I used to think Elon Musk was a fragrance. I have never been the curious type, except when in interview situations of course, where it ranks highly amongst my many skills, outlooks and interests, but I was not ready for the looks of bewilderment and indignation that were thrown my way when I declared this Musk related belief at an exclusive executive retreat, a few (but not enough) years ago. I had clearly missed the memo of this entrepreneurial giant’s existence. Sadly with how things have transpired in recent times, I think I preferred the fragrance version after all.
Before I get myself into trouble this is not in any way a politically motivated post. My politics are what they have always been, if any reader is interested, and that is fluid. I judge based on what I see in front of me in terms of the people themselves, leadership potential, a bit of policy, and a whole lot of gut feel that tends to change from election to election. At least there is now some conscious thought involved, which is more than can be said for my first visit to the ballot box as a fresh faced non caring 18 year old. I was dragged there virtually kicking and screaming, by my mum, who was determined that I utilise my hard fought for and under appreciated right to vote. My mind was more concerned with the missing minutes I would lose from my precious time at the pub. I marched into the polling station, stroppily registered, and headed for the booth, where I loudly and petulantly moved my pen up and down the ballot paper proclaiming as I went “Ip Dip Sky Blue Who’s It Not You”. I couldn’t tell you for sure where my vote landed but it wasn’t one of the major parties, and it was certainly the last time I had parental accompaniment on election day.
Back to the Muskmeister as I digress. My problem is not necessarily about his existence, his prominence or even his influence. There have always been business figures that rise to the top. I get it. Particularly if they are or become media moguls. Rothschild. D’acre. Murdoch. However distasteful, it has always been thus. No, my problem is fundamentally with his approach, and in particular for his flagrant disregard and abhorrence of the truth.
Yes I know that truth is a contentious word, and that everyone has their own version of the truth, but tMusketeer goes way beyond this – seeming almost to view it as a personal crusade not just to sell his truth, but to deny all other truths even when they are deep set and blindingly obvious. When and how did the real truth become such an easily disposable part of our existence?
You see once obvious truth is abandoned at the upper echelons of society and in the media, it becomes ok to abandon it everywhere. I see it all the time in business, and it was not always the case. There is a new breed of leaders that model themselves on deliberate ignorance of the truth to suit their own ego driven agendas – or worse, relish the opportunity to assault and abuse the truth in order to make their point, or more likely, their name. The saddest thing is that nothing and nobody stops them, and they then get rewarded and applauded for it.
So where does this lead us? Much as I hate to say it, I struggle to see how this gets turned around. Full access and algorithms may be a technical miracle but the opportunity they give for blatant manipulation of the masses is truly scary. Who knew that one of the biggest challenges and risks to a future direction we can be globally proud of would be democracy.
Maybe it’s unfair to put this all at one man’s door. The part about my thinking it was a fragrance is true, and once I had hung my head in shame, sloped off to my room, and googled him, I have to say I was initially impressed. So this was what this entrepreneurial racket I was hearing of was all about. A future fuelled car manufacturing business taking it right to Detroit and Munich and saving the planet along the way, a plan to build an underground transport network that took you further than Cockfosters and cuts intercity travel times and costs in half, and a rocket business to make space travel accessible for all (with coin) and enable those who wanted to (or who we wanted to send) to inhabit Mars – go for it Elon. Big. Bold. Audacious. Then he bought Twitter.
I’m sure the ego was always there but by God it went into overdrive after that. Proper Bond villain stuff. An uncontrollable ego unhindered can quickly become an ugly, rancid, bloated appendage, deserving to be flushed down the toilet with or without l’eau.
I struggle to see how, even with the horrifically divisive nature of global and local politics in our current era, he has any, let alone as many, fervent and vocal supporters. Surely the vacuous soul and blatant ego driven existence blare like klaxons for all reasonable minds and souls to shelter from. The problem may be that lack of reasonable souls and a growing number of manipulated or warped minds in today’s over indulged and selfishly righteous society.
Elon Musk. Self proclaimed saviour of society? Give me strength.
strangefishbigpond 