Elon Musk had a big problem at the Fremont Tesla factory in the spring of 2018. They were only producing 2000 Model 3’s a week and he need 5000 a week. The stock was near it’s all time high and was a magnet for “short sellers’ – betting the stock would fall. They were organized and flew drones over the factory and could tell exactly what was going on with production numbers. Elon was pissed!
5000 completed Model 3’s a week seemed impossible to improve the assembly line to achieve that, but not to Elon. The Telsa board had granted him the biggest pay package in history – $100 BILLION – IF – he achieved extraordinary goals with production, revenue and stock price. He made a bet on himself and his team. He told all managers to order enough parts and material to finish 5000 a week! Of course, that had to all paid for and if it didn’t work it could lead to a cash flow “death spiral.” He set up his war room in the Jupiter room in the MIDDLE OF FACTORY, often sleeping there! He tracked in real time the total factory output AND the status of each part of the assembly line. Each had a RED or GREEN light. RED is a trouble spot, and the team was taught to WALK TO THE RED!
In Walter Issacson’s amazing biography he reports:
“He began walking the floor with his fast bearlike gait, heading to any red light he saw. What’s the problem? A part was missing. Who’s in charge of that part.? Get him over here. A sensor keeps tripping. Who calibrated it? Find someone who can open the console. Can we adjust the settings? Why do we even need that fucking sensor?”
That went on for months with him often making 100 “command decisions” a day.” At least 20% are going to be wrong, and we’re going to alter them later, but IF I DON’T MAKE DECISIONS, WE DIE.”
There is so much wisdom in those few paragraphs. You can get the blow-by-blow details in chapter 46. Trust me. The book is tremendous and will give you an idea of what will hopefully happen with DOGE – Department of Government Efficiency.
Take a time out and look at your life. Where are the RED LIGHTS? Where are the SELF-INFLICTED wounds that you are currently neglecting? What needs your attention right away – Family, Health, Finances, Faith, Personal Growth, Energy/Mojo/Joy/Fun?
Is there a RED LIGHT you are neglecting and need to make a DECISION on right now? The Latin root of decision is CIS – that means to CUT off or KILL. Your life can change with just one new decision. What do you resolve to do?
You will often get more impact from addressing a BAD habit versus installing a new one. We are all fighting a battle. Step up and make a decision. Write it down and include what that is a MUST. Create urgency. Post it on the mirror in your bathroom and recite it with emotional intensity out loud.
On Sunday July 1, 2018, at 1:53am the 5000th black Model 3 rolled of the line with a big banner – 5000th! “We did it! Created entirely new solutions that were thought impossible. I think we just became a real car company.”