Musk’s time management secret: How to complete someone else’s eight years of work in one year?

Do you often feel that there is not enough time, high work pressure, and low quality of life? Have you ever thought about how great it would be if you could manage time efficiently and create amazing achievements like Musk?

Musk is one of the most successful, busiest, and most influential people in the world today. He has managed seven companies simultaneously, including Tesla, SpaceX, OpenAI, Neuralink, The Boring Company, SolarCity and Twitter. His goal is to solve the biggest challenges facing mankind, such as climate change, energy crisis, artificial intelligence, neurological diseases, traffic congestion, space exploration, etc. His vision is for humanity to become a multi-planetary species and enable interstellar migration.

Musk’s accomplishments are amazing, but even more amazing is how he accomplished them in a limited amount of time. The American magazine “Wired” once conducted a study and came to the conclusion that Musk completed eight years of other people’s work in one year . Specifically, he surpassed ordinary people in the following aspects:

Manufacturing a car: Tesla vs. Ford, the time-consuming ratio is 1:4

    Building rockets: SpaceX vs. Blue Origin, the time-consuming ratio is 1:6

    Landing on Mars: SpaceX vs. NASA, time-consuming ratio 1:8

    Digging a high-speed tunnel: The Boring Company takes 1:14 compared to a normal subway

Musk works about 85 to 100 hours a week, 80% of which is devoted to engineering and design. He spends seven days a week, about three days at Tesla, two days at SpaceX, and one day at OpenAI. He also regularly posts on Weibo, attends meetings, accepts interviews, handles crises, spends time with his family, and even has time to fall in love.

How did Musk do it? Does he have any time management tips? As professionals, can we learn from him and improve our time management skills?

The answer is yes. Musk’s time management skills are not innate, but after years of practice and summary, he has formed a set of effective methods and principles. In this article, we will reveal Musk’s time management secrets to help you improve efficiency in the workplace, achieve goals, and improve the quality of life.

Musk’s time management secrets

Musk’s time management secrets can be summarized into the following five aspects:

1. Time boxing

Time Boxing is Musk’s most commonly used time management method and is also used by many successful people in Silicon Valley, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.

The core of time boxing is to create a time limit, assign a fixed time period to each task, and then focus on completing the task within this time period. Time boxing is not arranged according to the timeline of “do task A from 8 to 10 o’clock, and task B from 10 to 11 o’clock”, but means “I have to complete task A within 30 minutes, and I only have 25 minutes for task B.” minute”.

Musk used time boxing to break ordinary people’s step-by-step time management thinking. He set clear “time fragments” for the tasks that needed to be completed, and arranged his itinerary in 5-minute units. A 24-hour day was divided into 288 “time fragments.” For example, task A needs to be completed within 30 minutes, task B needs to be completed within 10 minutes, and task C needs to be completed within 5 minutes. If he only spends 20 minutes to complete task A, he can start task B or task C immediately. Not in order, but randomly based on importance.

Musk arranges the minimum amount of time for each task, so that he can be on deadline at any time and maintain the highest efficiency. According to Parkinson’s law, work will automatically expand to fill up all a person’s available time. If time is abundant, people will slow down their work pace or add other projects to use up all their time. Time boxing can avoid this situation and allow people to accomplish as much as possible in a limited time.

The benefits of time boxing are:

• Increases sense of urgency and improves concentration.When you know you only have a certain amount of time to complete a task, you’ll be more focused, less distracted by other things, and less likely to procrastinate.
•  Improve efficiency and save time. When you complete a task within a time period, you will try to find the fastest and best way to avoid unnecessary details, thereby improving efficiency and saving time.
• Increase the sense of accomplishment and reduce stress. When you complete a task within a period of time, you will have a sense of accomplishment, which will motivate you to continue working hard, while also reducing your stress and making you more relaxed.

The implementation steps of time boxing are:

1. Make a list of the tasks you want to complete, sort and filter by priority and nature.
2.  Estimate the time each task will take. Try to be reasonable and don’t be overly optimistic or pessimistic.
3. Set a countdown stopwatch, start executing your task, and try to complete it within the allotted time.
4. After completing

The key to time boxing is to have a feedback loop that lets you know how well you’re doing and how you can do better. This is also a famous saying of Musk: “Always ask yourself: How can you do better? “

2. Asynchronous communication

Asynchronous Communication is another time management method of Musk and an important means for him to improve efficiency.

Asynchronous communication refers to communication methods that do not require immediate replies , such as emails, text messages, Weibo, etc. In contrast, synchronous communication refers to communication methods that require immediate responses, such as phone calls, video conferencing, face-to-face conversations, etc.

The benefits of asynchronous communication are:

• Save time and improve efficiency. Asynchronous communication does not require waiting for the other party’s reply and can be communicated at any time and anywhere without being limited by time and space. This saves waiting time and improves communication efficiency.
• Increase autonomy and reduce distractions. Asynchronous communication allows people to arrange communication according to their own rhythm and priorities, without being interrupted by other people’s needs or interrupting other people’s work. In this way, you can increase your autonomy and reduce unnecessary interference.
• Improve quality and avoid misunderstandings. Asynchronous communication allows people more time to think and edit their information, avoid impulsive and wrong expressions, and can also express their views and requirements more clearly, avoiding ambiguity and misunderstandings.

The implementation steps of asynchronous communication are:

1. Choose appropriate communication tools, such as email, text messages, Weibo, etc., and choose the most appropriate communication method according to the purpose and target of communication.
2. Set a reasonable response period, such as 24 hours, 48 ​​hours, etc. Based on the urgency and importance of communication, set a reasonable response period to let the other party know your expectations and commitments.
3. Write clear information, such as titles, text, attachments, etc. Based on the content and scope of communication, write a clear, concise and complete message, avoid redundancy and omissions, and highlight key points and requirements.
4. Check and send information, such as spelling, format, attachments, etc., check whether your information has errors or omissions, whether it meets the purpose and target of communication, whether it achieves your expected effect, and then send the information.
5. Follow up and feedback information, such as confirmation, reply, summary, etc., follow up whether your information has been received and understood, whether you have received reply and feedback from the other party, whether the communication goal has been achieved, and then summarize your experience and adjust your plan of.

The key to asynchronous communication is to have a clear purpose, a reasonable deadline, a clear message, an effective follow-up, and timely feedback. This is also a famous saying of Musk: ” The purpose of communication is to convey information, not to hear your own voice. “

3. Batch processing

Batching is Musk’s third time management method and an effective strategy for improving efficiency.

Batch processing refers to gathering some similar or related tasks together and completing them all at once instead of processing them dispersedly.Batch processing can reduce switching between tasks and improve work coherence and concentration.

Musk used batch processing to optimize his workflow and reduce his workload. He divides his tasks into two categories: important and urgent . Important tasks refer to tasks that have a long-term impact on his goals and vision, such as design, innovation, decision-making, etc. Urgent tasks refer to tasks that have a short-term impact on his operations and management, such as responses, meetings, reports, etc.

Musk puts important tasks in the morning and urgent tasks in the afternoon.He believes that morning is when his thinking is clearest and most creative, so he will use this time to deal with important tasks, such as designing new products, solving complex problems, and making major decisions. He will gather these tasks together and complete them at once without being interrupted by other things.

Musk places urgent tasks in the afternoon. He believes that the afternoon is when his mind is most tired and easily distracted, so he will use this time to handle urgent tasks, such as responding to emails, attending meetings, reviewing reports, etc. . He will gather these tasks together and complete them at once without affecting his important tasks.

The benefits of batch processing are:

• Reduce switching and increase focus. Batch processing can reduce switching between tasks and avoid frequent changes in work status, thereby increasing work concentration and improving work quality.
• Improve efficiency and save time.Batch processing can improve work efficiency and avoid repeatedly starting and shutting down work programs, thereby saving work time and increasing work speed.
• Increase control, reduce stress.Batch processing can increase the sense of control of the work and avoid being dictated by the needs of others, thereby reducing work stress and improving job satisfaction.

The implementation steps of batch processing are:

1. Categorize your tasks by importance and urgency, placing important tasks in one category and urgent tasks in another.
2. Arrange your time according to your energy and priorities. Place important tasks in your high-energy periods and urgent tasks in your low-energy periods.
3. Concentrate your attention, perform your tasks according to your plan, group similar or related tasks together, complete them at once, and do not be disturbed by other things.
4. Complete your tasks, check your results, record your time, summarize your experience, and adjust your plan.

The key to batch processing is to have a clear classification, a reasonable arrangement, a concentrated attention, and a completed task. This is also a famous saying of Musk: “Don’t waste time on unimportant things, but focus your time on the most important things.”

4. 80/20 rule

The 80/20 Rule is Musk’s fourth time management method and an important principle for improving efficiency.

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto rule, means that in any group of things, the most important ones account for only a small part, about 20%, while the others account for the majority of the rest, about 80%.For example, 80% of revenue comes from 20% of customers, 80% of problems come from 20% of causes, 80% of effects come from 20% of efforts, etc.

Musk uses the 80/20 rule to optimize his work content and increase the value of his work. He divides his work into two categories: high-value and low-value . High-value work refers to the work that makes the greatest contribution to his goals and vision, such as innovation, decision-making, leadership, etc. Low-value work refers to work that contributes minimally to his goals and vision, such as responses, meetings, reports, etc.

Musk devotes 80% of his time and energy to high-value work, leaving only 20% of his time and energy for low-value work. He believes that high-value work is his core competitiveness, his mission and responsibility, and his passion and motivation. He will try his best to hand over low-value work to his team or outsource it, or simply refuse or ignore it to avoid wasting his time and energy.

The benefits of the 80/20 rule are:

• Increase value and achieve goals.The 80/20 rule allows you to focus on the most valuable work, thereby increasing the value of your work, achieving your work goals, and creating greater impact.
• Improve efficiency and save resources.The 80/20 rule allows you to avoid inefficient work, thereby improving your work efficiency, saving you time and energy, and releasing your potential.
• Improve satisfaction and increase happiness. The 80/20 rule allows you to do work that you like and are good at, thereby improving your job satisfaction, increasing your happiness at work, and improving your quality of life.

The steps to implement the 80/20 rule are:

1. Analyze your work according to value and efficiency, and divide your work into four categories: high value and high efficiency, high value and low efficiency, low value and high efficiency, and low value and low efficiency.
2. Optimize your work according to priority and strategy, and divide your work into four processing methods: keep, promote, delegate, and abandon.
3. Execute your work according to the plan and method, and divide your work into four stages: planning, execution, evaluation, and adjustment.
4. Complete your work, check your results, record your gains, summarize your experience, and adjust your plan.

The key to the 80/20 rule is to have an objective analysis, a wise optimization, an effective execution, and a perfect completion. This is also a famous saying of Musk: “Don’t spend time on low-value things, but spend time on high-value things.”

5. Do one thing at a time

Doing one thing at a time (Single-Tasking) is Musk’s fifth time management method and his basic principle for improving efficiency.

Doing one thing at a time means focusing on only one task at any time, rather than doing multiple tasks at the same time.Working on one thing at a time avoids distractions and improves the quality and speed of your work.

Musk eliminates distractions from his work and improves his focus by doing one thing at a time. He believes that performing multiple tasks at the same time is a wrong concept of time management, which will lead to a decrease in work efficiency, a decrease in work quality, and an increase in work pressure. He believes that it is impossible for the human brain to handle multiple tasks at the same time. It can only quickly switch between different tasks, which will cause distraction, confusion in work, and errors in work.

Musk makes it his work habit to do only one thing at a time. He will only focus on one task during each period of time and will not be interrupted by other tasks. Before starting a task, he would put other tasks aside, hand them over to his team or outsource them, or simply refuse or ignore them to avoid disturbing his concentration. He would complete one task before starting another and would not do multiple tasks at the same time to maintain his concentration.

The advantages of doing only one thing at a time are:

• Improve focus, improve quality.Doing one thing at a time allows you to concentrate on one task without being distracted by other tasks, thereby improving the quality of your work and avoiding errors and omissions.
• Improve efficiency and save time.Doing only one thing at a time allows you to complete a task quickly without wasting time switching tasks, thereby improving your work efficiency and saving you work time.
• Reduce stress and increase satisfaction.Doing one thing at a time allows you to handle one task with ease and without the stress of multitasking, thereby reducing your work stress and increasing your job satisfaction.

The implementation steps for doing one thing at a time are:

1. Choose your tasks in order of importance and urgency. Choose the most important or urgent task as your current task.
2. Prepare your environment according to your needs and preferences. Prepare a working environment that suits you, such as lighting, temperature, music, etc., to help you focus.
3. Perform your tasks, perform them according to your plan and method, perform your current task, do not be disturbed by other tasks, and do not perform other tasks at the same time to maintain your concentration.
4. Complete your tasks, check your results, record your time, summarize your experience, and adjust your plan.

The key to doing one thing at a time is to have a clear choice, a comfortable environment, effective execution, and perfect completion. This is also a famous saying of Musk: “Don’t do many things at the same time, but do one thing at a time.”

The end is the beginning

Musk’s time management skills apply not only to himself, but to anyone who wants to improve their time management skills. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a professional, a student, or a housewife, you can benefit from, learn and apply it.

Musk’s time management skills can not only help you improve work efficiency and complete more things, but also help you improve the quality of your work and create better results. It can also help you improve job satisfaction and add more happiness. It can also help you increase the value of your work and achieve greater goals.

Musk’s time management skills can not only change the way you work, but also change your lifestyle, making your life more meaningful, valuable and influential.

If you want to become a master of time management like Musk, then you can start from now on and use these time management skills to plan your time, arrange your tasks, execute your plan, and complete your goals.

You will find that your time is no longer your enemy, but your friend, your time is no longer your burden, but your asset, your time is no longer your bondage, but your free.

You will find that your time is your life, and your time is your future.

Are you ready? So, let’s get started!