Yes, I was praising Tesla’s capital efficiency rather than disparaging Rivian. I can predict with very high certainty that Rivian will not end up being anywhere nearly as capital efficient. If you have the money to spend, companies will spend it. Just think of Blue Origin’s empty hangers as an example.
People praise Elon for being a good engineer but he is easily as good a businessman. Early in Tesla’s life, he had to raise buckets of money when no one thought an EV company was going to survive. That wasn’t easy. Lately, he has made decisions to expand very rapidly to take advantage of demand. Creating a GA manufacturing line in a sprung tent isn’t something that many CEOs would sign off on or even think of doing. Doing continuous design improvements on a high volume manufacturing line (the “same“ Model 3 six months apart has many design changes and parts that are different) is insane according to traditional manufacturing doctrine, but if you pull it off, you end up with expanding margins and lower costs (eventually). And it gives you the flexibility to do even more insane things like change microcontroller chips requiring new software mid flight (which is one of the many reasons Tesla can keep manufacturing cars while Big Auto stands idle).
I find it kind of ironic that you have all sorts of business books about this or that management fad or supposed business leader, yet nothing (that I know of) that has explored how Elon runs his companies in any real level of detail. Tesla and SpaceX are head and shoulders better than the industry, yet no one has delved into the exact reasons why?
Depends on the reason for writing.
For the history books and Elon fans, that write-up would be amazing. I would read it for sure.
Some entrepreneurs might find it inspiring and helpful. Investors too.
But, what if, in order to achieve Elons level of success you have to be very smart on the level of inter-disciplinary genius, have a really high pain threshold, have the rock-solid good health allowing him to working 80-100+ hours a week for decades, have incredible work ethic so you actually grind through the workload you are capable of - and still be grounded enough to be able to work well with others. Add to that a very solid scientific grounding - and the mental strength to turn the scientific method against himself. Very vividly described by Jim Keller, who said something like "How would you feel if 99% of what you thought and believed turned out to be not true? It is not a nice feeling, but now you can work, now you can be useful."
It is not for the faint of heart, or people interested in living a nice life to do that all the time, but for innovation and thinking outside the box, it is a kind of superpower to be able to put yourself under the microscope.
Also, don't forget Elons genuine interest in and goodwill towards people and mankind - that is by no means a given.
What the essence of what Elon is, the formula, so to speak, behind his success is just
freakishly hard to repeat?
Such a tale might still instill awe and respect for Elon, but it might also be *very* daunting and thus actually not inspire people to follow his footsteps because the climb is just sooo steep, and his boots are just too big.
You might end up with at comprehensive and well-researched guide to leadership which would be a useful for exactly 1 person.
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