Reading Reflection 3

Elon Musk is a fascinating and unique character. Coming from a modest background Musk was able to make himself into a defining entrepreneur of the generation.  When reading Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future I was most surprised by the manner in which Musk was able to attain his success. He did not come from money and was able to fund his ventures with the profits of his own work.  Upon graduation Musk had a major role in the development of PayPal and another online banking service. This gave him money to fund projects he was more passionate about like clean energy and space exploration.  Musk’s success has been fueled by his work ethic and determination. These are qualities that I truly admire. His staff claimed that even when they worked 20 hour days, he would work 23.  This passion and work ethic is truly something to be admired.  However, this gave him little time for his family and relationships.  He went through 3 marriages and struggled to support his family.  This is something I hope to avoid as I peruse future entrepreneurial ventures.  However, if that is what it takes to push society into the future then I admire it.  If I could ask Musk questions they would likely revolve around the planet and global warming.  As he aims to one day inhabit Mars, I would ask, “How long do you think humanity has before the planet is uninhabitable?”  I would even ask “Do you think society is past the point of no return in terms of the damage we have already inflicted on the planet?”  Lastly, there is no denying Elon Musk’s stance on hard work and effort. The only limit to a human’s ability is effort.