Idea Overload 333
total of all Tesla cars ever produced since 2006 [to 2012],
from the initial announcement of the electric Roadster to
the current Model S sedan, amounts to a couple of hours
of GM’s global production. The company’s earnings from
that effort likely amount to a similarly minute fraction of
GM’s business.”59,376
Since the special forces are recruiting only the best,
Elon’s companies are also recruiting only the best. “I have
never worked for another aerospace company,” Elon said.
“However, based on stories I’ve heard, some of them sound
like a Dilbert cartoon in real life. My approach is simply to
seek out very talented people, ensure that the environment
at SpaceX [and Tesla] is as motivating and enjoyable as
possible, and establish clear and measurable objectives.”^285
What Elon is looking for is the Michael Jordans of en-
gineering. The employees need to have a positive attitude,
they have to be easy to work with, and the other employees
have to enjoy working with them. There’s a no-asshole-
attitude, so C or D employees are not tolerated on a scale
where A employees are the best. He will fire C or D players,
but not without first giving a warning. What Elon want is
happy employees. If an employee is not happy, then he or
she can no longer work for the company.^354 “If you are not
happy, get a divorce,” Elon said, probably as a reference to
his two failed marriages.
But A players within certain fields are not always
easy to find. “There’s certain special skills, especially in
advanced engineering, that are the limiting factor in cre-
ating new companies; we send these people home after