Two Readers Clarify Elon Musk’s Modified Position At Tesla Higher Than I Did

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Yesterday, once I wrote an article explaining what I feel has occurred with Elon Musk and Tesla lately that has led to the conundrum Tesla is in proper now, or not less than its newest “wager the corporate” transfer, I knew the reader feedback could be nice. As some readers have stated, the discussions below articles are sometimes higher than the articles themselves. There have been a number of nice feedback below that article, however one stood out to me as a superb one which deserved its personal characteristic story, after which one other one was an ideal followup alongside related strains. So, I’m together with each of those under. Lastly, I’m going to incorporate a few segments from a brand new e-book about Musk, which relate to each of those feedback.

For these of you who’re bored with this subject, apologies, however no must learn additional in case you are. I do suppose it’s vital stuff to think about and focus on, although, as a result of Tesla remains to be one of the crucial vital and influential firms within the EV world, and thus the world at giant. What occurs with Tesla might not be as vital right now because it was a decade in the past, however it’s nonetheless extraordinarily vital.

Right here’s the primary remark, from “Jec,” that I believed deserved additional consideration:

“I’ve labored in Government Search for a few years and occurred to serve a bigger variety of entrepreneurs. They’re an fascinating lot. They love discussing and dealing with new concepts and visions. The have a robust drive to Pressure their thought to success. They’re all the time ‘sooner or later’. Hate being compelled to take care of the previous or with minor issues. All the time on to new revolutionary concepts, which provides them vitality. Keep in mind Musk and boneheaded questions? As an alternative of listening to Musk and his visions for the long run, the analysts wished details about the previous quarter. Musk hated that.

“EVs have now developed to a state the place the know-how has matured, and there’s no room for technological revolutions of the kind that offers vitality to Musk. Now it’s a matter of optimizing and perfectionizing, which bores Musk. It’s ‘a sport of pennies’.

“That’s why he cuts down on automobile improvement, and strikes to FSD, which could possibly be a revolution and subsequently pursuits Musk rather more. Time has subsequently come to go away the day by day management to an individual who enjoys optimizing enterprise and let Elon transfer on.

“Else, his restlessness mixed along with his dominant habits will more and more develop into a legal responsibility for Tesla.

“In my expertise, all entrepreneurs ultimately hit a glass ceiling and might’t develop the corporate additional, as their adverse sides now equalizes their optimistic sides.”

I feel that’s principally backing up what I wrote in a part of my article, however expounding on it and explaining it even higher. Nonetheless, I do suppose that whereas many individuals agree with Jec that Musk wants to maneuver on, there are additionally many individuals (particularly TSLA shareholders) who suppose he must preserve operating Tesla with a purpose to preserve it revolutionary. They don’t need Tesla to be “simply one other automotive firm” and strongly imagine in Musk’s robotaxi, AI, and robotics plans.

Although, personally, I feel extra individuals would most likely be clever to protect in opposition to the notion that “as a result of somebody succeeded earlier than, they may succeed once more on this different means.” Perhaps Musk shall be proper on Tesla AI, robotaxis, and robotics. Or possibly, as he’s been incorrect (or not less than delayed) for the previous a number of years, he’ll proceed to overlook targets on this stuff and burn cash indefinitely with out the anticipated return. I feel everybody, professional and con on this, has to acknowledge that we don’t actually know the place this stuff will go — together with Musk.

However, sure, what does appear clear is that Musk isn’t in it for incremental enhancements and the traditional operating of a giant company.

Right here’s the second reader remark I wished to focus on right here, from Mike Sarcione:

“Profitable entrepreneurs with the largest egos fall actually onerous when they’re both advised they’re incorrect, and even worse, ignored by others in authority. One authority to disregard him, present POTUS. His Administration ignored the “king” of world EVs, on the time, in crafting the IRA and EV features. One other authority to disregard him was the earlier POTUS presently operating once more. Nonetheless, Elon Musk noticed a gap as that one would change his view of parents who would bend the knee and ship numerous $. There was a possible for market uptick if he may get the bully’s followers to melt and settle for EVs. Of us with huge egos, numerous $, and media management have loads of vent choices for espousing their ‘mind-set.’ Household isn’t first, his companies aren’t first, his ego is first, and anybody who tries to harm it, or assist information it with one of the best of intentions, fuels its misguided responses which in the end requires corrections and self rationalization. In enterprise, it’s what have you ever finished for the shareholders these days that may in the end resolve his future. He wants an mental miracle. We’ll see whether or not the one he’s been banking on pans out. Ultimately all emperors and empires get defeated, particularly after they have divided pursuits. Between Chinese language competitors, private household pressures, political fallout and mental failures, their are loads of divided pursuits.”

This remark was not in response to that different one above, however it carries on from it. As that different commenter referred to it, entrepreneurs tend towards “dominant habits.” Once they can’t be the dominant determine within the room, or within the story, they will have infected reactions. I feel anybody who’s following on may see this can be a huge a part of what occurred with Musk and Biden. Biden didn’t acknowledge Elon in the best way Elon felt he needs to be acknowledged and consulted. Just like how Donald Trump ran for president after Obama made some jokes about him on the 2011 White Home Correspondents’ Dinner, I feel a giant a part of what acquired Musk into politics was the best way Biden was ignoring him — not simply at that notorious EV occasion, however Biden additionally reportedly ignored requests for conferences with Musk, or one thing like that. Nonetheless, if that is true, one regarding factor right here is how Musk can fall into traps, facet tangents, and conspiracy theories simply from not getting the reward and a spotlight he thinks he deserves. Humorous sufficient, as I’m scripting this, I simply remembered one thing I learn earlier right now:

That’s fairly wild if true, and the unhappy factor is, it’s most likely true. (Aspect word: I suppose this can be a good thing about being King of the World City Corridor.)

In that second reader remark, I cherished that line “Ultimately all emperors and empires get defeated, particularly after they have divided pursuits.” And as he famous “Between Chinese language competitors, private household pressures, political fallout and mental failures, their are loads of divided pursuits.” Certainly. Although, whereas many Tesla followers would now wish to see Musk step down from his position as CEO, I feel one other anecdote from that new e-book, Character Restrict: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, reveals us that he received’t. He has stated many instances that he’d be pleased to go on the position of CEO, however there’s nobody higher to do the job. That is how he sees it. A extra stark instance of how he appears himself as the required chief of all the pieces he will get concerned in, as summarized by Rolling Stone, right here’s the story of Musk promising the step down from operating Twitter if the individuals thought he ought to, after which not doing so:

“Following a collection of disastrous coverage adjustments, Musk determined to carry an off-the-cuff efficiency overview for himself utilizing one in every of his favourite Twitter instruments: the polling characteristic. ‘Ought to I step down as head of Twitter? I’ll abide by the outcomes of this ballot,’ he tweeted in December 2022 earlier than embarking on a flight from Qatar to London. When he landed, he discovered that ‘57.5 % of the greater than 17.5 million accounts that had voted have been calling for him to resign.’ Between this rejection and the plummeting worth of Tesla inventory, Musk turned withdrawn and unresponsive, with those that did handle to speak to him worrying that he was ‘within the throes of a manic occasion.’ Talking with one confidante, ‘Musk choked up and commenced to doubt his means to run the corporate’ in gentle of the ballot outcomes, saying, ‘I’m by no means going to recuperate from this.’ He would, in fact, go on to rent Linda Yaccarino as a substitute CEO within the new 12 months — although as anybody nonetheless lively on the positioning that quickly turned X will inform you, it continues to replicate his worst impulses and warped worldview.”

Musk doesn’t wish to hand over management of Tesla. Like with Twitter, he believes that he’s the chosen one who’s one of the best individual to run the corporate. Although, whereas this Twitter ballot advised Musk what he didn’t wish to hear and thought he wouldn’t hear, within the case of Tesla, shareholders only in the near past revived his huge compensation package deal and principally gave him a full stamp of approval to maintain operating Tesla nevertheless he sees match. So, even when he’s tired of the day-to-day of Tesla and the incremental wants of a company like Tesla, I feel he’ll proceed to imagine he’s the one one who can do the CEO job and can stay simply the place he’s.