Elon Musk shares five key steps for young success seekers. In a recent episode of the “Lex Fridman Podcast,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk disclosed invaluable advice for young individuals aspiring to make a positive impact on the world and achieve success.
Elon Musk shares five key steps for young success seekers
Musk, renowned for his entrepreneurial prowess and innovative ventures, outlined five essential steps for the younger generation to navigate their path to success.
1. Be of Service to Others
Musk underscores the significance of being useful to fellow human beings and the world at large.
He emphasizes the intrinsic value of leading a life centered around actions that benefit others, deeming it a challenging yet rewarding endeavor.
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The tech billionaire told Fridman: “Do things that are useful to your fellow human beings, to the world. It’s hard to be useful — very hard.”
According to the owner of SpaceX, if someone is living a useful life, it’s a “life worth having lived”.
2. Contribute to Society
In line with his philosophy, Musk advocates for giving back to society more than one takes from it.
Encouraging a positive net contribution, he lauds the ethos of hard work and honest efforts towards societal betterment.
“Try to have a positive net contribution to society,” he told Fridman. “That’s something to aim for.”
Musk has “a lot of respect for someone who puts in an honest day’s work.”
3. Shun the Urge for Leadership
Contrary to conventional wisdom, Musk advises against the pursuit of leadership merely for the sake of it.
He posits that genuine leaders often emerge from those who are driven by their passion and dedication to their craft, rather than those actively seeking authority.
“A lot of the time, the people you want as leaders are the people who don’t want to be leaders,” he told Fridman.
4. Foster a Culture of Learning
Drawing from his own experiences, Musk emphasizes the importance of voracious reading and continuous learning.
While not advocating for encyclopedic pursuits, he stresses the value of broadening one’s knowledge base and understanding through extensive reading.
“I would encourage people to read a lot of books,” he said. “Try to ingest as much information as you can, and try to also develop a good general knowledge so you at least have a rough lay of the land of the knowledge landscape.”
5. Engage in Dialogue and Networking
Musk encourages young individuals to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, industries, and professions.
He highlights the significance of learning from others’ experiences and perspectives, underscoring the importance of networking as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
“Talk to people from different walks of life and different industries and professions and skills,” he said, adding “learn as much as possible.”
Musk’s advice reflects his belief in the virtues of service, contribution, humility, lifelong learning, and networking as foundational elements for success and societal impact among the youth.
