Elon Musk is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most influential business and technological entrepreneurs. Having founded companies such as SpaceX, Tesla and Neuralink, his extraordinary work ethic and ambition know no bounds.
Musk’s success has not come down to luck, talent or privilege. On the contrary, the South African tech magnate is a proponent of hard work and determination. His drive is clear in the question of how many hours Elon Musk works per day.
According to reports, Elon Musk clocks in an impressive 100 hours per week – that’s 14 hours a day. But what’s more incredible is that this number is not set in stone. In 2018, Musk revealed that he was averaging 120 hours a week as he juggled between several business projects. That’s more than 17 hours of work each day.
Susan Moeller, an expert in administrative science and time management, explains that Musk’s intense working habits are not necessarily the healthiest approach. “If you’re a normal person, working more than 55 hours surpasses the recommended work-life balance suggested by many doctors and psychologists,” Moeller states. She adds that generally, working 50 to 60 hours a week is an efficient allocation of time.
The billionaire himself also admits that he doesn’t consider long hours in the office as an indicator of success. In a 2019 panel discussion, Musk told aspiring entrepreneurs that he only focuses on what’s important. “Spend your time unattached – use it for something that matters,” he said. That approach is evident in Musk’s career as he’s been able to develop groundbreaking concepts in a period as short as a year.
Nonetheless, the tech pioneer concedes that his tireless work schedule has cost him quite a lot. In 2018, he was candid about the effects of heavy workloads on his long-term mental health. “It hurts in a lot of ways,” Musk confessed. “The only way to become truly successful is to be obsessed.”
The South African businessman has certainly been true to his words as his name appears among some of the biggest achievements in tech and business. After all, they don’t call this man “the real-life Tony Stark” for nothing.
Innovative working style
It appears that Musk is able to juggle between several projects due to his particular working style. Instead of following a standard workflow, he opts for brainstorming and creative sessions. For instance, Musk has shared his unconventional methods to a group of business students on a webinar in 2020.
According to the tech mogul, he begins his day with phone calls, meetings and emails to handle urgent tasks that may have accumulated over night. In the afternoon, he prefers to spend time on the most challenging items. Here, he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. “I’m quite hands-on on engineering,” Musk said.
The entrepreneur also shared his views on the importance of deadlines. In his eyes, it’s much better to build tight deadlines with room for improvements later on than setting lenient targets. “We almost never miss deadlines, and if we do, it’s very rare,” Musk pointed out.
It’s clear that time is money for Musk. He’s consistently shown the ability to deliver impressive results in a short amount of time and with limited resources.
Fueling the productivity
Furthermore, Musk’s productivity isn’t just down to hard work and dedication. In a 2018 TV interview, the tech mastermind revealed a few productivity hacks that’ve enabled him to pack 17 hours of work into just one day.
It all started with cutting back on emails, as he’d receive up to 400 messages each day. He does regular email cleanups to ensure that only the most urgent emails are dealt with. Musk doesn’t comment on the rest. “This is the way to an empty inbox in no time”, he explained.
The billionaire also stays on top of his work with the help of a complex manual scheduling system. He spends 30 minutes to an hour laying out his day in a calendar. But it’s not as rigid as it sounds. Musk also carves out time for naps throughout his day as he believes it helps him stay alert for longer.
There’s no denying that this man has superhuman productivity. But at the end of the day, it boils down to a formula that anyone can replicate. All it takes is the willingness and discipline to put in place the tactics that would help you optimize your work.
Tools of the trade
Musk also emphasizes the importance of equipping yourself with the right tools. The tech mogul relies heavily on computers and other devices to stay organized and get things done. He particularly favors the Hyperloop, a famous high-speed train concept.
In the same interview, he explains that he uses the Hyperloop to brainstorm and come up with revolutionary ideas. “It’s quite amazing what you can do with a Hyperloop,” Musk said. “We’ve come up with some pretty incredible stuff.”
In addition, the tech ace announced that he’s also started to use AI to speed up the process. During the discussion, he pointed out that artificial intelligence has been a game-changer for him. It’s now his go-to tool when it comes to task management and research.
Musk’s tech-savviness doesn’t end there. It is widely known he is also a big fan of two mobile apps: Evernote and Tesla’s app. The former helps him keep track of notes, ideas, and thoughts. As for the latter, it’s used for controlling certain Tesla vehicles remotely.
At the end of the day, Edison’s name has become synonymous with innovation and ingenuity. The question of how many hours Elon Musk works per day is often asked as a reminder to aspiring entrepreneurs of what physics-defying work ethics looks like.
Learning from the guru
Many people have done further digging to uncover Musk’s secrets to success. In 2019, the tech giant participated in a series of podcasts discussing his approach to life, work and success. Here, he shared some key recommendations that could breathe life into anyone’s career.
Musk believes that it’s important to surround yourself with the right people. He says that instead of relying on your own wisdom, it helps to tap into the knowledge of your team. “Often, the collective wisdom of your team will exceed yours. If you’re smart, you can create an environment that allows that to happen,” Musk states.
The 46-year-old entrepreneur also provides some advice to “find your passion”. He explains that working on something you’re truly passionate about is different from the typical 9-to-5 job. “When you have a passion about it, it doesn’t feel like work and the rewards are much greater”, he further commented.
His thoughts align with the idea of finding inner peace, particularly in today’s chaotic world. Musk is a perfect example as he’s been able to build a solid work-life balance despite his heavy workloads. He’s currently working on making his companies fully self-sustaining, and remains a role model for entrepreneurs all over the world.
The multitasking mastermind
Reaching the level of success Musk has achieved is synonymous with the courage to take risks. He is oftentimes considered a ‘one-man army’ as he manages multiple projects simultaneously. From launching rockets to developing his own AI projects, no task is too much for him.
In 2019, he launched a startup called Neuralink, which consists of a computer chip connected to the human brain. This cutting-edge venture has been cited as Musk’s ultimate goal in revolutionizing the healthcare industry. He envisions a future where people have brain chips to boost their cognitive capabilities.
At the same time, Musk is also in the process of turning Tesla into a renewable energy giant. Under his leadership, the company is now manufacturing Tesla Solar Roofs and electric vehicles composed of entirely recycled material.
The pace at which Musk is able to move between multiple projects with such high-levels of complexity has been both inspiring and somewhat intimidating to entrepreneurs all over the world. But despite advancements of technology and the introduction of AI to optimize work, ultimately it comes down to hard work and a hunger to succeed.
