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FoundersJuly 9, 2018

#30 Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

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Audio URL: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/DSLLC5084467615.mp3?updated=1748636339
About This Episode
What I learned from reading Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance. --- I don't want to be the person who ever has to compete with Elon (0:47) Musk expects you to keep up (2:45) Short of building an actual money-crushing machine, Musk could not have picked a faster way to destroy his fortune. He became a one-man, ultra-risk-taking venture capital shop (4:41) Revisit old ideas (5:22) It was not unusual for him to read ten hours a day (7:49) His approach to dating mirrors his approach to work (9:32) Humans are deeply mimetic (10:59) Thinking from first principles (14:37) What it is like to work with Elon Musk (17:40) He would place this urgency that he expected the revenue in ten years to be ten million dollars a day and that every day we were slower to achieve our goals was a day of missing out on that money (19:28) What he went through in 2008 would have broken anyone else. He didn't just survive. He kept working and stayed focused (23:29) A tenet of Elon's companies: make as many things yourself as possible (25:39) The power of the individual in an age of infinite leverage (27:31) The Internet taught me nearly everything I know. It is the modern day equivalent to the library of Alexandria, except it's much harder to burn to the ground. It is indispensable for realizing human rights, combating inequality, accelerating development, and quickening the pace of human progress (29:37) Focusing on the endpoint (30:19) Grand Theft Life (32:00) ---- Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here. ---- “I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast
Book Mentions
4 book mentions in this episode.
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Books Mentioned

zero to one cover
zero to one
Peter Thiel

“The note I left myself is actually a quote from another book and it's actually Peter Thiel zero to one. The quote I left is general and undifferentiated pitches. Don't say anything about why a recruit should join your company instead of many others.”

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
Trigger: entrepreneurship and innovation
For: Aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders
Key quote: “General and undifferentiated pitches don't say anything about why a recruit should join your company instead of many others.”
The host emphasizes the importance of rereading valuable books, particularly highlighting 'Zero to One' by Peter Thiel. This book provides insights into entrepreneurship and the necessity of differentiation in business, which the host connects to Elon Musk's approach to his companies.
ASIN: N/A
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rocket propulsion elements cover
rocket propulsion elements

“Musk had reverted to his childhood state as a devourer of information and had emerged from this meditative process with the realization that rockets could and should be made much cheaper than what the Russians were offering. Musk would inspire people to think about exploring space again by making it cheaper to explore space.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: first principles thinking
For: Individuals interested in aerospace innovation and entrepreneurial thinking
Key quote: “Musk had spent months studying the aerospace industry and the physics behind it.”
The host mentions 'Rocket Propulsion Elements' as part of the foundational knowledge Elon Musk acquired while developing SpaceX. This book, along with others, helped Musk realize that rockets could be built more affordably, challenging the status quo in the aerospace industry.
ASIN: N/A
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fundamentals of astrodynamics cover
fundamentals of astrodynamics

“Musk had reverted to his childhood state as a devourer of information and had emerged from this meditative process with the realization that rockets could and should be made much cheaper than what the Russians were offering. Musk would inspire people to think about exploring space again by making it cheaper to explore space.”

Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: first principles thinking
For: Individuals interested in aerospace and innovation
Key quote: “Musk had spent months studying the aerospace industry and the physics behind it.”
The host mentions 'Fundamentals of Astrodynamics' as part of the extensive reading Elon Musk undertook to understand the aerospace industry. This book, along with others, contributed to Musk's realization that rockets could be built more affordably.
ASIN: N/A
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thermodynamics of gas turbine and rocket propulsion cover
thermodynamics of gas turbine and rocket propulsion

“Musk had reverted to his childhood state as a devourer of information and had emerged from this meditative process with the realization that rockets could and should be made much cheaper than what the Russians were offering. Musk would inspire people to think about exploring space again by making it cheaper to explore space.”

Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: first principles thinking
For: Individuals interested in aerospace innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
Key quote: “Musk had spent months studying the aerospace industry and the physics behind it.”
The host mentions the book to illustrate Elon Musk's approach to understanding complex aerospace concepts. It highlights Musk's dedication to learning and applying first principles thinking in his endeavors, particularly in the context of SpaceX.
ASIN: N/A
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