Directionally right
Many people lament about Elon Musk's outspoken views on government inefficiency and his plans for DOGE. They point to how government programs and regulations are helpful, and how his estimates for cost savings are overblown.
They are technically right, but Elon is directionally right. It's more likely than not that the government has lots of wasteful spending and unnecessary bureaucracy.
In closed systems — predictable and well-understood environments — being technically correct can lead to optimal outcomes. Precision matters when variables are limited and controllable, and the consequences are dire. Engineers designing a bridge, for example, must calculate loads and stresses with exactness to ensure safety.
But most of the world is not a closed or critical system. It is an open, infinite, and inherently chaotic environment. Variables are countless, and conditions change rapidly and unpredictably. In such a world, you find answers and progress by doing stuff.
Consider how successful tech companies operate. They release minimum viable products, gather user feedback, and refine accordingly. This isn't about being perfect from the start; it's about moving in the right direction and adjusting course as needed. Each action provides new data and insights, informing the next direction and actions.
They are technically right, but Elon is directionally right. It's more likely than not that the government has lots of wasteful spending and unnecessary bureaucracy.
In closed systems — predictable and well-understood environments — being technically correct can lead to optimal outcomes. Precision matters when variables are limited and controllable, and the consequences are dire. Engineers designing a bridge, for example, must calculate loads and stresses with exactness to ensure safety.
But most of the world is not a closed or critical system. It is an open, infinite, and inherently chaotic environment. Variables are countless, and conditions change rapidly and unpredictably. In such a world, you find answers and progress by doing stuff.
Consider how successful tech companies operate. They release minimum viable products, gather user feedback, and refine accordingly. This isn't about being perfect from the start; it's about moving in the right direction and adjusting course as needed. Each action provides new data and insights, informing the next direction and actions.
Some may argue this can be reckless and risky. But trying to be technically and exhaustively right would be crippling, and stagnation is also damaging. There's also a difference between disregarding technical correctness entirely and recognizing when overdoing it is counterproductive. We need enough precision to avoid catastrophic mistakes but enough flexibility to adapt and improve.
Love him or hate him, you have to wonder how Elon Musk can pull off so much —Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, robots, Twitter, politics, and trolling. I think one key factor is his ability to identify the highest-order bits, be directional right, act with urgency and conviction, and iterate.
Love him or hate him, you have to wonder how Elon Musk can pull off so much —Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, robots, Twitter, politics, and trolling. I think one key factor is his ability to identify the highest-order bits, be directional right, act with urgency and conviction, and iterate.
Meanwhile, his technically right critics are yet to send anything to orbit :)
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