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Elon Musk Dishes Out Brutal Entrepreneurial Advice To Young Hopefuls

Elon Musk Dishes Out Brutal Entrepreneurial Advice To Young Hopefuls

Harsh but true.

Mark McGowan

Mark McGowan

At this point, it would probably be fair to describe Elon Musk as one of the most successful entrepreneurs on the face of the earth.

The Tesla and Space X boss has consistently pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible and succeeded time after time, but when it comes to dishing out entrepreneurial advice, ol' Musky is a man of few words.

What's more, he certainly doesn't pull any punches when picking them.

On a recent trip to Musk's Tesla HQ, a student from Draper University chirped up and asked the tech heavyweight what the best piece of advice was that he could give to a budding entrepreneur.

His response? Well, let's just say he definitely didn't sugar-coat it, reports Business Insider:

"I think it's very difficult to start companies, it's quite painful. A friend of mine has a good phrase for doing a startup: it's like eating glass and staring into the abyss. If you are wired to do it, then only do it, not otherwise. So think of it this way - if you need inspiring words, DON'T DO IT!"

Credit: Maurizio Pesce/Creative Commons

That might sound a tad discouraging to someone looking to head down a similar path to him, but if you dig a bit deeper, it really is pretty solid advice.

Thomas Brag, another of the students present on the day explains Elon's answer.

"Firstly, being an entrepreneur has been overly glorified in movies and TV shows, but for the most part, running a company is difficult.

"Most of us are not ready for it or are more interested in the idea of being an entrepreneur rather than actually be willing to put in the work to become one."

Credit: Onlnnovation/Creative Commons

Entrepreneurship is not easy and that's something Mr Musk knows better than most.

You have to be 'wired' a certain way to deal with the ups, the downs and the constant struggle.

Musk is saying that this takes a special type of person, and if you need to ask for inspiring words, it's probably not the right path for you.

Branden Moskwa, CEO/Founder of nadimo.com agrees. He told Business Insider : "The glorification of entrepreneurship has created a society of ignorance, a yellow brick road type of thinking.

"I fully support and encourage entrepreneurs, it's just that you have to start with a dirt road in the beginning, and most people don't want to believe that.

"Being an entrepreneur is a constant battle of balance. The successful entrepreneur embraces the daily struggle and dives in headfirst, not with blinders, but with clarity and determination."

So, if you want to do it, do it - just don't expect any friendly pointers from Elon Musk and his ilk.

Featured Image Credit: JD Lasica/Creative Commons

Topics: elon musk, Business