A truth I’ve been discovering about the super-rich and powerful is that they are no smarter than any of us. When Elizabeth Holmes, the convicted fraudster of Theranos, was able to get hundreds of millions of dollars from super-powerful people, I realized she only accomplished this simply because she got into the same room as them. They were blinded by a fraudster like what can happen to anyone. Usually their gatekeepers screen better.
As someone who finds himself often put on a pedestal by others I’m also aware of a certain truth – I am not special. Because I know that, I use it to empower others, that they are as capable as me to do great things. There is no such thing as a superhuman.
With that being my truth, that means I don’t put people like Elon Musk on any pedestal. He’s a man, who has done some cool stuff. He’s also a man capable of hubris and making great mistakes.
I also see him as a man desperately overdue for some personal reflection and healing.
A man without, possibly, a single person in his life to challenge him and call him on his bullshit.
It makes me think about how people like Michael Jackson and Prince literally died because they surrounded themselves with yes people, and cut the rest out. Ultimately meaning there was no one to challenge them on their drug abuse.
What we’re watching now is a very public demonstration of how hubris can be the undoing of the most powerful people.
I read an interview once with Musk, where he used the word “evil” to describe his father, that he has no relationship with. And he would deny it completely, but because this is true for myself I’m willing to wager a part of him is still trying to prove himself to his father and the impossible expectations he has set for himself.
I know how old hurts can rule my own life. How the tools I developed to survive childhood were brought with me and were very poor to use as an adult.
I also know how some of these tools were superpowers, that allowed me to do great things earlier in my life, and then as the years and decades past, I found myself trapped within them.
Imposter syndrome plagued me for years. Elon seems to have the opposite of that. My problem was I saw my successes for too long as all luck and good timing, and I didn’t give myself much credit. Elon seems to think his successes are all him. He’s not factoring in his own good luck and timing with past endeavors. The truth is somewhere in the middle of those 2 extremes.
If Elon came today to me to ask if I could help him, my answer would be… I can’t help you, not right now. The kind of help I can offer you you would not be able to receive. My advice would be to take some time for some personal healing, and find a psychotherapist and start there. Perhaps if he wanted, he would be invited to read my past articles and books and use those to help his reflection. And check back with me in the future and let me know how that is going.
Broken people often want to change the world in their own image, which I find hugely problematic. What the world needs more of are people trying to make the world better from a healed place.
From that healed place, I would love to then be a part of doing something awesome.
Where are you on your own healing journey?
