A mentor once asked Elon Musk: 'How do you run 6 companies at...
Oscar Hoole@theoscarhoole
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Feb 11, 2025
~2 min read
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A mentor once asked Elon Musk:
'How do you run 6 companies at once?'
His answer was just 4 words.
Those 4 words explain everything about his insane productivity.
Here's what he said: 🧵
'How do you run 6 companies at once?'
His answer was just 4 words.
Those 4 words explain everything about his insane productivity.
Here's what he said: 🧵
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Most CEOs spend their time:
• Following 'best practices'
• In endless meetings
• Reviewing reports
• Managing politics
Elon does the opposite.
He has ONE rule that changes everything:
• Following 'best practices'
• In endless meetings
• Reviewing reports
• Managing politics
Elon does the opposite.
He has ONE rule that changes everything:
0:45
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The Bottleneck Rule:
Every week, find the BIGGEST problem holding your company back.
Then solve only that.
Nothing else matters.
It's like a factory line - fix what's slowing everything down first.
Every week, find the BIGGEST problem holding your company back.
Then solve only that.
Nothing else matters.
It's like a factory line - fix what's slowing everything down first.
0:46
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Here's how Elon implements it:
1. Visits each company weekly
2. Identifies the biggest bottleneck
3. Talks directly to the people involved
4. Fixes it personally
5. Moves to the next problem
52 weeks = 52 major problems solved per company
1. Visits each company weekly
2. Identifies the biggest bottleneck
3. Talks directly to the people involved
4. Fixes it personally
5. Moves to the next problem
52 weeks = 52 major problems solved per company
0:34
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While other CEOs are:
• Planning meetings
• Reviewing presentations
• Getting legal approval
• Following protocols
Elon is sitting with engineers, solving real problems.
The results?
• Planning meetings
• Reviewing presentations
• Getting legal approval
• Following protocols
Elon is sitting with engineers, solving real problems.
The results?
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Example from Tesla:
Manufacturing bottleneck?
He sleeps on the factory floor.
Software issue?
Codes with engineers all night.
Supply chain problem?
Flies to meet suppliers directly.
No bureaucracy. Pure execution.
Manufacturing bottleneck?
He sleeps on the factory floor.
Software issue?
Codes with engineers all night.
Supply chain problem?
Flies to meet suppliers directly.
No bureaucracy. Pure execution.
0:51
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The magic of this system:
• Clear focus (one problem at a time)
• Fast decisions (no committees)
• Real solutions (not band-aids)
• Motivated teams (leader in trenches)
• Rapid progress (52 fixes/year)
• Clear focus (one problem at a time)
• Fast decisions (no committees)
• Real solutions (not band-aids)
• Motivated teams (leader in trenches)
• Rapid progress (52 fixes/year)
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Why don't other CEOs do this?
Modern business schools teach:
• Generic management
• Process over product
• Delegation everything
• Avoid technical details
Elon proves: The best leaders get their hands dirty.
Modern business schools teach:
• Generic management
• Process over product
• Delegation everything
• Avoid technical details
Elon proves: The best leaders get their hands dirty.
0:57
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The surprising part?
Elon actually delegates MORE than most CEOs.
But he only delegates what's working.
He personally handles what's broken.
That's the key difference.
Elon actually delegates MORE than most CEOs.
But he only delegates what's working.
He personally handles what's broken.
That's the key difference.
0:32
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How to implement this yourself:
1. List your biggest bottlenecks
2. Focus on THE worst one
3. Talk to people doing the actual work
4. Solve it completely
5. Move to next bottleneck
6. Repeat weekly
1. List your biggest bottlenecks
2. Focus on THE worst one
3. Talk to people doing the actual work
4. Solve it completely
5. Move to next bottleneck
6. Repeat weekly
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The compound effect is insane:
Week 1: Fix biggest problem
Week 2: Fix next biggest
Week 52: Fixed 52 major issues
While others are still planning their Q1 strategy...
Week 1: Fix biggest problem
Week 2: Fix next biggest
Week 52: Fixed 52 major issues
While others are still planning their Q1 strategy...
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Key lessons:
1. Problems > Politics
2. Solutions > Meetings
3. Action > Analysis
4. Direct > Delegation
5. Weekly > Quarterly
Simple but revolutionary.
1. Problems > Politics
2. Solutions > Meetings
3. Action > Analysis
4. Direct > Delegation
5. Weekly > Quarterly
Simple but revolutionary.
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Remember:
You don't need to be Elon.
You don't need multiple companies.
You don't need billions.
You just need to:
1. Find the bottleneck
2. Fix it personally
3. Repeat
You don't need to be Elon.
You don't need multiple companies.
You don't need billions.
You just need to:
1. Find the bottleneck
2. Fix it personally
3. Repeat
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Enjoyed this breakdown?
Follow @theoscarhoole for more frameworks on:
• Performance optimization
• Productivity systems
• Leadership methods
• Business strategy
Follow @theoscarhoole for more frameworks on:
• Performance optimization
• Productivity systems
• Leadership methods
• Business strategy
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