First Principles, Not Analogy
Musk: I tend to think of things from a physics standpoint — from a first principles standpoint. What would be the best way to accomplish something? And then pursue that.
That's also a good way to determine if something is far from its optimum. On rockets, for example — you could reason by analogy and say the rocket's going to cost a certain amount because that's what prior rockets have cost.
What would be the best way to accomplish something from a first principles standpoint? Then pursue that.
The Rocket Example
Musk: Or you can say — what is a rocket made of? What are the material constituents? What do they weigh? What's the cost per unit mass? That sets the limit asymptotically for what a rocket can be.
So if you can figure out some creative way to rearrange those elements into a rocket shape, then you can achieve a much better outcome. That's the first principles approach.
What is a rocket made of? What do the materials weigh? What's the cost per unit mass? That sets the limit.
Cross-Pollination and Struggle
Musk: I think also just combining ideas from different industries is really helpful for innovation. What have people discovered in one industry — and can that be applied to other industries? That's a great source of ideas.
But you usually just struggle on a solution and try a bunch of things. Most of them don't work. And occasionally one does.
You usually just struggle and try a bunch of things. Most don't work. Occasionally one does.