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Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

nytimes.com

121–130 of 377 posts

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#121

But, he added, “if you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know. They can have the job. Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.” I think this hits at the crux of the issue around the performance/behaviour of Musk and other leaders of hugely ambitious companies. And I think it highlights the importance of thinking about what kinds of people it will take to lead the…

There's a hidden false dichotomy there: That Tesla and Space X couldn't exist / succeed without Musk working his employees and himself into a burnout. I'm not sure that that is true. The same Musk with the same employees could've perfectly well done these companies at a sane pace - maybe even without losing speed in the grand scheme of things given that less stuff would've gone wrong.

> That Tesla and Space X couldn't exist / succeed without Musk working his employees and himself into a burnout

Well does another SpaceX/Tesla exist? I don't think so. So it's very possible that that is true. Maybe the trait to start impossible companies and to work impossible hours is actually the same trait.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#122

But, he added, “if you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know. They can have the job. Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.” I think this hits at the crux of the issue around the performance/behaviour of Musk and other leaders of hugely ambitious companies. And I think it highlights the importance of thinking about what kinds of people it will take to lead the…

This. People apparently have a little self reflection, if at all. Let's get something straight: every person is a piece of shit, in some ways, granted some a bit more and some a bit less. Your project manager is a piece of shit in some ways, the new intern is, in her ways, your parents are, like it or not, in their own little ways. And finally you are a piece of shit, in your own distinct ways. But of all the pieces…

That's an awfully cynical perspective. I have personally met and know several people who I would in no way classify as being "in some way, pieces of shit".

I feel shame when I meet them, but they do exist. And the rest of us shouldn't get a pass because we suck.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#123
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but it's almost absurd to argue that Musk is the only billionaire alive whose work is a net positive on society.

Name another billionaire, other than maybe Bill Gates, who's presently doing anything good, at all.

I would rephrase as: Who has the guts today to break technological boundaries as strongly as Elon?

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#124

But, he added, “if you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know. They can have the job. Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.” I think this hits at the crux of the issue around the performance/behaviour of Musk and other leaders of hugely ambitious companies. And I think it highlights the importance of thinking about what kinds of people it will take to lead the…

This. People apparently have a little self reflection, if at all. Let's get something straight: every person is a piece of shit, in some ways, granted some a bit more and some a bit less. Your project manager is a piece of shit in some ways, the new intern is, in her ways, your parents are, like it or not, in their own little ways. And finally you are a piece of shit, in your own distinct ways. But of all the pieces…

[deleted]

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#125
post #75
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Part of Musk's problem seems to be "Only I can fix it". Tesla desperately needs a chief operating officer. They have a VP of manufacturing, Gilbert Passin, who's a car guy, but he does not seem to be in charge. He's not the one living in the plant. There are people who have fixed broken production lines. Musk is not one of them. Basically, Tesla needs Gwynne Whitwell or her clone.

Gwynne Shotwell.

Derp. Phone autocorrect doesn't know her name. And too late to edit.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a hidden false dichotomy there: That Tesla and Space X couldn't exist / succeed without Musk working his employees and himself into a burnout. I'm not sure that that is true. The same Musk with the same employees could've perfectly well done these companies at a sane pace - maybe even without losing speed in the grand scheme of things given that less stuff would've gone wrong.

The same Musk with the same employees I think I agree with everything except that. What I'm saying is we can't have everything that's positive about Telsa, but completely discard Musk. What we _should_ hope for is for the current version of Musk to become a better version of Musk - say, one that can build a viable EV company and help bring about a global transition away from combustion-powered transport, but without…

I think you're right. But I know many people who went through burnouts and came out better - kept everything that made them great but lost a little of the obsessive edge. Musk at 95% intensity would still be a fabulous captain of industry. Maybe he'll actually change for the better because of all this.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#127

But, he added, “if you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know. They can have the job. Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.” I think this hits at the crux of the issue around the performance/behaviour of Musk and other leaders of hugely ambitious companies. And I think it highlights the importance of thinking about what kinds of people it will take to lead the…

"and they will inevitably have extreme personality traits" – I find that a pretty bold claim and don't believe it to be true. And I'd much rather settle Mars a few hundred years later if that in turn means that Mars will be settled by not-so-big-assholes than if it happened sooner.

It doesn't have to be an argument of belief; real-world examples will suffice.

Every person I can think of who was a profoundly influential inventor, scientist or company leader has had some notable personality idiosyncrasies.

Think: Nikola Tesla, Edison, Einstein, Newton, Howard Hughes.

I'm happy to hear of counter-examples.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#128
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. People apparently have a little self reflection, if at all. Let's get something straight: every person is a piece of shit, in some ways, granted some a bit more and some a bit less. Your project manager is a piece of shit in some ways, the new intern is, in her ways, your parents are, like it or not, in their own little ways. And finally you are a piece of shit, in your own distinct ways. But of all the pieces…

That's an awfully cynical perspective. I have personally met and know several people who I would in no way classify as being "in some way, pieces of shit". I feel shame when I meet them, but they do exist. And the rest of us shouldn't get a pass because we suck.

I think that is just because you are a shit within that piece group rather than an exception.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#129
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Do we actually want Tesla and SpaceX to fail? Is their success hanging on Musk calling someone a pedo ? Because much of that hate came from unwarranted stuff like this.

I think you're replying to the wrong post.

You are completely right, it's for the post just above but clicked the wrong reply button.

Re: Elon Musk Confronts a Fateful Tweet and an ‘Excruciating’ Year

#130

But, he added, “if you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know. They can have the job. Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.” I think this hits at the crux of the issue around the performance/behaviour of Musk and other leaders of hugely ambitious companies. And I think it highlights the importance of thinking about what kinds of people it will take to lead the…

I'm not American and the arrogance and cognitive dissonance rubs me the wrong way. You are the CEO of a company not a visionary prophet. People like Musk wouldn't last a week here.

I agree... The parent comment is developing a bizarre cult of personality. It's really bizarre.
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