of others.

3) One part that I didn't expect was how rough Elon Musk's younger life was. Apartheid had it's affect on younger kids, so the jocks were worshipped and would prey on the week. Elon Musk's birthday gift to himself was to escape this nightmare and move to Canada, where he roamed and did odd jobs for a while. I thought he went right into the big things, but I guess everyone needs time to find what they really want to do.

4) First question: So many people have negative things to say about you, from 4.9 billion in government subsidies, to the choices you make with your company. What do you have to say to them? Do you think your actions will make the world a better place overall?

Second question: To young entrepreneurs, what is the best thing they can learn early on to get ahead?

5) I think hard work to Elon Musk was just something embedded in him. Instead, I think he was fueled by passion and a vision for the future that he couldn't let go of. And he has done everything he can to reach that dream. I think that's something everyone can look up to.