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

7 Feb 2023 · 1 min

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In this short dialogue, the speakers discuss Elon Musk's fourth productivity rule: the importance of being willing to contradict yourself. They emphasize that one should not fear walking back a decision when new information or a revelation shows the previous belief was wrong. The conversation stresses doing so with tact—acknowledging the new insight openly and respectfully. An example is given from the "Profit First" methodology, where the creator originally advocated placing profit as the bottom‑line consideration at year‑end, later realizing that approach was ineffective and revising the strategy. The speakers conclude that the courage to admit past mistakes and adjust course is a key value for personal and professional growth.

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.