How Many Hours Does Elon Musk Study?
Elon Musk is renowned for his encyclopaedic and impossibly detailed knowledge of technology. But how does the Tesla and SpaceX founder acquire such a deep and nuanced understanding of computers, business and engineering? One of the keys to his success may be the fact that Elon Musk studied for at least 10 hours per day for many years.
Musk’s study habit began when he was a child, when he read every book his family had in the house. He then enrolled in one of the best schools in South Africa and excelled despite his teachers telling him he would never achieve success. At the age of 9 he even designed his own computer game, which he sold for $500.
Musk didn’t stop there. In 1995 he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained a degree in Economics and Physics. Musk credits the institution for giving him the foundations to be successful. He was quoted as saying he spent up to 10 hours a day studying, with one weekend spent reading through entire New York Times style books to expand his knowledge.
But his commitment to success didn’t stop there. Musk also studied business and engineering, spending hours and hours studying aerospace, systems design, software development and finance. He then took on the opportunity to study Physics at Stanford University.
Musk’s relentless determination to learn, combined with his ability to connect difficult topics to everyday life, has helped him to become a successful entrepreneur and one of the most influential people in the world.
Previous Success
Before Elon Musk set his sights on Tesla and SpaceX, he was already a successful entrepreneur. He co-founded his first company, an online city guide, Zip2, in 1995. The company was later sold to AltaVista for $307 million. Following this success, Musk went on to found X.com, an online financial services and payment technology company.
The venture enabled people to send money through email and was later merged with Confinity, a payment service. Following this, Musk was asked to become the chairman of the resulting company, PayPal. Musk eventually became the largest shareholder in the company, and in 2002 cashed out of the venture for $165 million.
This experience gave Elon Musk the confidence and the financial security to pursue Tesla and SpaceX, two ambitious projects that have gone on to change the world. It’s no wonder that his early commitment to study and education has been honoured.
Criticism of Elon Musk’s Commitment to Study
Unfortunately, Elon Musk has also been criticised for his commitment to his education. In 2017, the South African entrepreneur caused a stir when he claimed that he was studying for more than 80 hours each week. This led some people to suggest he was burning himself out and subsequently suffering from exhaustion related issues.
Musk himself has said that he often works 80 to 90 hours a week. But it is his passsion, rather than a necessity, that drives him to work so hard. If he wasn’t personally excited by the prospect of completing a project, he would not be motivated to put in so many hours studying.
In the pursuit of success, Elon Musk has proven that dedication to education and self-improvement are key. That doesn’t mean that everyone should be spending 80 hours studying a week; Musk is a unique individual and it’s his passion and drive that allow him to achieve so much.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs should take lesson from Elon Musk’s journey: Commit to lifelong learning. Investing in your knowledge will help ensure you stay ahead of the trend and remain competitive. Consuming knowledge and digesting research papers is easy these days with the prevalence of technology, and it is advisable to spend at least some of your free time learning new skills.
It is also important to understand the technology landscape and its trends. This knowledge will help you anticipate what direction the markets will take, allowing you to make decisions based on requisite foresight. Advanced technology, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, needs be studied and understood before it can be used in business applications.
Working with Technology
While it might seem daunting, technology is an essential part of business as it provides a platform for entrepreneurs to build and scale their ideas. This is why it is necessary to be technically proficient, to ensure that your products and services can be developed with cutting edge software and hardware.
Technology should also be seen as an enabler for your business, as it streamlines operations, optimises processes and allows you to reach new heights. Luckily, you don’t need to be an Elon Musk to be able to understand the fundamentals of technology; it is a matter of studying the right information and understanding what solutions or products can help you reach your goals faster.
Developing a Passion for Learning
In order to make entrepreneurship a success, one must develop a passion for learning; a trait used by Elon Musk which allowed him to excel in the business world. When you are inspired by something, you are more motivated to invest time and energy into studying it. This is why it is important to find what interests you and develop a passion for it.
This could be anything from space exploration to thermodynamics. Becoming an expert in whatever area interests you is key to success. Once you find a good reason to study the subject, it’s simply a matter of dedicating time to understanding it and applying your knowledge.
Putting Elon Musk’s Learning Tips into Practice
Taking the time to learn new skills and explore technology can help entrepreneurs achieve success. To make the most of Elon Musk’s advice, entrepreneurs should focus on four key areas:
- Read: Invest time in reading every day. Dedicate time to reading theories, research papers and books related to your chosen field.
- Understand: Once you have read something, it is important to comprehend the concept and theories behind it. Understanding how the technology works and its implications is vital.
- Experiment: Experimentation is a key part of the learning journey. It is vital to explore different technologies and build prototypes to ensure you are heading in the right direction.
- Seek Help: It is okay to ask for help and look for advice from experts. They will be able to provide unique insights and provide constructive criticism.
The Importance of Commitment to Learning
Elon Musk has become famous for his commitment to learning. He is an inspiring example of what dedication to education can help achieve. But he has also highlighted the importance of understanding the technology landscape and its trends. Entrepreneurs should be sure to stay up to date with new advances, and seek to learn new skills to stay competitive in the age of technology.
By investing time and energy into understanding technology, business and finance, Musk was able to achieve success. And in following his example, it is possible for entrepreneurs to carve out their own destiny, and go on to become innovators in their chosen field.
