School Experiences
Elon Musk has had a storied career in the world of business and innovation, and now many people are looking back to his elementary and high school years to understand the kind of student he was. According to some reports, Musk excelled at certain academic pursuits while admittedly having some struggles in others.
During his high school years at Pretoria Boys High School in South Africa, Musk was a star student when it came to math, science and computers. According to one history of Musk from the Los Angeles Times, Musk was an impressive student in these classes and able to take on even advanced material.
Despite these successes, Musk also encountered some challenges at school. According to the same history, Musk was “inattentive and unruly” in many other classes, and was labeled a “problem kid” by some of his teachers. He recalls, “I never thought it was strange to be interested in these things. Some people drubbed me for it, but it wasn’t a conscious thing of me aiming to be different like that.”
His independent spirit remained, however, during Musk’s time in college. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for his college career, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics and an economics degree. While at Penn, he flirted briefly with the idea of a Ph.D. in energy physics but ended up dropping out of the program after two days.
Working With Others
In terms of Musk’s social life and interactions with other students during his high school and college years, there are some conflicting accounts. According to a public narrative, Musk is described as a “solitary, loner type” when it came to making friends and being involved with activities. Musk’s mother, Maye, explains, “He wasn’t a partygoer. He was very bookish and very serious. He was very quiet and introspective …”
Interestingly, some other reports drawn from Musk’s high school years paint a different picture. According to a former classmate, Ludi Koekemoer, Musk was a “class clown” and leader in the school’s theater society. He was also reportedly a very talented poker player, often winning big pots from fellow students.
These accounts of Musk’s high school years stand in sharp contrast to his college experiences. While attending UPenn, Musk wrote code for a video game called Blastar and founded Zip2, an online city guide business, with his brother Kimbal.
Innovation and Creativity
When it came to creative thinking and innovative ideas, Musk was always a step ahead. He displays his extraordinary work ethic in his on-going passion to pursue the many interests and initiatives that he actively supports.
As a student, Musk was able to use these traits to his advantage. He was reportedly able to solve complex math problems or come up with unique solutions to tough challenges. As Koekemoer recalled, “He was pretty far ahead of the class. He was really into the technical side of things. He had a really inventive mindset.”
These same traits led to Musk’s successes in business and innovation. Upon dropping out of UPenn, Musk moved to California to launch his own IT startup. He went on to create and co-found some of the most groundbreaking businesses of the century, including SpaceX, Tesla and SolarCity.
Inventive and Resourceful
In retrospect, Musk’s academic career offers insights into how he was able to achieve so much later on. At his core, Musk was an extremely resourceful and inventive student, which could be seen in his work both inside and outside of the classroom.
He was also incredibly ambitious and willing to take risks in order to pursue his passions and goals. In his own words, Musk shared that he chose not to pursue a Ph.D. in energy physics, because the likelihood of the work actually making a difference was too low. Through his active involvement, Musk was able to turn his ideas into real, tangible results.
Playing to Strengths
Overall, reports suggest that Elon Musk was a good student, but also one that was simultaneously facing his own struggles. He may have struggled in some traditional classroom pursuits, but was undeniably an advanced student in the areas he felt passionate about. This same resourcefulness, ambition and risk-taking attitude can be seen in his work today.
At the same time, Musk was also able to recognize his own weaknesses and plays to them. He was willing to challenge himself on the topics he was interested in, and also stay clear of pathways that were unlikely to lead to success. A combination of all of these traits helped him get to where he is today.
Successful Results
In the end, Musk was a successful student who was able to identify areas of strength and pursue them with unwavering dedication. His ambition, resourcefulness and willingness to take risks has been the driving factor of his success and continues to inform his approach to innovation.
His academic career revealed a great deal about his personal drive and ambition, traits that still define him today and continue to bring him many successes.
Personal Motivation
Today, Musk continues to be highly inspirational by setting high standards for himself and others. His passion for space exploration and business have been cited as a significant source of motivation for him, but some controversially speculate that his personal drive is also a consequence of his upbringing and past relationships.
Musk admits to having strained relationships with his father and was a victim of cruel bullying during his school years. But despite these difficult experiences, he was able to use them to fuel his ambitions and ultimately continue to rise and take on bigger challenges.
External Collaboration
Musk continues to maintain strong collaborations with external collaborators and business partners. He’s usually the first person to get involved, personally taking the lead in any new venture and recruiting the necessary talent in order to get the job done.
Throughout his career, Musk has rarely shied away from responsibility or joint efforts. He routinely turns to external partners and experts in order to make the right decisions in his businesses and secure the right talent to make sure that his visions come to life.
Goal Setting and Planning
In terms of goal setting and planning, Musk has always been very methodical. He has a clear vision for where he wants his businesses to go, and takes the necessary steps to make sure the necessary milestones are met.
As such, Musk has a reputation for being very rigorous and detail oriented when it comes to achieving goals. He’s often the one setting out the objectives, and makes sure that the whole team is on the same page when it comes to details.
Visible Leadership
Musk also takes a very hands-on approach when it comes to leading his organizations. He’s often the first person to set out on the front lines and actively participates in the development and launch of his products.
He’s developed a very public presence in the world of technology and business, regularly taking the time to explain his ideas and strategies in public forums, such as interviews and press conferences. As such, his efforts to lead by example have earned him a reputation as a visible leader in the industry.
