There’s a saying, “Never meet your heroes“. Because they might disappoint. That’s exactly what happened to Elon Musk.

He grew up idolising astronauts, who ignited his dream of space travel. But when he pursued his ambitions, those same heroes vehemently opposed him. 

This shook Musk, who, contrary to his outward appearance, does care about the opinions of others. Starting his venture without the support of his idols was a significant hurdle.

So, what did he do? He focused relentlessly on his dream and built an exceptional team around him. Interestingly, when he couldn’t find the right Chief Engineer for SpaceX, he took on the role himself, learning the intricacies of rocket science. He acknowledges this might have contributed to early failures, but it underscores his unwavering commitment.

The result? Another monumental achievement for Musk and his team. I wrote about it here. Even his naysayers had to acknowledge the successful landing of the SpaceX rocket.

People also criticised his efforts with Tesla, which was a massive gamble. At the time, the perception was that an electric car would never have good range and would be an ugly contraption.

The company did well changing that perception but teetered on the brink of bankruptcy for a while. However Musk turned it around, and now the entire automotive industry is shifting towards electric vehicles.

The lesson? Even those with credibility, experience, the experts and authorities, even our heroes can be wrong. Don’t let their opinions dictate your dreams. Your dream is yours for a reason. It’s up to you to analyse it, assess its feasibility, and strive to make it a reality.

In fact, if you ever feel the need to get validation from an old hero of yours, note this quote by entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo:

They will likely be reluctant to support tearing down the old world in which they have gained status, in favour of the new.

Food for thought.

Reflect , Redefine, Rise!

R.