Why Elon Musk Works
Elon Musk: Still Working Hard, Chasing Meaning, and Expanding Human Consciousness
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man with a net worth of over $250 billion, continues to work tirelessly, despite already having achieved monumental success. Musk has been an influential force in industries ranging from electric vehicles to space exploration, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. But the question remains: why is he still working so hard, putting in up to 120 hours a week?
Musk recently gave a revealing answer to this question, diving deep into his personal philosophy and the existential struggles that have fueled his relentless drive. His quest, he explains, is not just about creating companies or accumulating wealth, but about seeking answers to the universe’s greatest mysteries.
The Search for Meaning: Elon Musk
During a candid conversation, Musk shared that as a teenager, he went through an existential crisis, asking profound questions about the meaning of life. He delved into religious texts from various faiths, but none provided the answers he was seeking. Disappointed, he turned to philosophy, particularly German philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche. However, the writings of these thinkers only deepened his depression.
“Be careful of reading German philosophers as a teenager,” Musk said humorously. “It’s definitely not going to help with your depression. Reading Schopenhauer and Nietzsche as an adult is more manageable, but as a kid, you’re like, ‘Whoa!’”
His intellectual exploration ultimately led him to Douglas Adams’ book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a pivotal moment in his journey for understanding.
The Influence of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Earth is depicted as a massive computer designed to answer the question, “What is the meaning of life?” After much deliberation, the answer comes back as “42,” a humorous and intentionally anticlimactic conclusion. However, Musk found profound insight in this, realizing that the real issue might not be the answer but the question itself.
“The real problem is trying to formulate the right question,” Musk explained. “In the book, they suggest that to figure out the right question, you need a much bigger computer than Earth. This resonated with me because it means we may not even know the right questions to ask about existence.”
Expanding Human Consciousness
Musk’s interpretation of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy inspired a philosophical shift in his life. He came to believe that humanity’s greatest endeavor is to expand its understanding of the universe and its place within it. According to Musk, the key to doing this lies in expanding human consciousness not just on Earth, but across multiple planets and, ultimately, multiple stars.
“The more we can expand the scope and scale of consciousness, the better we can understand what questions to ask about the universe,” Musk says. “That’s why I think we should become a multi-planet species and, eventually, a multi-stellar species. We need to spread human consciousness beyond Earth to fully grasp the mysteries of the universe.”
For Musk, this drive to expand consciousness is the underlying motivation behind many of his ventures, including SpaceX’s mission to colonize Mars, Tesla’s push for sustainable energy, and his work in artificial intelligence with Neuralink.
The Role of Technology in Answering Existential Questions
Musk believes that technology is the best tool humanity has for expanding consciousness and seeking answers to the universe’s big questions. He advocates for both biological and digital consciousness, suggesting that future technology could allow humans to transcend their current physical limitations.
“We need both biological and digital consciousness to figure out what’s going on,” Musk explains. This concept ties into his work with Neuralink, a company developing brain-machine interfaces. Neuralink aims to create a seamless connection between human minds and computers, which Musk believes could help accelerate humanity’s quest for meaning and understanding.
SpaceX, his space exploration company, is another key part of his vision for the future. By making space travel more affordable and eventually enabling the colonization of other planets, Musk hopes to ensure the survival of humanity while expanding its consciousness to other celestial bodies.
“We have a chance of figuring out what the hell is going on,” Musk says. “But to do that, we need to make sure Earth is good too. That’s why sustainable energy is so important. We don’t want Earth to disappear.”
The Importance of Sustainable Energy
Musk emphasizes that in order for humanity to explore other planets and expand its consciousness, Earth needs to remain a viable home. This is why he’s been such a strong advocate for sustainable energy solutions, particularly through his work with Tesla. By reducing humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to clean, renewable energy, Musk hopes to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the future of Earth.
“Making sure things are good on Earth is crucial if we want to expand human consciousness beyond our planet,” Musk explains. “That’s why I’m so passionate about sustainable energy. Without a healthy Earth, our chances of becoming a multi-planet species are slim.”
Elon Musk’s Daily Routine: 120-Hour Work Weeks
While many wonder how Musk manages to juggle his numerous ventures, the answer lies in his grueling work schedule. Musk is known for working up to 120 hours a week, often sleeping at Tesla or SpaceX factories to save time. His daily routine is packed with back-to-back meetings, problem-solving sessions, and hands-on engineering work.
“There’s just not enough time in the day,” Musk admits. “I try to focus on what’s most critical, but there’s always more to do. I think the biggest challenge is managing my time between all these different projects.”
Despite the intensity of his workload, Musk remains motivated by his larger mission to expand human consciousness and uncover the universe’s mysteries. It’s this philosophical drive that keeps him pushing forward, even as others might be tempted to rest on their laurels.
In Sum Up
For Elon Musk, work isn’t just about building companies or amassing wealth it’s about finding meaning in life and helping humanity explore the universe. His personal philosophy, shaped by existential crises, philosophical readings, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, drives him to expand human consciousness through technology and space exploration. As long as there are questions about the universe left unanswered, Musk will continue working tirelessly to find them.
