A Lesson From The World's Biggest Businessman - Elon Musk

Who is the world's biggest business person, you might ask? Hint, it's not a giant person, but a person with a giant heart, and a drive and desire to see humanity reach new heights, sustainability, and multiplanetary species living. His name is Elon Musk and this is a lesson from him, the world's biggest businessman, reposted on the Tesla Facebook group by Sandesh Vijay.

A Lesson from the World's Biggest Businessman

A great story that I'd thought I'll repost here ...

In 2018, when the world predicted Tesla’s imminent bankruptcy, many of the most powerful companies in the auto industry were sure of it:

• Mercedes predicted: "It will go bankrupt by summer."
• BMW claimed: "They will never mass produce."
• Wall Street called it: "Production nightmare."

At that moment, Tesla seemed on the verge of collapse. But then Elon Musk made a radical decision: he moved into the factory, bringing his relentless determination—and his pillow.

What happened next stunned every CEO.

Tesla not only survived the crisis but emerged stronger, defying expectations in a way that would forever change the automotive landscape.

Here’s how Musk turned the company around:

• He personally inspected every production station.
• He rewrote software code when needed.
• He fired managers who didn’t share his vision—immediately.
• He called suppliers at 3 AM to get critical parts.

One night, workers even found Musk covered in drivetrain oil, repairing a Model 3 that other engineers had given up on.

As Musk said to his engineers: "Either we fix it, or we die." 

And so, they fixed it.

The results were nothing short of dramatic:

• First week: 202 Model 3s.
• Third month: 5,000 Model 3s per week.
• End of the year: Tesla posted its first profitable quarter.

The laughter from the auto industry grew quieter as the numbers rolled in. What had been a company ridiculed by traditional giants became a real threat, forcing even the most established players to take notice?

Elon Musk later reflected on that period: "It was a very painful time. I don’t know, but I was probably a little crazy."

Today, Tesla stands as a symbol of perseverance and vision:

• Traditional automakers had over 100 years of experience, billions of dollars in cash reserves, and deeply entrenched global supply chains.
• Tesla had none of that—but it had Elon Musk.

In just a few years, Tesla has surpassed Toyota, GM, Ford, and BMW in value—combined.

Elon Musk has transformed a company once mocked into an automotive giant, proving that with unyielding determination and a clear vision, anything is possible.

Is Elon Musk the world's biggest businessman? What do you think about this lesson from him?

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Hi! I'm Jeremy Noel Johnson, and I am a Tesla investor and supporter and own a 2022 Model 3 RWD EV and I don't have range anxiety :). I enjoy bringing you breaking Tesla news as well as anything about Tesla or other EV companies I can find, like Aptera. Other interests of mine are AI, Tesla Energy and the Tesla Bot! You can follow me on X.COM or LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow my Tesla and EV news coverage.

Image Credit and Reference: The Tesla Facebook Group