Inspired by Elon
I’ve been diving deep into Elon Musk’s leadership style lately, and it’s been a real eye-opener. Musk’s unconventional methods might seem extreme, but there’s a lot we can learn from his approach, especially when it comes to driving impact and innovation. Here’s how I’m applying some of his principles to our mission.
One thing that really struck me is Musk’s knack for setting these wild, seemingly impossible deadlines. He’d tell his team to get something done in half the time they thought was necessary. It sounds crazy, but it forces everyone to think differently and find innovative solutions. At Man Up and Go, we’re taking a page from Musk’s playbook. Instead of setting vague or long-term goals, we’re now challenging ourselves with more immediate, ambitious milestones. For instance, rather than saying we want to mobilize 10.2 million men over an undefined period, we started the conversation around how to achieve this within a tighter timeframe; could it be done in a year? A month? This shift has energized our team and sparked new ideas on how we can reach a community of men faster.
Musk’s relentless questioning is another principle that’s resonated with me. He’s known for digging into every detail, questioning established practices, and pushing for better ways to do things. This has inspired me to adopt a similar mindset at Man Up and Go. When we hit roadblocks or face inefficiencies, we dive deep into understanding why something isn’t working and explore alternative solutions. It’s about not just accepting “that’s the way it’s done” but challenging it to find better ways.
Another big takeaway from Musk’s approach is his attitude towards risk and failure. Musk has had his fair share of setbacks, but he views them as opportunities to learn and grow, not as reasons to give up. We’re adopting this mindset too. We’re more open to experimenting with new ideas and strategies, knowing that even if they don’t always pan out, they provide valuable lessons that help us move forward.
Lastly, Musk’s emphasis on alignment and collaboration really hits home for us. He’s known for integrating various teams and perspectives to drive innovation, and that’s something we’re focusing on at Man Up and Go. We want everyone on our team to be aligned with our mission of ending fatherlessness and working together towards that common goal. It’s about creating a collaborative environment where everyone’s efforts are focused on making a real difference.
In a nutshell, incorporating some of Elon Musk’s leadership principles—setting bold goals, questioning norms, embracing risks, and fostering collaboration—has given us a fresh perspective at Man Up and Go. It’s helping us think bigger and act bolder in our mission to create lasting change.
Thanks for reading,
Jeff Ford