Elon Musk's First Principles Thinking: A Disruptive Way of Thinking

Behind the news of TSL chairman defending Musk's trillion-dollar compensation plan, I can't help but explore how this "unique" CEO's thought process allows him to repeatedly disrupt the norm. Musk's first principle thinking is the key weapon that enables him to achieve "seemingly impossible goals."

First principle thinking, in essence, is a way of thinking that starts from basic truths. Musk once said: "First principles mean going back to the most fundamental truths of a matter and reasoning from there." This is completely different from the analogical thinking that most people are accustomed to. Most people see an iceberg and make judgments based on past experiences; whereas those who think using first principles would deduce conclusions from the principle of buoyancy.

This mindset allows Musk to break through conventional limitations. When others say rockets are too expensive, he doesn't try to lower the cost of existing rockets, but instead goes back to the basic materials and rethinks how to build rockets. As a result, he created SpaceX, significantly reducing launch costs.

I believe the essence of first-principles thinking lies in questioning assumptions, breaking down elements, and rebuilding from the ground up. It is not just about tracing back to the source, but starting from principles to derive entirely new solutions. This is precisely why Musk has been able to achieve breakthrough advancements in fields such as electric vehicles and space exploration.

Of course, this way of thinking is not万能. It requires a deep reserve of knowledge and interdisciplinary learning ability, which is why so few people can use it as freely as Musk. In today's turbulent market, perhaps we need this ability to rethink problems starting from basic principles even more.

The statement made by Tesla chairman Dan Holm in defense of Musk's compensation, "extraordinary effort," is actually supported by this unique way of thinking. In a world dominated by traditional thinking, first principles thinkers are often viewed as crazy until their "crazy ideas" become reality.