Does the logic connect? What are the range of probably outcomes? You want to figure out what those probabilities are and ideally be the House. It's fine to gamble, as long as you're the House. Also, listen to critical feedback, particularly from friends. Generally they will be thinking it but they won't tell you.

The problem is that at a lot of big companies, process becomes a substitute for thinking. You're encouraged to behave like a little gear in a complex machine. Frankly, it allows you to keep people who aren't that smart, who aren't that creative.

Some people don't like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster.

If you're trying to create a company, it's like baking a cake. You have to have all the ingredients in the right proportion.

Land on Mars, a round-trip ticket - half a million dollars. It can be done.

Well, my motivation behind Tesla is really to do as much good as possible for the environment and the electric-vehicle revolution. I think there is still a lot of work to do and if we were to sell to a big company, I'm not sure it would progress at the same pace.

If something's important enough, you should try. Even if you - the probable outcome is failure.