Elon Musk – a Role Model for Everyone

In a world dominated by oil and an increasing in environmental pollution, a little number of people try to change this situation. People with the intention of using alternative energies and create new technologies to improve our lifestyle. However, these entrepreneurs have a lot of obstacles in their way. Obstacles like the governments who support their economy on oil and try to suppress these initiatives. Therefore, these people need a role model that inspires them for following work to change the world. Elon Musk is such a role model to write an essay about.

Elon Musk: an Imperfect Successful Role Model

He is an inspiration to entrepreneurs, a visionary and innovative person determined to achieve his goals despite the obstacles in his way to positively impact the world. For example, his car company Tesla has steered the automotive industry towards semi-autonomous vehicles and electric cars, globally reducing vehicle emissions. Because of Musk, analysts now believe that over half the cars sold by 2040 will be electric. The public agrees with Musk’s vision. A recent poll shows that almost 50% of people believe Tesla is the most innovative technology company today. The demand for their products confirms it. Since 2017, the company has sold more than 350,000 of its Model 3 sedans, and, as reported in Oct 2019, Tesla has been manufacturing almost 100,000 cars per quarter.

Even though, he is sometimes egomaniacal, self-destructive, and quixotic, like other imperfect idols like Steve Jobs. And he often devotes his resources towards projects that are arguably rooted in vanity. For example, his SpaceX Falcon Heavy Test Launch project – in which a Tesla sports car was launched into space – cost $90 million to execute, and didn’t contribute to any scientific or humanitarian gains. Another example of his egomaniacal and self-destructive behavior was recently given when he tweeted: “The coronavirus panic is dumb”. This fact had a negative impact on the value of Tesla’s stocks. With money and power often comes hubris, and it seems as though Musk isn’t an exception to this rule.

Despite all this, there is one thing we do not overlook, and that is that no one of our time has as much ambition and desire to change our day-to-day life as he does. He is always thinking about the future, trying to figure out what the future should be. As he has done with the automotive industry through Tesla. He also has his company SolarCity, which he is trying to strengthen the use of solar energy. Beyond Musk’s undisputed genius and agility, it takes a lot of arrogance to dedicate life to pioneering technologies that promote the sustainability of the Earth.

He tries to give top priority to his customers, and his product. He works hard to give his customers the best experience and satisfy their needs. All this, through electric cars with all the features of a high-end car and that are also semi-autonomous that can assist disabled people in transportation. For example, the Tesla Model X has an autopilot that allows the vehicle to drive autonomously. And he always thinks about how to improve several aspects of our routine. Like example, he has projects like Hyperloop, to offer us travel in capsules through cylindrical ducts at low pressure, reaching speeds of 700 mph, reducing considerably the time of our trips to other cities. For another side, he can offer trips into space, thanks to his company Spacex, for those who can afford it.

Musk may be worthy of his glory for the innovative ideas and projects he has but developing them has a cost, and he is not necessarily the one who pays this one. He has achieved great goals, but exploiting or coercing his work team. For example, SpaceX staff are often presented with impossible tasks pulling all-nighters after working 12-hour days, to meet the deadlines Musk expects from them. In addition, his Tesla workers filed charges in 2017 with the National Labor Board against him, citing coercion, hazardous working conditions, intimidation, illegal surveillance, and prevention of worker communications as their main reasons for doing so. It is true that with effort and dedication we can do great things but there must be a balance with good rest and conditions of work.

However, Musk’s companies have been pioneers in creating new technologies that help and surprise the world. Musk has demonstrated that the space industry can be privatized, and for the better. His company SpaceX has seen the successful return of rockets back to Earth after being launched into space. It is Dragon more recently succeeded in delivering a capsule of supplies to the International Space Station. These show that privatization ventures may significantly reduce the costs of space exploration.

Conclusion

Elon Musk is a great inspiration to the people that want to make changes in the world. Although he has some behaviors that can be destructive and reprehensible, we can not forget that he is just a human-like any of us, full of mistakes and imperfections. Moreover, he has the desire to succeed, innovate, and help the environment, a combination that is very difficult to see. Even he knows how to deal with adversity and criticism. No one believed in him when he said he would launch rockets into space or make autonomous cars. Now, everyone can see how Elon Musk achieves each one of his goals.

Works Cited

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