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6 habits to borrow from Elon Musk to be successful in life

etimes.in | Last updated on - Mar 28, 2025, 18:31 IST
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Elon Musk- the inspiring billionaire

One of the richest people in the world, Elon Musk is the visionary behind Tesla, SpaceX, and many other ventures. Musk is known for his work ethics, innovative thinking, and ability to turn ambitious ideas into reality-- qualities that make him successful. Elon Musk is an inspiration to many across the world. And if you too want to be successful like him, then here we list some of his key habits, that can help you achieve success.

2/7

First principles thinking

Elon Musk uses first principles thinking to solve complex problems by breaking them down to their fundamental truths. Instead of relying on conventional wisdom, he questions assumptions and rebuilds solutions from scratch. By applying this approach in your career or personal projects, you too can find innovative solutions, think creatively, and approach problems with a fresh perspective.

3/7

Extreme work ethics

Musk is known for his long working hours, which sometimes stretch upto 80-100 hours per week. Infact, more recently Musk even revealed that people at DOGE are working upto 120 hours/ week. For the unversed, the norm is around 40 hours per week. While extreme work schedules may not be for everyone, Elon Musk's dedication shows the importance of discipline and focus. Successful people prioritise their goals, remove distractions, and put in the efforts required to excel at their work. Hard work, paired with smart decision-making, is the key to success.

4/7

Constant learning and adapting with time

Musk is a self-taught expert in various fields like-- engineering, space technology, and artificial intelligence. He believes in lifelong learning and he works on keeping himself updated about latest happenings. By adopting a growth mindset, continuously upgrading your skills, and staying curious about new developments in your field of work-- you too can stay ahead of the competition.

5/7

Taking risks and learning from your failures

From nearly going bankrupt with Tesla and SpaceX to facing repeated failures before being successful, Elon Musk has taken enormous risks in his professional journey so far. He sees failure as a stepping stone to progress instead of feeling dejected or losing hope. And so, to succeed in life, one should be open and willing to take calculated risks and learn from their mistakes. After all, success is all about how you face your fears, learn from your mistakes, and bounce back quickly.

6/7

Master time management

Despite running multiple companies, Elon Musk manages his time quite efficiently. Musk is known for using the time-blocking method, where he schedules his day in short five-minute slots. The idea is to complete tasks within 5 five minutes, thus ensuring that every moment is productive. Learning to prioritise tasks, removing distractions and less important work, and setting clear deadlines can improve one's productivity to a great extent.


7/7

Read, read, read

Despite having a busy schedule, Elon Musk is known to be a voracious reader. As per reports, he likes reading science fiction which has also inspired his works. Some of his favourite books include: Isaac Asimov's the Foundation series, books by Robert Heinlein, 'The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress', 'Stranger in a Strange Land', 'Benjamin Franklin: An American Life', 'Einstein: His Life and Universe', among many others. Reading has many benefits like improving your vocabulary, increasing your world-view, giving you ideas, etc. And so, one should commit to daily reading.

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Copyright © May 22, 2026, 09.29PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service