Elon Musk is one of the most influential entrepreneurs/investors/inventors today. His Tesla Motors and SpaceX are like kids’ dreams come true. Fast cars run on electric power? Building and launching rockets into orbit? Wow.
However, just like any other successful people, life is not as easy as it seems.
After selling his Paypal to eBay for $1.5 billion, he started Tesla Motors and SpaceX. His entrepreneurial journey seems on the highway. But the truth is, he has his fair share of low points.
Elon Musk said that 2008 is the worst year of his life. His Tesla Motors was losing money, his SpaceX rockets failed again and again, and the global recession was making everything even worse. Personally, things are not better – he has gone through a divorce.
Elon Musk was beyond broke; he was buried in debt.
SpaceX was about to do the 4th attempt – it’s a make or break attempt. Failing the attempt would send Elon Musk to a deeper financial problem. But he succeeds. Fortunately.
The successful attempt has changed the direction of Elon Musk’s journey – again. NASA signed a $1.5 billion contract with SpaceX. NASA literally saved Musk – financially and emotionally.
Two days after, investors started to pour in money into Tesla Motors.
So, Elon Musk was saved in 3 days period. Literally. Wow – talking about the ups and downs of entrepreneurial journey.
Watch his fascinating – and inspiring – story here:
Elon Musk is awesome. His businesses are life hacking. However, what’s making Elon Musk awesome is his grit, and his passion to makes the world a better place through his inventions.
He has an opportunity to give up in 2008. He’s beyond broke, remember? Just say, “I’ve had it. It’s over.” And he could skip further financial loss. But no – he has to do that 4th rocket launch attempt.
His bet – or rather, bravery – turned out to be successful. Some people say he’s lucky to land the billion-dollar NASA contract; I’d say he’s created his own luck through grit.
Agreed?
