The first principles thinking approach has been used by many brilliant people, including inventor Johannes Gutenberg, military strategist John Boyd, and the ancient philosopher Aristotle, but no one embodies the philosophy of first principles thinking more effectively than the entrepreneur, Elon Musk; the founder of Tesla Motors (Automotive), PayPal (Financial Services), and SpaceX (Aerospace). Musk’s success is linked to his ability to solve complex problems and his unbelievable work ethic. In this article, you will learn the secrets of Elon Musk- his thinking strategy, which helps him find an original solution to complex problems.
What Is the Meaning of First Principles Thinking?
First principles thinking is a fancy way of saying “think like a scientist.” Scientists don’t assume anything. They start with questions like, What are we absolutely sure is true? What has been proven? A first principle is a basic assumption that cannot be deduced any further. Over two thousand years ago, Aristotle defined a first principle as “the first basis from which a thing is known.”
In theory, this means taking something apart until you are left with only the foundational truths of the situation. In practice, you don’t have to simplify every problem down to its atomic level to get the benefits of first principles thinking. You just need to go one or two levels deeper. Every situation is different, which means that every thought process and solution will present themselves at different layers of abstraction. John Boyd, the famous fighter pilot, and military strategist, created the following thought experiment which demonstrates how to use first principles thinking in a practical way.
Imagine you have three things:
- A motorboat with a skier behind it
- A military tank
- A bicycle
Now, let’s break these items down into their constituent parts:
- Motorboat: motor, the hull of a boat, and a pair of skis.
- Tank: metal treads, steel armor plates, and a gun.
- Bicycle: handlebars, wheels, gears, and a seat.
How Elon’s Vision Became a Success Through First Principles Thinking
In 2002, Musk had a vision to send the first rocket to Mars, which eventually became the aerospace company that he established, SpaceX. He was immediately challenged with the high cost of purchasing a rocket. A rocket’s value was astronomical—up to $65 million. Given the high price, he began to rethink the problem. He didn’t have the money to actually buy a rocket, so he asked himself what rockets are made of: carbon fiber, copper, aerospace-grade aluminum alloys, and titanium. Then he thought about the cost of each of these materials. He discovered that these materials were 2 percent the cost of a rocket. This discovery enabled Elon to make his vision a reality. He began learning rocket science and decided to create an aerospace company, SpaceX, where he would create rockets from scratch.
Apply First Principles Thinking to Your Daily Life
- Don’t make assumptions. Making assumptions is an easy thing to do and it’s an awful habit to have because it does not always lead you to the truth. Find out more information, research, get all of the facts.
- Simplify the problem. Sometimes an issue may seem overwhelming or too big to deal with. Break down the situation to the core, so you are left with the foundational elements. It will be a lot easier to work with.
- Create new solutions. For example: You want to exercise for 5 hours a week but you don’t have enough time. Previous solution: You can exercise an hour a day, 5 days a week. Modified solution: You can exercise for 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week, doing high intense workouts.