The Man Who Followed Elon Musk Everywhere Elon's Dad Abused Him, His Trans Child Disowned Him, And Here Are His Secrets For Success! Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson, renowned biographer and former CEO, shares insights from his time with iconic disruptors Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, illuminating the complexities of their genius. Isaacson explores their intense focus, passion for product perfection, and relentless drive, often fueled by personal demons and a disregard for happiness. Musk's mercurial nature and pursuit of lofty missions like Mars colonization are contrasted with his chaotic personal life and unconventional approach to leadership and risk. Isaacson's mission of storytelling to pass on values resonates through his biographical work, capturing the essence of these figures and offering profound lessons on success, leadership, and the intertwining of light and darkness within great minds.

• Walter Isaacson is recognized as one of the greatest biographers, having profiled some of the most influential disruptors in history.
• His biographies are not just informative but also provide a deep understanding of his subjects.
• Isaacson's insights come from both his extensive experience following great minds and his own successful career.

"Walter Isaacson, one of the greatest biography writers ever, whose work allows all of us to learn from some of the greatest minds in history."

This quote highlights Isaacson's reputation as a biographer and the educational value of his work.

• Many disruptors experienced challenging childhoods that shaped their drive and creativity.
• Elon Musk had a particularly tough upbringing, including being bullied and facing psychological abuse from his father.
• Childhood experiences can deeply influence future behavior and motivations, often leading to a mix of positive and negative traits.

"But for Elon Musk, it was particularly brutal. A scrawny kid on the autism spectrum, no friends, beaten up quite often."

This quote illustrates the challenging aspects of Musk's childhood that contributed to his resilience and drive.

• Adversity can serve as a powerful motivator and formative influence on individuals.
• Elon Musk's difficult relationship with his father and the adversity he faced helped shape his character.
• Isaacson observes a common thread among disruptors: the presence of demons from childhood that they either harness or that harness them.

"Everything from his hardwiring to his psychologically abusive father helped make somebody who's addicted to drama."

This quote suggests that Musk's upbringing and relationship with his father contributed to his inclination towards dramatic and challenging situations.

• Isaacson had unique and extensive access to Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, allowing for in-depth biographies.
• His approach to biography involves close, long-term observation rather than just a series of interviews.
• The access provided to Isaacson was based on a mutual understanding of transparency and no control over the final work.

"I spent about two years at his side doing a biography of him."

This quote refers to Isaacson's time with Steve Jobs, which allowed for a comprehensive portrayal of Jobs' life and work.

• Musk's relationship with his father, Errol, is complex and fraught with psychological challenges.
• Isaacson's conversations with both Musk and his father revealed the depth of their strained relationship.
• The dynamic between Musk and his father has had a significant impact on Musk's personality and life choices.

"It took traveling around with Elon for two years, morning, noon, and night, before I could get him to open up about his father."

This quote underscores the difficulty Musk had in discussing his father and the time it took for Isaacson to gain insight into this aspect of Musk's life.

• Isaacson suggests that allowing children to take risks can be beneficial for their development.
• He contrasts the protective parenting style common today with the more hands-off approach experienced by disruptors like Musk.
• Observations of Musk's parenting style indicate a willingness to let his children experience risks.

"Maybe we should allow our kids to be a little bit more risk taking, as opposed to hovering the way my wife and I do."

This quote reflects Isaacson's personal reflection on parenting styles and the potential benefits of allowing children to engage with risk.

• People often seek out environments in adulthood that replicate the familiarity of their childhood, whether positive or negative.
• Musk's tendency to recreate the drama of his childhood suggests a deep psychological connection to his past experiences.
• Isaacson notes that while not all individuals with challenging childhoods become disruptors, there is a correlation between early adversity and drive.

"He's almost always trying to recreate the drama, the turmoil of his childhood in apartheid South Africa."

This quote describes Musk's inclination to seek out environments that echo the tumultuous nature of his childhood.

• Musk was a good but not exceptional student, displaying intense focus on subjects that interested him.
• His interest in computers and video games during adolescence was indicative of his ability to self-teach and develop deep expertise in areas of passion.
• Musk's selective focus is characteristic of many highly successful individuals who prioritize their interests and talents.

"But he had an intense focus, so when he focused on something, he would be awesomely smart."

This quote highlights Musk's ability to excel in areas where he has a strong interest, despite not always performing at the top academically.

• Elon Musk's mother believed he was a genius from a young age.
• Schools often considered him distracted, but his mother fought for him, arguing that he wasn't being challenged enough.
• Musk's mother still regards him as a genius.

"But when Elon was five or six years old, she decided he was a genius and used to fight with the schools when the schools would sometimes say, he's not doing well in school, and he'd be distracted, he's always looking out of the window and staring blankly."

This quote highlights the early recognition of Musk's potential by his mother and her advocacy for his intellectual needs in the face of educational institutions that did not understand him.

• Not everyone can choose to be like Elon Musk; certain innate qualities contribute to his success.
• Musk has an intense focus and sense of urgency that is not common.
• His curiosity and drive are difficult to replicate.

"And for Musk, he has a certain intensity that I think that even if you drank 50 cups of coffee and you put an electric volt prod in the back of your head, that focus and maniacal intensity and sense of urgency is something that's not instilled in most of us."

The quote illustrates that Musk's intensity and focus are exceptional and not something that can be easily adopted or mimicked by others.

• Musk's drive may be partially a response to childhood trauma.
• His Asperger's syndrome contributes to his intense focus on technical subjects.
• His upbringing and neurological wiring play roles in his personality and work ethic.

"It's a trauma response, and the book has got a lot. You can't have a one sentence, here's why. But you start in childhood with the trauma."

This quote suggests that Musk's drive and focus are complex and influenced by a combination of personal history and neurological factors.

• Musk studied physics and business to avoid working for someone who didn't understand science.
• His decision demonstrates his first principle thinking and desire for comprehensive understanding.

"He said he didn't want to end up working for somebody who studied business and didn't understand the science, and he felt that if he didn't understand the business side, he'd end up having to work for somebody else."

This quote explains Musk's rationale behind his educational choices, reflecting his strategic thinking and desire for autonomy.

• Musk employs first principle thinking to solve problems by reducing them to their fundamental truths.
• He applies this thinking to challenges in engineering and business.
• Musk uses this approach to bypass conventional methods and innovate.

"First principles thinking is key, and first principles thinking is whenever you're faced with a problem, you just go back to the very basic physics of it."

The quote defines first principle thinking and how Musk applies it to his work, stripping problems down to their basic components to find innovative solutions.

• Musk is frustrated by regulations and rules that stifle innovation.
• He uses first principle thinking to calculate and take risks that others avoid.
• His approach reflects a desire to return to a culture of risk-taking.

"He wants to be able to not only calculate risk, but take risk more than most people would."

This quote shows Musk's ambition to push beyond the limitations imposed by a risk-averse society, using first principle thinking as a tool to do so.

• Steve Jobs focused less on hardware engineering and more on different thinking.
• Both Jobs and Musk shared a similar philosophy of challenging the status quo.
• Jobs' approach was encapsulated in the "Think Different" campaign.

"And that was Steve Jobs's way of thinking. And it also describes Elon Musk."

The quote draws a parallel between the philosophies of Jobs and Musk, emphasizing their shared belief in the power of thinking differently to effect change.

• Musk reacts strongly against conventional thinking and limitations.
• He is known to challenge his engineers to achieve seemingly impossible tasks.
• Musk's approach often leads to rapid innovation but can also cause friction.

"Oh, absolutely. There's like 2030 times in the book. And he goes ballistic."

This quote illustrates Musk's impatience with conventional thinking and his aggressive push for innovation, often leading to tension with those around him.

• Musk's demanding work ethic resonates with some employees but drives others away.
• His intensity can lead to high turnover but also attracts those who thrive under pressure.
• Musk's approach to work is not for everyone, but it does foster a unique environment of innovation.

"And about 20% to 30% of the people who work with him can go march through fire with him that way and realize what he can do."

The quote acknowledges that while Musk's work ethic is challenging, it also inspires a significant portion of his workforce to achieve exceptional results.

• Musk's political views have shifted over time, influenced by personal experiences.
• His family dynamics, particularly with his daughter, have impacted his perspective on progressive ideologies.
• Musk's views on COVID lockdowns and other social issues have become more controversial.

"And this causes him an enormous amount of pain, and he partly blames it on Los Angeles, where you live sometimes."

This quote provides insight into the personal factors that have contributed to Musk's evolving political stance, highlighting the impact of family and environment on his views.

• Musk's acquisition of Twitter was seen as a potential distraction from his other ventures.
• His lack of emotional awareness was a concern for the platform, which is heavily reliant on user engagement.
• The acquisition has been controversial and may have affected Musk's reputation and business interests.

"So I'm sitting. He had just opened Giga, Texas, which is the largest factory manufacturing things. That's a Tesla factory in Austin, Texas. We're on. The mezzanine factory is not even open yet. I guess this is April 2022. And he tells me that he still needs more drama in his life."

The quote captures Musk's restless drive for new challenges, even at the risk of overextending himself or potentially disrupting his other businesses.

• Musk has drastically changed the culture at Twitter, emphasizing urgency and intensity over psychological safety.
• His approach to corporate culture is polarizing, and not all employees are able to adapt.
• Musk's leadership style demands a high level of commitment and can lead to significant turnover.

"An urgent intensity is our operating principle. Psychological safety is our enemy."

This quote exemplifies Musk's philosophy on company culture, prioritizing productivity and innovation over employee comfort and traditional workplace norms.

• Musk's radical approach to changing company culture can be effective but also damaging.
• His willingness to disrupt established environments can lead to both breakthroughs and burnout.
• Musk's methods are not universally applicable and may not be sustainable for every leader or organization.

"But there are people, including the guy Andy Krebs I told you about, who wants to go back to work at SpaceX, who like the challenge, who like the emotional turmoil."

The quote acknowledges that despite the potential downsides of Musk's approach to culture change, there are individuals who are drawn to the challenge and excitement it brings.

• Different types of companies require different leadership styles, especially in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
• Disruption is necessary across various industries, not just tech companies.
• Corporate culture can vary; some companies may prefer remote work, while others require in-office presence.
• There is no one-size-fits-all approach to corporate culture or leadership.
• Leaders must understand their own strengths and weaknesses to lead effectively.

"Not only it used to be tech companies would have to be disruptive, but now if you're an insurance company, if you're a law firm, if you're a bank, the disruption is going to happen if you're a healthcare company. So yeah, we're going to have to be disruptive."

This quote emphasizes that disruption is now a necessity across all industries, not just in technology.

"I think it's good to experiment, or not just experiment, but to have alternatives."

Walter Isaacson suggests that companies should explore different working environments to find what suits them best.

"Some corporate leaders, like Jennifer Dowdna or even a Ben Franklin lead by being collaborative and inspiring and nice."

Isaacson points out that leadership styles can vary greatly, with some leaders being more collaborative and others more confrontational.

• The effectiveness of leadership styles can be subjective and dependent on the leader's personality.
• Some leaders are more aggressive and demanding, while others are more collaborative and nurturing.
• The "velvet glove" approach may not always be suitable for companies needing significant disruption.
• Leaders must be self-aware and choose a style that aligns with their personality and the needs of their company.
• A balanced leadership team can benefit from having both "iron fists" and "inspiring nice guys."

"Some corporate leaders have got to know Steve Jobs, like, or Bill Gates in the early days of Microsoft or Bezos in the early days of Amazon, or know basically assholes at times."

Isaacson acknowledges that some of the most successful leaders have had aggressive and demanding leadership styles.

"But I made sure in my leadership team there were people who had iron fists and could take intel."

Isaacson reflects on his time leading CNN and Time, recognizing the need for a balance of leadership styles within his team.

• Being overly concerned with being liked can hinder a leader's ability to be disruptive and make tough decisions.
• Leaders like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs believed that a desire to be liked is a weakness in leadership.
• Leaders must be willing to make unpopular decisions to drive innovation and change within their organizations.

"Both of them told me that that could be a failing, that that could be a weakness, which is if you try too hard to be liked, you're not going to be disruptive enough."

Isaacson shares insights from Musk and Jobs about the pitfalls of seeking approval as a leader.

"I sat there worrying about, I won't name names, but these anchors on CNN who truly were problematic."

Isaacson admits to his own struggles with being too concerned about being liked, which affected his leadership at CNN.

• Elon Musk's employees are highly dedicated, with a subset that is extremely loyal despite high turnover.
• Musk's vision for SpaceX and Tesla is driven by a desire to achieve significant, world-changing goals.
• Musk believes in the importance of human consciousness and the need for space exploration.
• His personal health and lifestyle are not as disciplined as his professional pursuits.

"Elon's employees generally will walk through a wall for him, those who have survived."

Isaacson describes the intense loyalty that some of Musk's employees have towards him.

"He believes in space faring... We have to have our vision set on some things that inspire us, that are truly make humans what they are."

Isaacson explains Musk's motivation for pursuing space exploration and the importance of having inspiring goals.

"When he first said to me that he had three missions, to get humanity to Mars, to have sustainable energy on this planet, and to make robots safe, I thought it was a type of pontification... But then I'd hear him say it over and over again."

Isaacson conveys that Musk's missions are deeply held beliefs, not just rhetoric.

• Musk is not overly concerned with his own health and does not follow a strict diet or exercise regimen.
• He has experimented with weight loss drugs and intermittent fasting but does not always make healthy choices.
• Musk's focus on his missions often takes precedence over his personal well-being.

"He's overweight now for a while... And we went to something called the Palo alto creamery... And little X was with us, and Musk ordered a double bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and an Oreo chocolate chip milkshake and said, okay, it's my one meal of the day."

Isaacson recounts an instance demonstrating Musk's lack of concern for a healthy diet, even while attempting to lose weight.

"He doesn't meditate, do yoga, swim, or do things that would both clear your mind and relax your body."

Isaacson notes Musk's lack of interest in activities that could contribute to his physical and mental health.

• Elon Musk's mental health is described as "mercurial," with mood swings and periods of extreme behavior.
• Musk's intense drive and passion may be intertwined with his mental health challenges.
• Concerns arise during moments when Musk appears to be in a "tailspin" or engaging in self-destructive behavior.

"He's never been diagnosed, but he uses some medication that's been prescribed, and so he will get into these mood swings where he can be manic and depressive and bipolar."

Isaacson discusses Musk's mental health, suggesting that it is complex and possibly includes undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

"He's sending off horrible tweets back then, calling some cave diver a pedophile or saying he's going to take Tesla private."

Isaacson gives examples of Musk's behavior during periods of distress, which have public consequences.

• Successful leaders like Musk and Jobs prioritize building strong teams.
• Attitude is considered more important than skills or knowledge since it is harder to change.
• Musk and Jobs had different approaches to team stability and delegation of authority.
• A shared principle between Musk and Jobs is the importance of a passionate and dedicated team.

"With Musk, he says that you always look first for the right attitude, skills, knowledge, they can all be acquired."

Isaacson shares Musk's philosophy on hiring, emphasizing the importance of attitude.

"The best thing I did was the team at Apple, ANd that's ThE Johnny I. Phil Schiller, Eddie Q. Tim cook team Musk is not as much of a superstar building teams."

Isaacson contrasts Jobs' focus on team-building with Musk's slightly different approach.

• Both Musk and Jobs share a passion for perfection and attention to detail.
• They both believed in the importance of experimentation and a willingness to fail as part of the innovation process.
• Their shared principles underline the significance of having a clear vision and commitment to their goals.

"If you have a passion for perfection, you'll care even about the beauty of the parts UNseen."

Isaacson articulates the shared passion for perfection that both Musk and Jobs had, even in aspects of their work that were not directly visible to others.

"If you're not failing 20% of the time, you're not risking enough."

Isaacson conveys Musk's belief in the necessity of taking risks and learning from failures to achieve success.

• Elon Musk's business culture is characterized by a willingness to take on high-risk projects and challenge the status quo.
• Musk's approach involves pushing boundaries, such as with the design of the Cybertruck or the use of stainless steel in place of carbon fiber.
• Resistance to Musk's ideas is common, but he often overcomes it through persistence or by replacing those who do not align with his vision.
• Musk's intense and hardcore nature ensures his companies avoid complacency and continue to innovate.

"Well, I don't think Musk has a problem with complacency because he's so intense and hardcore that the know, I've watched so many meetings where even at Twitter where somebody says, we can't do this."

This quote highlights Musk's relentless drive to innovate and his refusal to accept complacency within his companies. His intensity sets a cultural tone that promotes risk-taking and challenges the idea that something can't be done.

• The concept of a "reality distortion field" is used to describe the ability of leaders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk to bend reality to achieve seemingly impossible goals.
• Jobs and Musk are known for setting ambitious goals and pushing their teams to achieve them, often leading to significant advancements.
• This approach can lead to success but also has its failures, as seen with Musk's predictions on full self-driving technology.

"Delusional. The phrase they used for Steve was reality distortion field, which is just a geek's way of saying delusional, meaning you can wish something and think hard enough on something and try to make it happen."

This quote explains the idea that certain visionary leaders possess an ability to convince themselves and others to pursue and often achieve goals that seem unrealistic to most people. This mindset has been a key factor in their success but also has its limitations.

• Deadlines are viewed by Elon Musk as forcing functions that drive progress and maintain a high level of intensity within his teams.
• Musk's philosophy on deadlines is that they help to speed up work, even if they are sometimes unrealistic.
• The culture of intense work surges in response to tight deadlines has led to significant achievements, though it can be stressful for the teams involved.

"Yes, but I'm a specialist at turning the impossible into the merely very late."

This quote reflects Musk's attitude towards deadlines, acknowledging that while he may not always meet them on time, the deadlines serve to expedite progress and ultimately lead to delivery of the final product.

• Elon Musk and other similar leaders often do not prioritize personal happiness or traditional pleasures.
• Their drive for success is linked to a constant pursuit of the next challenge rather than contentment or relaxation.
• This trait is not universal among successful leaders, as evidenced by the contrasting lifestyles of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

"No. He's somebody who not only is not usually happy, but he doesn't value happiness."

This quote indicates that for some individuals like Musk, the pursuit of their mission and the work involved in achieving it take precedence over personal happiness or conventional measures of a good life.

• Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are competitors in the space industry, which has led to disputes but also mutual respect.
• Musk's desire for competition in space exploration is driven by a belief that it benefits the overall mission, despite personal rivalries.
• The competitive dynamic between Musk and Bezos has been both contentious and productive.

"I think they're competitors, and there's two chapters in the book called Bezos and Musk where they compete."

This quote highlights the rivalry between Musk and Bezos, which is a significant aspect of their relationship. The competition is seen not just as personal but as a driver of progress in their respective endeavors.

• Walter Isaacson believes that studying great leaders like Steve Jobs has influenced his own perspective on work and the importance of caring about the finer details.
• The passion for product and design over profit is a common trait among leaders like Jobs and Musk.
• The balance between personal life and work is a personal choice, with Musk choosing to prioritize work over personal relationships and happiness.

"I admire deeply Steve Jobs's passion for beauty, his passion for the product."

This quote reflects Isaacson's appreciation for Jobs's focus on product quality and aesthetics, which he sees as a defining trait of successful leaders.

• Musk's product development approach begins with questioning established rules and requirements.
• The process involves simplifying, speeding up processes, and ultimately automating.
• Musk emphasizes the importance of integrating design and manufacturing, with engineers and designers closely observing the assembly line.

"Well, the algorithm goes back to what you called first principles, which is step one of the algorithm is question every rule, question every requirement."

This quote describes the initial step in Musk's product development algorithm, which is to challenge existing assumptions and rules to innovate and improve products.

• Elon Musk's personal life is characterized by emotional intensity, drama, and turmoil, which he associates with love and childhood experiences.
• His relationships often mirror the intensity of his professional life, and he has a fear of being alone.
• Musk's approach to personal relationships is consistent with his overall approach to life and work: intense and driven by a fear of stagnation or solitude.

"Know, Elon loves drama and turmoil, right? That's from childhood."

This quote provides insight into Musk's personal life, suggesting that his preference for intensity and drama in relationships is rooted in his childhood experiences and affects his approach to love and family.

• Walter Isaacson emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and one's mission in life to achieve happiness and success.
• He believes in connecting personal passions to a larger purpose and contributing to society through storytelling.
• Isaacson sees his role as a storyteller as a way to inspire and educate by sharing the stories of influential figures.

"Knowing your mission and knowing yourself, maybe that's two things, but it took me a while to know myself, meaning what I was good at as a leader and what I didn't want to be good at."

This quote underscores the significance of self-awareness and clarity of purpose in leading a fulfilling life. Isaacson reflects on his own journey to understanding his strengths and mission.