A true CEO or corporate leader should be resilient, visionary, and willing to go the extra mile, even when the odds seem impossible. The story of Tesla in 2008 offers a valuable lesson in leadership. When the world believed Tesla would go bankrupt, industry giants like Mercedes predicted the company's failure, and BMW doubted its ability to achieve mass production, while The Wall Street Journal described Tesla’s future production as a nightmare.
At that critical juncture, Elon Musk made the bold decision to stay at Tesla's factory. His determination and willpower were so strong that he moved in with just a pillow, working tirelessly day and night. Whenever he felt exhausted, he would lie down beside the cars to rest. This was the start of a remarkable journey. Tesla not only survived but emerged stronger than ever.
Musk personally inspected every production station at Tesla's factory and didn't overlook any detail. He would even rewrite software codes when necessary. Managers who did not align with his vision were promptly dismissed. At times, Musk would wake up at 3 a.m. to make calls to suppliers for parts, and on one occasion, workers saw him drenched in oil as he worked on a Model 3 himself, fixing it when the engineers had given up.
Musk boldly told his engineers, “Either we will make Tesla a success in the world, or we will die trying. Those who believe in my vision can stay, and those who don’t can leave."
After this intense struggle, Tesla started dominating the marketplace, and the automotive industry's skepticism was silenced when Tesla's sales figures were released:
Week 1: 202 Model 3 cars
Month 3: 5,000 cars per week
By year-end: First profitable quarter
Tesla, once ridiculed, became a formidable threat to other automakers. Their hard work and determination warned the entire automotive industry.
In interviews, Musk often shared that Tesla never set out to dominate the industry, but the challenging period of rebuilding the company was extremely painful. He admitted, "Maybe I was a little crazy, but somehow Tesla started dominating the automotive industry without intending to."
Traditional car manufacturers had:
Over 100 years of manufacturing experience
Billion-dollar cash reserves
Strong global supply chains
Deep political connections
And today? Tesla’s valuation exceeds the combined worth of Toyota, GM, Ford, and BMW.
In just a few years, Elon Musk transformed what was once a laughingstock into a colossal automotive giant, proving that patience, determination, hard work, and vision can change an entire industry and even the world.