Kevin SimpsonCPA Web Books · Founder at CPA Web Books

Elon Musk's Productivity Rule#4 Contradict Yourself #shorts

7 Feb 2023 · 1 min

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In this brief motivational clip, the speakers discuss the importance of not fearing self‑contradiction, using Elon Musk as a prime example of someone who isn’t afraid to walk back a decision. They stress that when a new revelation occurs, it should be communicated tactfully—acknowledging that previous beliefs were wrong. The conversation cites the origin of the "Profit First" methodology as a personal illustration: the creator originally thought profit should be the bottom‑line consideration at year‑end, but after realizing that approach failed, he revised his stance. The speakers conclude that the greatest value lies in having the courage to admit when a commitment isn’t working and to say, "oops, that was wrong," thereby fostering continual improvement.

Chapters

Five. Don't be afraid to contradict yourself Musk isn't afraid to walk back a decision.
All right. So yeah, don't be afraid to contradict yourself now, yeah, of course contradict yourself. But. But with tact, meaning when you have a new revelation, it's okay to say I've had a new revelation and what I believe to be true in the past was wrong. Actually that's how Profit first came about. When I wrote Prophet first I said I believe that prophet should be the bottom line in the year end. It should be the last consideration but didn't work for me at a revelation that was wrong. And maybe I'll I'm sure I will have more revelations of things I'm doing now and actually just recently had one that maybe aren't right or at least not optimal and I have to contradict what I've said in the past. That's perhaps the biggest argument or value right there is when something we commit to is not working to have the courage to say oops, that was wrong.