Elon Musk runs some of the world’s most deep tech and crazy companies – he achieves what the world fails to. He trolls people. He is unstoppable.
What makes him so damn successful? Well, a16z’s Marc Andreessen calls it as ‘The Elon Method’.
The Elon Method
According to Marc Andreessen, the key to understanding Elon Musk’s success lies in his unique approach to work, which he dubs “the Elon method.” This method boils down to a relentless focus on substance over style, speed over bureaucracy, and a deep understanding of engineering principles.
- Substance Over Style: Musk eschews the traditional corporate trappings of meetings, presentations, and layers of management. Instead, he focuses on direct communication with engineers, diving deep into the technical details of every project.
- Speed Over Bureaucracy: Musk’s companies operate at a breakneck pace, constantly iterating and experimenting. He is willing to tolerate failures and setbacks as part of the learning process, a stark contrast to the risk-averse culture of many large companies. This is exemplified by his approach to rocket design at SpaceX: rapidly iterating through prototypes, even if they explode, to learn and improve faster than competitors.
- An Engineer’s Mindset: As an engineer himself, Musk brings a deep technical understanding to every project. He is able to communicate effectively with engineers, identify bottlenecks, and work collaboratively to find solutions. This hands-on approach fosters a culture of innovation and rapid progress.
Andreessen describes Musk’s method as a “completely different relationship” than the one typically seen between CEOs and their employees. Musk’s willingness to work alongside engineers, his deep technical knowledge, and his focus on results create a highly motivated and productive environment.
One illustrative anecdote highlights Musk’s commitment to substance over formality. Andreessen recounts a late-night meeting with Musk at Twitter, where Musk was on a Zoom call with SpaceX engineers designing the next-generation Falcon rocket, all while casually interacting with Andreessen and a dog of unknown origin.
This scene captures Musk’s ability to seamlessly navigate between complex technical discussions and informal interactions, a testament to his focus on getting things done regardless of the setting.
While Andreessen acknowledges that Musk possesses a unique set of traits, he believes that aspects of his approach can be learned and applied by others. The question of whether “partial Elons” can emerge and replicate his success remains open, but the potential impact of such a shift in leadership style on the world is undeniable.
Partial Elons? Well..
