When we look at the people whose life’s work revolves around improving conditions for humankind, we observe that most of these individuals are not wealthy. Not only are their endeavors not focused on profit, but in many cases, their efforts actively fly in the teeth of the most profitable industries on the planet – whether that means Big Energy, Food, Pharma, Medical, etc.
That’s what makes Elon Musk’s story so remarkable. As you listen to this interview, which he did last month for one of the fabulous “Ted Talks,” note the thinking that motivated all this: “While I was in university, I realized that sustainable transportation and energy was the biggest problem we need to solve in this century.”
Here’s a guy who’s taken on humankind’s greatest need (ironically, one whose importance it greatly underestimated) and has created some extremely successful businesses built around solving it. I’m hoping there’s a lesson to be learned here for all of us: “doing the right thing” and “making a buck” are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
