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Elon Musk has catapulted to the 37th richest man on the planet, boasting a wealth of $21.3 billion. The famed business magnate and founder of Tesla and SpaceX is the closest thing to a real life Tony Stark that exists. The futurist went from paying his rent at his University of Pennsylvania off-campus house by charging students $5 a head to party to buying five mansions in the lavish southern-California neighborhood of Bel Air.
When asked in a Reddit AMA what habits he believes to have the largest impact on his life, the 46-year-old responded: “waking up early, expressing gratitude, and meditating.”
More recently, Musk hosted a group of students from Draper University at his Tesla factory, and one posed the question: “As an established entrepreneur, what is the number one tip you have for all the young entrepreneurs waiting to startup?”
Warning: His answer may hurt the feelings of coddled snowflakes.
“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!”
Translation: if you are not emotionally prepared for perpetual failure or not inclined to take risks, maybe you should just become a 9-5 cube monkey like the rest of us. Life’s a bitch.
[h/t Business Insider]