Elon Musk’s Career

I can practically guarantee that Elon Musk’s guidance counselor back at Pretoria Boys High School in South Africa never said to him, “Elon, based on all the tests I have administered to you, you need to start a car company and build rockets.” Similarly, I am almost positive that Steve Jobs’ counselor at Homestead High School near San Francisco never said, “Steve, why don’t you start a computer company?” And nobody ever advised a young Stephen Robins, “Set up a lavender farm on an island in Washington State.”

You see, no career counselor could possibly have known that it was even possible to make a living starting a car company, shooting rockets into space, designing cool computers, or growing lavender, let alone that their young students could possibly head in those directions.

Over the years, at least 957 young men have asked me how to find their passion, their purpose, and what they ought to do with their lives, career-wise. My answer always begins with the idea that how you choose to serve God’s other children should have little to do with your passion. Following your passion is basically selfish; I want to do the things that I want to do. But the entire enterprise of commerce and business needs you to want to do the things that others need you to do. And how do people you’ve never met inform you of their needs? Through the miracle of money and markets, of course.

Indeed, that does tell the 957 young men what they should not do. But what should they do? For that, I walk them to the book of Deuteronomy where, in preparation for an imminent war, certain people were exempted from the draft.

“And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, what man is there who has built a new house and has not [yet] inaugurated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man inaugurate it.

And what man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not enjoyed the fruits thereof? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war and another man enjoy its fruits.

And what man is there who has betrothed a woman and has not [yet] taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man take her.” (Deuteronomy 20:5-7)

However, a deeper meaning is embedded in those three verses. King Solomon explained it best:

Prepare your work outside and make it fit in the field for yourself; afterwards you shall build your house. (Proverbs 24:27)

In addition to exempting certain men from military service, the 3 verses are also advising a man on how to start off in life. First, get a place of your own to live. Then find a way to earn money; discover your field or vineyard as it were. Finally, get married.

In his Proverbs, King Solomon points out that sometimes you will need to discover your field or vineyard, before building a house, so he switches that order, advising first get your means of earning a living in shape, then get a house.

Ancient Jewish wisdom points out that all three exemption circumstances, house, vineyard, and wife, could easily have appeared in one verse. Having each in its own verse is to teach us that each is its own discrete step in a young man’s path in the world.

So, all 957 young men have received the same guidance: Do whatever will yield you the most money because that means that you are acting with consideration for others’ needs rather than your own gratification. Then as soon as funds allow, acquire somewhere to live, and then find a wife. You will quickly discover that any work for which you are being well paid and at which you are acquiring real skills will be immensely satisfying—even enjoyable. You won’t have much difficulty feeling increasing passion for your work.

Furthermore, what every young man needs to know is that at 16, or 17, or 18, nobody is making career decisions for life. There is little likelihood that what he is doing career-wise when he is 23 will be in any way similar to what he will be doing when he is 53.

That was certainly true for the four individuals about whom I began this Thought Tool.

P.S. If any of these ideas intrigue you, find more in The Financial Prosperity Collection available on our website.

Enjoyed this article? Feel free to share it using this link: https://rabbidaniellapin.com/elon-musks-career/

---

What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this Thought Tools post.
We Happy Warrior members can both read and write comments HERE.

Not a member yet? Thought Tools is a reader-supported publication.
To support our work, consider signing up for a Basic membership and join the conversation.

---