3 critical characteristics why Elon Musk is where he is now

Elon Musk giving an OK sign

Do a quick search on Elon Musk, and you will find all his significant achievements:

  • Co-founder of PayPal
  • CEO, founder, and chief engineer at SpaceX
  • CEO, product architect, and early-stage investor of Tesla

The 49-year-old, who will turn 50 on 28 June, is one of the world’s wealthiest persons. Putting aside his settlement violations of tweets not yet approved by his company lawyers, there are good things we can learn from this man.

Here are the three critical characteristics of why Elon Musk is where he is now.

#1: Not taking “no” for an answer

Do you know that Musk once challenged his professor to change his score to 100 after receiving 98 for one of his tests? Most of us wouldn’t even bother doing so since 98 isn’t that bad a scorecard and wouldn’t make much of an overall difference.

But to Musk, it was all that mattered. To cut the long story short, he managed to convince his professor and got what he pursued. Not taking “no” for an answer was all that led him to get that perfect result.

Remember, ask, and you shall receive. Seek, and you will find.

#2: Having an undying focus

Cambridge dictionary defines focus as “careful attention that is given to something such as a task, or the ability to give your full attention to something”. The adjectives “careful” and “full” highlight what it means to focus.

Musk’s undying focus had him sleep under his desk and go through 75-hour work weeks just to solve a specific problem during Tesla’s founding stage. He placed distractions aside, gave his urgent tasks clear-cut attention, and we all get to see where Tesla is at right now.

#3: Allowing his passion to fuel

Have you ever walked into an interview where the interviewer told you that passion is everything? Yes, that could be a justification for the low starting salary they are offering. But there’s some truth to the interviewer’s statement.

Most of us will find it hard to sustain a project if we lack interest. Musk’s passion in his field was what fueled him to work late-night shifts and clock long work weeks. Think you can’t find a job that motivates you to wake up early each day? Think again.

Final thoughts
a stressed woman in front of her laptop

Image Credits: health.harvard.edu

We know success doesn’t come by easy. To be as triumphant as Elon Musk? Even way more challenging. If you’ve read the above vital characteristics, you will probably realise that they are pretty intense.

The last thing you want to do in your entrepreneurship journey is to suffer burnout and call it quits. Or worse still, force your team members to leave. Learn to find that right balance and co-live with stress and anxiety so you can continue running the race for a long time to come.

Read More...

Thrive In The Workplace With These Personality Traits

When applying for a position, professional success and industry experience are merely parts of what the hiring manager wants to see. Elements which are harder to show are crucial for landing the job! I am referring to the personality traits that make you a good fit for the company.

Keeping the job with these personality traits is another story!

#1: INTEGRITY

It goes without saying that upholding moral principles is a desirable quality in the workplace. Hence, some hiring managers conduct integrity tests by providing situational questions. The employer needs to know that you can be trusted even without his or her presence.

Do you steal company pens on a regular basis? Or, do you leave early without saying a word? You may think that no one sees these subtle dishonesty, but you are wrong. You never know who is watching you! You best behave well. Choosing the “right” thing to do is challenging, but you must not give in to your selfish desires.

#2: OPENNESS TO FEEDBACK

When it comes to the workplace, being open to receive developmental feedback or constructive criticism is crucial to success. Receiving these messages can help you to efficiently hit your career goals.

The secret to receiving and giving feedback is to come into the conversation from a place of kindness. Keep in mind that you are not receiving constructive criticism because the person dislikes you. Instead, this person wants you to be the best version of yourself. Taking things personally or reacting defensively can surpress a more practical strategy that you can adapt.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

For people who are not comfortable with receiving feedback, immersion therapy is recommended. Make feedback a part of your daily life. Ask feedback from the people you work with as well as the people who knows you best. This way, future feedback will be easier to take.

#3: ADAPTABILITY

Whether you are shuffling a schedule with your pregrant co-worker or relocating to a new town, nobody wants to listen to your complaints. Accepting that change is a part of the constantly-evolving business world is important.

Say that you are not comfortable with the frequent changes happening in your workplace. Instead of immediately voicing out your emotions, you may write these feelings down. Organizing your thoughts can help you distinguish whether these are legitimate concerns or annoying complaints. Urgent matters need to be discussed with the team.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Nonetheless, flexibility is a desirable trait in every industry. Having a positive attitude about change and unforeseen events can help you grow in your career.

#4: DISCIPLINE

Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior. It is the action or inaction related to the code of ethics or the rules governing your company. Discipline is more than just ticking all the boxes of your to-do list. It is an attitude that can pour out to all of your professional decisions. An employee with a poor attitude will not go very far in life!

If you aim to be a boss one day, you need to develop self-discipline. Say that you cannot manage your own time. How can you expect your employees to manage theirs? Self-discipline in the workplace involves arriving on time and resisting the temptation of skipping “boring tasks” such as attending meetings or organizing files.

#5: KINDNESS

Work may be the place where you want to be kind, but being likable can get you far! Likable or pleasant people tend to have more employment opportunities as well as co-worker support. Pursuing your career goals while keeping the best interests of others in mind is ideal.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Nasty people do not always finish first! You do not need to step on people’s ways to get ahead of the employee ladder. Focus on advancement while noticing the needs and feelings of those around you.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...