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I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

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Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#51

Post by HWR_14 »

Alupis wrote: post #13
stormbrew wrote: post #3

This article reads like an abused partner defending their abuser. This kind of double-sidedness is extremely common in abusive relationships, in large part because it's a really effective method of exerting control over someone while encouraging them to blame themselves for being abused. > If there are employees not aligned with that vision, he will chew them out and he will do it in a vicious way, which is his right…

We're all adults, don't like his style, don't work for him. It's that simple. Obviously enough people don't think his style is harsh or vicious, as described in the article, otherwise his numerous companies wouldn't have a line out the door of prospective employees. My take on the article was Musk drives you like a good highschool sports coach. Demanding, hard, unforgiving... and you either live up to the high expect…

> Musk drives you like a good highschool sports coach.

That doesn't even sound like a good high school coach, let alone the CEO of a corporation has people who are going to play more than a couple of seasons.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#52

Post by Alupis »

woodruffw wrote: post #26
Alupis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're all adults, don't like his style, don't work for him. It's that simple. Obviously enough people don't think his style is harsh or vicious, as described in the article, otherwise his numerous companies wouldn't have a line out the door of prospective employees. My take on the article was Musk drives you like a good highschool sports coach. Demanding, hard, unforgiving... and you either live up to the high expect…

Nobody at Twitter asked to work for him. They woke up one day and found that he was their CEO, after months of legal games where he demonstrated extreme reluctance to honor his deal.

I do not see the point.

Musk owns Twitter, and Twitter doesn't owe anyone a job. If you are not on board with the goals and vision the owner has, then you need a different job.

It is that simple. Time to be mature folks... don't like Musk's style - don't work for him. Someone else will fill your place in a heartbeat.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#53

Post by woodruffw »

Alupis wrote: post #45
woodruffw wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not “very clear” to this outsider that Twitter was bloated, not that the firings adhere to any particular “debloating” rationale. Edit: The approach Musk has taken to layoffs also does not evoke maturity.

Quoted post unavailable.

This is a silly response: I’m a private individual with opinions, not a financial stakeholder.

To be as clear as possible: firing over 3000 people with no forward notice and reduced severance is immature. That should be manifest.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#54

Post by Alupis »

woodruffw wrote: post #53
Alupis wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

This is a silly response: I’m a private individual with opinions, not a financial stakeholder. To be as clear as possible: firing over 3000 people with no forward notice and reduced severance is immature. That should be manifest.

> That should be manifest.

Except you're demanding something that was never owed to anyone.

> I’m a private individual with options

Good, so why are we caring about who works for Musk or not? This is silly indeed.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#55

Post by kenjackson »

Madmallard wrote: post #35
kenjackson wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That just feels like a cheap way to live. Maybe it's prudent, but I feel like I couldn't live with myself.

Acting out makes you look like a buffoon even if someone else started it.

Maybe. But if I was in a meeting and Musk was tearing into someone unfairly and viciously and that person just sat there, I'd feel bad for them and a little disgusted. Conversely, I think it would be empowering to see them stand up to Musk.

The thing is, Musk has enough money to treat everyone horribly and just have them quit. He would feel nothing. He'll just hire the next guy. But standing up to him I bet is something that happens nearly never.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#57

Post by ROTMetro »

kenjackson wrote: post #24
sandworm101 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The guy has money and acolytes in high places. Quit if you want, but dont make an enemy of someone who can blacklist you. Just leave. Dont make a scene.

That just feels like a cheap way to live. Maybe it's prudent, but I feel like I couldn't live with myself.

Read Sun Tzu, live like a great general, pick your battles wisely, and make the cost worth the gain. You will make more of a difference and live a life of more power than 'trying to not live a cheap way'.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#58

Post by HWR_14 »

akomtu wrote: post #36
woodruffw wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, just a jackass. Edit: Yes, firing 3000 people with lives and families because you paid an obscene amount of money for a company that you didn’t actually want makes you a jackass.

It was the Twitter's board that forced Musk to buy it.

Twitter's board would have been sued to hell and back if they hadn't made him live up to his contract. They would have been left personally penniless.

Meanwhile, Musk initiated every stage of the acquisition and dictated the terms.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#59

Post by rad_gruchalski »

Waterluvian wrote: post #33
sandworm101 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The guy has money and acolytes in high places. Quit if you want, but dont make an enemy of someone who can blacklist you. Just leave. Dont make a scene.

This sounds pragmatic. But it also sounds… I’m not sure but it set my alarm off. Abusers and bullies need to be stood up to.

Yes, but it’s also worth keeping in mind which fights one can win. Nothing to win there by yelling back.

Re: I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX

#60

Post by dchichkov »

Alupis wrote: post #13
stormbrew wrote: post #3

This article reads like an abused partner defending their abuser. This kind of double-sidedness is extremely common in abusive relationships, in large part because it's a really effective method of exerting control over someone while encouraging them to blame themselves for being abused. > If there are employees not aligned with that vision, he will chew them out and he will do it in a vicious way, which is his right…

We're all adults, don't like his style, don't work for him. It's that simple. Obviously enough people don't think his style is harsh or vicious, as described in the article, otherwise his numerous companies wouldn't have a line out the door of prospective employees. My take on the article was Musk drives you like a good highschool sports coach. Demanding, hard, unforgiving... and you either live up to the high expect…

I think the larger dependency is on the investors, not on employees. There seems to be quite a bit of support and good will from investors towards Musk. And this is understandable, no one wanted to see a failure to electrify vehicles. But taking money from Tesla and putting it into Twitter is bound to ruffle some investor's feathers. And bound to increase the attack surface (i.e. big automotive withdrawing advertisements from Twitter).

As to 'A' game, it is strange how often that everyone is so convinced that the 'A' game is being played. And yet there is very little market impact. And a lot of investors money is getting burned. While the 'long game' is paying all the bills.

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