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It's arguable that Musk is doing the first two things you mentioned with his social media antics, just in an incredibly gonzo way. And perhaps he's achieving th

It's arguable that Musk is doing the first two things you mentioned with his social media antics, just in an incredibly gonzo way. And perhaps he's achieving the third as well, by cultivating a cult of personality. A CEO doesn't have to make everyone believe that, just enough people.

McLaren_Ferrari 5y ago
He'd not be able to do it in say 1985. It's the unprecendented amount of time that Americans devote to following pop-culture and Musk wants to become pop-culture squared. China is approaching this thing differently, they make it very clear if you want to become a pop-culture icon you should sing or act. It's not allowing businessmen to become influencers or politicians, nor to put their nose into public health or education. According to them the roles should be clearly separated, so his style and twitter purchase won't work there (or would work there for different reasons such as China using it as a trojan horse in the AMerican society)
phoehne 5y ago
Sure, until it fails and then it fails spectacularly. I think Musk may be the exception to the general rule. And some founder type CEOs don't go off the rails until they know they're on the way out and don't have to pretend any more. (Not that I think Musk is on his way out any where. I love Musk. All hail Musk.) But I say those words with a sense that I might be eating them, if something horrible comes out and we all say "gee - should have seen those red flags".
- McLaren_Ferrari 5y ago
  For how I conceive business Musk is a borderline scammer. But I wholeheartadly agree with the above message. As you said new elements could come in to make you re-evaluate your admiration By the same token new elements could come in for me to re-evaluate my stance and if we are indeed at the dawn of an era where CEOs become even more politcians, showmen, pop-culture icons then I'd have no problem tipping my hat to Musk as a pioneer of such new powerful trend. Similarly I'd also tip my hat if "creative accounting" becomes the norm and also embracing the concept of manifestation and "self-fulfilling prophecy" concerning the stock price which has to be pumped at all costs to make sure that there is always enough air flowing on the wings to keep the company in air.

McLaren_Ferrari 5y ago

He'd not be able to do it in say 1985. It's the unprecendented amount of time that Americans devote to following pop-culture and Musk wants to become pop-culture squared. China is approaching this thing differently, they make it very clear if you want to become a pop-culture icon you should sing or act. It's not allowing businessmen to become influencers or politicians, nor to put their nose into public health or education. According to them the roles should be clearly separated, so his style and twitter purchase won't work there (or would work there for different reasons such as China using it as a trojan horse in the AMerican society)

phoehne 5y ago

Sure, until it fails and then it fails spectacularly. I think Musk may be the exception to the general rule. And some founder type CEOs don't go off the rails until they know they're on the way out and don't have to pretend any more. (Not that I think Musk is on his way out any where. I love Musk. All hail Musk.) But I say those words with a sense that I might be eating them, if something horrible comes out and we all say "gee - should have seen those red flags".

McLaren_Ferrari 5y ago
For how I conceive business Musk is a borderline scammer. But I wholeheartadly agree with the above message. As you said new elements could come in to make you re-evaluate your admiration By the same token new elements could come in for me to re-evaluate my stance and if we are indeed at the dawn of an era where CEOs become even more politcians, showmen, pop-culture icons then I'd have no problem tipping my hat to Musk as a pioneer of such new powerful trend. Similarly I'd also tip my hat if "creative accounting" becomes the norm and also embracing the concept of manifestation and "self-fulfilling prophecy" concerning the stock price which has to be pumped at all costs to make sure that there is always enough air flowing on the wings to keep the company in air.