I do not have the stomach for the ability to take pain like this, on a grand level.
Physically, I have no desire to go through all of the things that Navy Seals do to become Navy Seals.
And mentally, I have no panache for crippling work stress.
Maybe it would be different as the owner – rather than as an employee…
Maybe not.
Understand: Suffering for a purpose is different.
“What he went through in 2008 would have broken anyone else. He didn’t just survive. He kept working and stayed focused.” That ability to stay focused in the midst of a crisis stands as one of Musk’s main advantages over other executives and competitors. “Most people who are under that sort of pressure fray,” Gracias said. “Their decisions go bad. Elon gets hyperrational. He’s still able to make very clear, long-term decisions. The harder it gets, the better he gets. Anyone who saw what he went through firsthand came away with more respect for the guy. I’ve just never seen anything like his ability to take pain.”
-Ashley Vance, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future (Amazon)