Elon Musk is the Perfect Example of
Creative Solutions
I can certainly identify with Elon on many levels. In an article, ( Bloomberg 2023 ) Ashley Vance said, ” if anything his manic intensity and risk taking were becoming central to his myth, the harder it gets the better he gets. “
When I look back at my life, I remember that the most difficult situations were the ones where I was forced to delve deeper into my creativity and the results were always far more magnificent. The best examples, stored in my cellular memory ,are the ones where I renovated a home built in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. The more dilapidated, the better the outcome. I used to laugh and say that I was making love to the walls, but it was no joke. When we invoke passion to a project, or to life, we tap into something much more meaningful and the result is often majestic, OUT OF THIS WORLD.
This theory proves true in a workout as well. The more intense the challenge, the more satisfaction we feel afterwards.
My best memories of this concept are in standing in front of a canvas; attempting to translate a complex subject- wrapped deep in emotions- into paint stoked on motion.
One of my favorite paintings was called, HONEY WHY WONT MY ROSES GROW- where the crowded city poured out toxic plumes of smoke; the 1980’s seemed to be choked in smog in the early hours as I left the downtown clubs of Dallas.
Musk’s ablity to seek out opportunities is what, to me, makes him a mentor to mimic.
The Boring Company, a response to 2016 bills to improve the infrastructure of America, thus providing major spending, is one example of his genius for seeing opportunities and ceasing the day.
I once did a series of paintings called, AMERICA, THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY OR A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY IN DISGUISE.
During the pandemic, it was as if we were able to see the areas where this could easily become too true. A house of cards beginning to fall. It could not take a genius to see the formula needed when America needs to get back to work: build roads, bridges, strengthen infrastructure. Our trains and other transportation systems should be in league with that of the other smartest countries in the world. If driving down the roads of America and wondering if the bridge will hold feels more like visiting a third world country, well then we have work to do.
I would have loved to have been in the room to see Elon’s eyes light up with the play on words when he formed the THE BORING COMPANY. Like, ‘ drilling through the ground, boring! ‘.
We live in a world where it is imperative that we all begin to use energy and all this super technology, towards creative solutions; fostering cool, chill, vibes of kindness translating everything into healthier habits that have a positive effect on our own lives, the lives of fellow community members and ultimately, practices that are kind to the Earth we all live on.
I’m not entirely certain of the exact time span where our politics split down the middle where on one side we have this, ” extreme capitalistic at all cost ” methodology- where the goal literally seems to be to rape and pillage the earth as if it is the last chance to do so- but it’s scary to watch from inside. What will it look like on Earth, when we are down to the last drop of water, the final gram of ore and we have a small group of people with the financial resources to relocate to Elon’s new -build on Mars? IF anyone can do it, he can.
Of all the stories I’ve ever read about Elon Musk, it is in the tale of the MODEL 3 in which I find the most inspirational
LEADERSHIP tactics. Here is the quote from Bloomberg:
” PRODUCTION HELL, 2018
After unveiling the Model 3, Musk’s first mass-market EV, Tesla took hundreds of thousands of reservations from eager customers. Then came the hard part: actually making the cars. Musk bragged about working around the clock, employees complained about factory conditions, and investors questioned Tesla’s viability. Musk summed up the vibe in an interview:
“We were huge idiots and didn’t know what we were doing.”
When we keep it real and own up to our errors and imperfections, hold them up to the light for all to see- especially when it is our own imperfection we open up a portal to genuine transformation. We send a message to all who are onboard this ride called life- ” just try “.
One of my favorite Southern Euphemisms is, ” nothing beats a quitter but a try “.
Elon could never be faulted for letting the sun go down on an idea. Kudos to him!
As far as Musk’s company Neuralink Corp., as he continues to seek out people for human research, could not we use the American prison system for human research in an effort for those who would benefit from a way to ” give back “? I know there must be paraplegics and others who are neurologically broken, who are probably struggling to maintain life behind bars who are lost in the system with no sense of purpose. Or would that be too SYFY or dystopian?
At least there would be consent as opposed to the animals who are voluntold to live their life in the name of science and advancement.
Elon seems to be infatuated with creating a better world and this makes us kindred.
Deepak says that infatuation opens the door to a deeper transcendent reality; he says it is the holy vision of saints, a release from old boundaries. A place of temporary madness where sanity pales beside it.
Perhaps we all need to become more passionate, become infatuated with creating a new world where Creative Solutions abound.
Thank you Michael, for prompting me to contemplate this man and his ideas.
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