Elon Musk and failure

[iliveonramen]

So I was listening to a podcast and they were asking questions to Elon Musk. I find the guy fascinating because while billionaires such as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates are admirable because of their donations to help out people suffering throughout the world, Elon Musk focuses on changing mankind. He spends his money trying to change how humankind consumes energy or finding ways to colonize Mars. His focus is on advancing humankind as a species.

During the podcast interview he talks about his years in college. While in college he did an experiment to find out how much money he needs to live on. He said that he purchased cheap food and was able to live for 1 dollar a day. He said he never worried about money from that point on because he believed he would never have an issue raising 30 dollar's a month to eat.

I find this interesting. I think people get obsessed with materialism or a certain living standard and it creates barriers to success. When making a decision they balance the amount of income they need to sustain their certain life compared to a risky venture that result in a lower income. The fact is people that succeed fail as much as they succeed. It's not a constant upward trajectory, but that fear of rejection constrains a lot of people.

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting perspective so I thought I would share.

 

[Lutherf]

So I was listening to a podcast and they were asking questions to Elon Musk. I find the guy fascinating because while billionaires such as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates are admirable because of their donations to help out people suffering throughout the world, Elon Musk focuses on changing mankind. He spends his money trying to change how humankind consumes energy or finding ways to colonize Mars. His focus is on advancing humankind as a species.

During the podcast interview he talks about his years in college. While in college he did an experiment to find out how much money he needs to live on. He said that he purchased cheap food and was able to live for 1 dollar a day. He said he never worried about money from that point on because he believed he would never have an issue raising 30 dollar's a month to eat.

I find this interesting. I think people get obsessed with materialism or a certain living standard and it creates barriers to success. When making a decision they balance the amount of income they need to sustain their certain life compared to a risky venture that result in a lower income. The fact is people that succeed fail as much as they succeed. It's not a constant upward trajectory, but that fear of rejection constrains a lot of people.

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting perspective so I thought I would share.

Are you sure you're a liberal?

 

[Goshin]

So I was listening to a podcast and they were asking questions to Elon Musk. I find the guy fascinating because while billionaires such as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates are admirable because of their donations to help out people suffering throughout the world, Elon Musk focuses on changing mankind. He spends his money trying to change how humankind consumes energy or finding ways to colonize Mars. His focus is on advancing humankind as a species.

During the podcast interview he talks about his years in college. While in college he did an experiment to find out how much money he needs to live on. He said that he purchased cheap food and was able to live for 1 dollar a day. He said he never worried about money from that point on because he believed he would never have an issue raising 30 dollar's a month to eat.

I find this interesting. I think people get obsessed with materialism or a certain living standard and it creates barriers to success. When making a decision they balance the amount of income they need to sustain their certain life compared to a risky venture that result in a lower income. The fact is people that succeed fail as much as they succeed. It's not a constant upward trajectory, but that fear of rejection constrains a lot of people.

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting perspective so I thought I would share.

I find him fascinating as well. He is doing wonders for revolutionizing space travel.

 

[iliveonramen]

I find him fascinating as well. He is doing wonders for revolutionizing space travel.

I agree. I find it interesting that when asked how he wants to better mankind he instead answers he wants to do things that ensures the survival of mankind.

 

[Summerwind]

So I was listening to a podcast and they were asking questions to Elon Musk. I find the guy fascinating because while billionaires such as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates are admirable because of their donations to help out people suffering throughout the world, Elon Musk focuses on changing mankind. He spends his money trying to change how humankind consumes energy or finding ways to colonize Mars. His focus is on advancing humankind as a species.

During the podcast interview he talks about his years in college. While in college he did an experiment to find out how much money he needs to live on. He said that he purchased cheap food and was able to live for 1 dollar a day. He said he never worried about money from that point on because he believed he would never have an issue raising 30 dollar's a month to eat.

I find this interesting. I think people get obsessed with materialism or a certain living standard and it creates barriers to success. When making a decision they balance the amount of income they need to sustain their certain life compared to a risky venture that result in a lower income. The fact is people that succeed fail as much as they succeed. It's not a constant upward trajectory, but that fear of rejection constrains a lot of people.

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting perspective so I thought I would share.

Yep, if you are willing to do without, $1 or so a day is enough. I've had two years in the past 10 where I had under $1000 to live for the entire year. Gas, food, everything except the roof over my head which is a 5'x8' utility trailer and fully paid for prior to going bankrupt 10 years ago. It ain't easy, it ain't fun, but it's doable if you willing to be mostly stationary (gas is expensive) and eat simple meals prepared by oneself that don't require much actual cooking, cold tuna cabbage rolls.

 

[Cardinal]

So I was listening to a podcast and they were asking questions to Elon Musk. I find the guy fascinating because while billionaires such as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates are admirable because of their donations to help out people suffering throughout the world, Elon Musk focuses on changing mankind. He spends his money trying to change how humankind consumes energy or finding ways to colonize Mars. His focus is on advancing humankind as a species.

During the podcast interview he talks about his years in college. While in college he did an experiment to find out how much money he needs to live on. He said that he purchased cheap food and was able to live for 1 dollar a day. He said he never worried about money from that point on because he believed he would never have an issue raising 30 dollar's a month to eat.

I find this interesting. I think people get obsessed with materialism or a certain living standard and it creates barriers to success. When making a decision they balance the amount of income they need to sustain their certain life compared to a risky venture that result in a lower income. The fact is people that succeed fail as much as they succeed. It's not a constant upward trajectory, but that fear of rejection constrains a lot of people.

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting perspective so I thought I would share.

Um...a dollar a day? Can you break that down for me?

 

[iliveonramen]

Um...a dollar a day? Can you break that down for me?

I think he was doing an experiment based on "how much do I need to survive". The 1 dollar a day provided enough calories for him to survive, this was also back in the day so I'm sure inflation would take that dollar and add some too it.

I think ultimately though the point was just saying "worse case scenario" and it's kind of liberating when you think about it that way.

 

[Cardinal]

I think he was doing an experiment based on "how much do I need to survive". The 1 dollar a day provided enough calories for him to survive, this was also back in the day so I'm sure inflation would take that dollar and add some too it.

I think ultimately though the point was just saying "worse case scenario" and it's kind of liberating when you think about it that way.

Okay, let's say he was talking about 1985 (I'm too lazy to google when he went to college right now) and that dollar had the value of two dollars. Still...break that down for me.

 

[iliveonramen]

Okay, let's say he was talking about 1985 (I'm too lazy to google when he went to college right now) and that dollar had the value of two dollars. Still...break that down for me.

When Elon Musk lived on $1 a day - The Washington Post

Here's an article based on the interview.

 

[Cardinal]

When Elon Musk lived on $1 a day - The Washington Post

Here's an article based on the interview.

Nope, sorry. You can use the words "bulk" all day long, I'm not buying that you can eat and drink on one (1985) dollar a day. I call bull****.

 

[iliveonramen]

Nope, sorry. You can use the words "bulk" all day long, I'm not buying that you can eat and drink on one (1985) dollar a day. I call bull****.

The main point is that it's okay to fail and it won't be the end of the world. I don't think he's making any sort of statement about others or that someone can live permanently on a dollar a day, just that he proved to himself that he can live in even a worst case scenario.

 

[Cardinal]

The main point is that it's okay to fail and it won't be the end of the world. I don't think he's making any sort of statement about others or that someone can live permanently on a dollar a day, just that he proved to himself that he can live in even a worst case scenario.

Yes, I know, but I hate it when rich people make bull**** assertions about how awesome they'd be at being poor.

 

[iliveonramen]

Yes, I know, but I hate it when rich people make bull**** assertions about what they could live on if they were poor.

I agree, I can't stand when someone that's rich makes a social statement. I think this really was a an act to liberate himself from being afraid to take large risks. When he made that experiment I'm sure he wasn't talking about living his life at those wages or being permanently poor. He graduated from a good university into a lucrative field. Any "poverty" he lived in would only be temporary which is radically different than someone living in poverty for the majority of their life.

 

[JumpinJack]

So I was listening to a podcast and they were asking questions to Elon Musk. I find the guy fascinating because while billionaires such as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates are admirable because of their donations to help out people suffering throughout the world, Elon Musk focuses on changing mankind. He spends his money trying to change how humankind consumes energy or finding ways to colonize Mars. His focus is on advancing humankind as a species.

During the podcast interview he talks about his years in college. While in college he did an experiment to find out how much money he needs to live on. He said that he purchased cheap food and was able to live for 1 dollar a day. He said he never worried about money from that point on because he believed he would never have an issue raising 30 dollar's a month to eat.

I find this interesting. I think people get obsessed with materialism or a certain living standard and it creates barriers to success. When making a decision they balance the amount of income they need to sustain their certain life compared to a risky venture that result in a lower income. The fact is people that succeed fail as much as they succeed. It's not a constant upward trajectory, but that fear of rejection constrains a lot of people.

Anyway, I found this to be an interesting perspective so I thought I would share.

Very interesting. I'm going to read up more about him and his philosophy.

I just read a little of his background. As for the $1 a day to live on....I saw that he comes from a privileged background and went to prep school. So living on $1 a day is pretty easy to do, if you know you have a fallback position (called mom and dad). That makes all the difference, don't you think? I mean, there's no reason he would have ever been in danger of becoming homeless. That sort of safety net affects most decisions a person makes. It might have even been an experiment to see how little he could get by on (after someone else was paying for his room and board, apparently).

Still, he seems to be an amazing, intriguing person and innovator. Even if I had his IQ and privileged background (he has a PhD in physics!), I doubt I would've done what he's done. There are just people in the world who do amazing things like he's done.

 

[JumpinJack]

Are you sure you're a liberal?

It makes sense, since it sounds like Musk is a liberal, or maybe centrist. He's very into solar power, energy conservation, etc.

 

[JumpinJack]

Yep, if you are willing to do without, $1 or so a day is enough. I've had two years in the past 10 where I had under $1000 to live for the entire year. Gas, food, everything except the roof over my head which is a 5'x8' utility trailer and fully paid for prior to going bankrupt 10 years ago. It ain't easy, it ain't fun, but it's doable if you willing to be mostly stationary (gas is expensive) and eat simple meals prepared by oneself that don't require much actual cooking, cold tuna cabbage rolls.

Wow. That must have been a really tough time for you. I don't know that I could do that. $1,000 seems undoable for an entire year. Didn't you qualify for food stamps?

 

[JumpinJack]

I agree, I can't stand when someone that's rich makes a social statement. I think this really was a an act to liberate himself from being afraid to take large risks. When he made that experiment I'm sure he wasn't talking about living his life at those wages or being permanently poor. He graduated from a good university into a lucrative field. Any "poverty" he lived in would only be temporary which is radically different than someone living in poverty for the majority of their life.

I think that's true. He came from $ and had gone to prep school. So it doesn't sound like there was ever any danger of him becoming homeless or suffering. It sounds more like the $1 a day was an experiment to see how little he could live on. Someone was paying for his digs...school dorm or whatever. He had no utility bills or other living expenses, sounds like. Unless a scholarship paid for that. I'm frugal but don't think I could survive on $365 a year.

 

[Summerwind]

Wow. That must have been a really tough time for you. I don't know that I could do that. $1,000 seems undoable for an entire year. Didn't you qualify for food stamps?

I did qualify, but because I had taken a year to use one six month allotment of food stamps, my auto-renewal had expired by the time I was referring to. I was not in Idaho when it expired and couldn't afford to get back to Idaho in order to re-apply. I have yet to have a "residence" outside of Idaho as I travel the west trying to find employment and such. So unless I commit fraud, I have to return to Idaho to re-apply for EBT. Just now I have managed to find another part-time job, but it's one that's somewhat seasonal. As the year ended and new year started they were quit busy, but as the year progresses, it's expected to dwindle. Who knows how many hours I may get in the future. April looks really bad with probably less than 12 hours for the entire month, at just above minimum wage. So it's not like I can jump at finding a "residence" in this area as I may have to leave it soon as well.

 

[JumpinJack]

I did qualify, but because I had taken a year to use one six month allotment of food stamps, my auto-renewal had expired by the time I was referring to. I was not in Idaho when it expired and couldn't afford to get back to Idaho in order to re-apply. I have yet to have a "residence" outside of Idaho as I travel the west trying to find employment and such. So unless I commit fraud, I have to return to Idaho to re-apply for EBT. Just now I have managed to find another part-time job, but it's one that's somewhat seasonal. As the year ended and new year started they were quit busy, but as the year progresses, it's expected to dwindle. Who knows how many hours I may get in the future. April looks really bad with probably less than 12 hours for the entire month, at just above minimum wage. So it's not like I can jump at finding a "residence" in this area as I may have to leave it soon as well.

Oh, wow. What a predicament. So you live in the trailer you mentioned? And you, what, haul that around? Or where do you live as you travel? Do you have a vocation or a skill? Tough situation.

 

[Summerwind]

Oh, wow. What a predicament. So you live in the trailer you mentioned? And you, what, haul that around? Or where do you live as you travel? Do you have a vocation or a skill? Tough situation.

At the moment I park in a friend's driveway, we've been business friends for 20 years, he built much of my photo lab's equipment. In other places I park in truck stops or rest areas to sleep. Whenever I've stayed in an area for a while, I've ultimately met someone who was agreeable to me parking in their driveway or backyard, wherein I do odd jobs around the house and gardens as to date it's been men who've offered and who could use a bit of woman cleaning and gardening vs what they've been able to manage (if they tried at all). My point being that I make sure I offer enough in labor to offset the use of electricity, bathroom, and kitchen facilities.

Yes, I have a couple of professions, but one was analog photo-lab, one was accountant. The former is no longer required, the latter was my original profession before I bought the photo-lab and there is a glut of accountants with much more recent accounting jobs than I had.

Lastly, this is somewhat self-inflicted because I am trying to get a biz off the ground as it may be my last chance to do so. However the push/pull of finances the last five years has made investing in the marketing aspect nearly impossible. Right now, though I've had okay income for the past 4 months, I still live as I do, under $200 month except as related to the job (ie gas), in order to bank as much as possible that I might finally have the cash for that marketing that is crucial.

Fear not, I am not an unhappy soul, nor did any of this homelessness sneak up on me. I saw it coming, but just couldn't do anything about it. Couldn't create a need for analog photo-lab, couldn't sell it or the home, couldn't get a job with a company that didn't ask me to create fraudulent reports (hence I quit or got fired for refusing), and so on... it was a slow drain so I had plenty of time to plan for a reasonably comfortable, albeit unusual homelessness.

 

[JumpinJack]

At the moment I park in a friend's driveway, we've been business friends for 20 years, he built much of my photo lab's equipment. In other places I park in truck stops or rest areas to sleep. Whenever I've stayed in an area for a while, I've ultimately met someone who was agreeable to me parking in their driveway or backyard, wherein I do odd jobs around the house and gardens as to date it's been men who've offered and who could use a bit of woman cleaning and gardening vs what they've been able to manage (if they tried at all). My point being that I make sure I offer enough in labor to offset the use of electricity, bathroom, and kitchen facilities.

Yes, I have a couple of professions, but one was analog photo-lab, one was accountant. The former is no longer required, the latter was my original profession before I bought the photo-lab and there is a glut of accountants with much more recent accounting jobs than I had.

Lastly, this is somewhat self-inflicted because I am trying to get a biz off the ground as it may be my last chance to do so. However the push/pull of finances the last five years has made investing in the marketing aspect nearly impossible. Right now, though I've had okay income for the past 4 months, I still live as I do, under $200 month except as related to the job (ie gas), in order to bank as much as possible that I might finally have the cash for that marketing that is crucial.

Fear not, I am not an unhappy soul, nor did any of this homelessness sneak up on me. I saw it coming, but just couldn't do anything about it. Couldn't create a need for analog photo-lab, couldn't sell it or the home, couldn't get a job with a company that didn't ask me to create fraudulent reports (hence I quit or got fired for refusing), and so on... it was a slow drain so I had plenty of time to plan for a reasonably comfortable, albeit unusual homelessness.

Well, good, then. And good luck. You are braver than I am.