Elon Musk, the world’s best PR starman
Elon Musk has just launched a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy-themed car into space. Here, Scott Rhodie waxes lyrical on the Tesla CEO's out-of-this-world PR abilities.
I believe most of us are waiting for Elon Musk to unveil his secret evil volcano lair, but until he does, I think we can all agree that he has the unbelievable knack of creating global headlines.
His latest little project sees a combination of his SpaceX program, his Tesla company and his geekiness coming to the fore.
People all over the world were talking about the fact that on 6th and 7th February 2018, SpaceX launched Musk’s own Tesla Roadster complete with a Starman mannequin into a heliocentric orbit.
There is a Tesla Roadster (with a MicroMachines Tesla Roadster on the dash complete with a micro Starman) in space right now. When you take a second to think about it, it’s completely crazy.
No other car company in the world has everyone staring at their car in the media and going “how cool is that”.
The only way any car company is going to get better PR for their car will be if they are the first to get their car to Mars and then do laps around the planet.
Musk is the founder, CEO and lead designer of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla, CEO of Neuralink, founder of the Boring Company and even more. In fact, I don’t know if he actually sleeps, or if he is the first AI in a human body because he seems to be everywhere.
He gets global coverage for nearly everything his companies do. Why? I believe it is because his company dares to do something different. He is constantly challenging the norm and he and his companies have lofty goals beyond profit.
He created a rocket company to explore other planets.
He created a battery company and built electric cars and solar roof tiles to showcase how good the batteries are.
He is sick of traffic, and built a tunnelling company to try and reduce the cost of tunnels so that roads can be built under cities – and to promote it he sold caps and flamethrowers.
He created a company designing implantable brain-computer interfaces but said in the short term will be focusing on treating serious brain diseases.
Musk makes us feel like people are still doing good in the world and that they want to change the world for the better. Too many companies seem to focus on profit before anything else and as such we don’t connect with them.
Musk gives us hope, and let’s be honest, in the crazy world that we live in at the moment that’s no bad thing. He is selling us the dreams of the future today and he is doing so by being the face of the companies he works for.
He is a PR master. The smiling CEO/ founder/ billionaire who is kinda nerdy and silly and always seems to come across as a guy you could have a beer and a chat with.
I have no doubt he has his failings as a human, as we all do, but while he pushes his lofty ideals and his world-changing technology, I firmly believe he will continue to feed the media and the world with stories.
And from a personal standpoint, I just love the fact that Musk gave a nod to all Douglas Adams fans with a “DON’T PANIC” screen on the car, and he has acknowledged that inside the glove box is a towel (because Starman is a hoopy frood) and a copy of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
I’ll definitely be having a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster in honour of this monumental PR stunt.
Scott Rhodie is a marketing manager and self confessed Elon Musk fan boy.
You would think fanbois could get the spelling of their hero’s companies correct?
Musk is the founder, CEO and lead designer of Space, CEO of Tesla, CEO of Neuarlink, founder of the Boring Company and even more.
* SpaceX *Neuralink
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Great article, Scott. I’m also part of the Elon Musk Fan Club. I was in SF recently and am fortunate to have a friend who works for Tesla, and he said Tesla spends $0 on advertising. I’d love to be part of Tesla’s marketing brainstorms, and wonder how much of what Musk does are his own ideas or come from his team… I also loved his retweet of @AlexJamesFitz’s “selfie”. If only more CEOs were as mad/fun as him (I’m grateful I work for one that’s not too far off)!
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Make that two, Scott. And some peanuts, clearly.
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I do love pedants. Don’t write the article but comment cause that’s the best you can do.
I forgot a comma and deleted the X off SpaceX by accident and didn’t notice it.
And Neuralink is one of those ones you don’t really notice as it’s so close and when you re-read something you simply miss it.
However, you complain about that and not actually discuss the article and that’s says a lot.
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In defence of pedants, and as one who makes plenty of silly errors myself, I think humble pie is easier to swallow – and more appropriate.
Not to mention the well-know ‘fact’ that the best argument in the world can be sunk by a simple typo.
But, all that said, it was a good article about a momentous moment in history. May he do many more great things.
Although to say a billionaire isn’t concerned about profit is a bit of a stretch. He still has to make the billions to keep doing the next great thing. That flight (and all that led up to it) was paid for from the profits of past ventures.
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Great read mate! Nice one. I want Elon to adopt me.
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While I acknowledge that he’s taking giant steps towards a better future for all of us, I don’t think this guy is the best role model for young professionals or overall, specially in an American society that barely pays overtime and values power and influence over basic humanitarian values.
I guess media likes to portrait these characters as martyrs, who sacrifice themselves for the sake of humanity, and that would justify them being authoritarian, ruthless douches (Steve Jobs?).
I believe many other people have contributed the same or more without having to play that Tony Stark role.
This is just my take because I read Ashley Vance’s biography couple of months ago, maybe I just remember the bad, shocking bits.
P.S. I’m a big fan of all of his companies and goals.
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I recently posted that people spell Tesla wrong, and that it is actually spelled HOPE. Nice to see someone else feels the same way. Good job Mr. Rhodie.
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Musk is a snake oil salesman whose cars are crap and he’s running out of money. If you were any kind of journalist rather than a fan boy (is that legal?) you would see this. Time to get real: rocket boys future is flaming out…
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Hey Mr Sadly Deluded,
I’m a marketing manager not a journalist. I was simply writing an opinion piece.
His wealth is around $20bn so if he is running out of money he is still doing ok I reckon.
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Musk is to the 2010’s what Branson was to the 1980’s. Kinda? Either way the PR for Branson has been incredible over the years, albeit, more recently his slow trains, dodgy NHS contracts and a few other things are resulting in Branson appearing not so great for society.
Musk’s purpose does truly appear to be to change the world for the better. Good on him and Elon may you continue to soar!!!
Nice piece Scott. Here comes the pedant in me: ‘and that’s says a lot.’ 😉 – I couldn’t resist and just kidding.
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Can I question your assertion that we all have failings as human beings. I have checked. I don’t.
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Great to see you writing again Mr Rhodie! Love it!
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Great article…..at least Musk is ‘giving it a go’, pushing the boundaries, ..inside the lines, the rest of you ‘moaners’ are just carping from the sideline
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We’ve all seen rockets taking off before – it’s exciting, but they’re all variations of what’s been around since the 60s. But this time we have a new visual burned into our collective minds’ eye: An astronaut hooning through the ink in a red convertible – with the earth setting behind him. And I’ll never forget he was driving a Tesla. You’re bonkers if you try and argue that isn’t inspired PR.
More importantly: that vision of an impossible moment makes it seem other enormous tasks – like getting to Mars – aren’t so impossible. That flickering belief is the real fuel in those rockets. Top article, Scott.
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