Growth Ritual #54
📋 IN THIS ISSUE: Elon Musk’s 5-Step Trick, Bodyguard App, AI’s Bringing Lost Languages Back to Life
🎙️ AUDIO DEEP DIVE OF THIS ISSUE:
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How Elon Musk’s 5-Step Trick Can Transform Your Daily Tasks
We often chat about productivity tools and AI solutions around here, but before we even get into all that, there are totally ways to boost your efficiency without any extra help or fancy stuff.
How you look at life and the opportunities around you? That can change everything.
There’s this killer quote that sums it up perfectly.
Back in 1995, Steve Jobs was chatting with Robert X. Cringely in an interview that later got called “The Lost Interview” and he dropped this gem:
“Everything you call life was made by people who weren’t any smarter than you. And you can tweak it, shape it, and even create your own things for others to use”
Then there’s Elon Musk, the wild dude behind Tesla—yep, the ones prepping driverless Robotaxis— and SpaceX, where he’s obsessed with building rockets to zip to Mars and back.
He’s all about that “everything’s possible” attitude.
According to him, you can optimize pretty much anything in just 5 steps.
He cooked up this method while fine-tuning Tesla’s factories, but it’s not just some trick for big-time factory bosses. It’s a super simple, clear way to rethink all sorts of stuff—like planning a vacation, tackling your email inbox, or even sorting out dinner.
What’s This 5-Step Magic All About?
Musk cooked up this method while tweaking Tesla’s factories, but it’s not just for big-shot CEOs. It’s a simple, no-nonsense way to rethink any task—think planning a vacation, managing emails, or even getting dinner on the table.
Here’s the rundown:
Question Every Requirement
Delete Unneeded Parts
Simplify What Remains
Accelerate Cycle Time
Automate
These steps aren’t random—they’re meant to be done in order, like a recipe for efficiency.
Musk calls it “ruthless clarity”, which basically means he doesn’t mess around with “that’s how it’s always been” excuses.
He digs in, challenges everything, and tosses out what doesn’t work. Ready to give it a spin? Let’s walk through each step with some real-life vibes.
Step 1: Question Every Requirement
First up, stop accepting things at face value. Ask “Why?” about every single rule or step. Musk says to trace it back to a person, not just “the system”—because sometimes rules are there for no good reason.
Work Vibes: Got a weekly report no one reads? Why’s it even a thing? Maybe a quick email update does the trick instead.
Home Vibes: Always vacuuming every room daily? Question it—does the guest room really need it if no one’s been in there?
It’s about shaking off habits and seeing what’s actually worth your time.
Step 2: Delete Unneeded Parts
Next, grab the metaphorical scissors and cut out anything that’s not pulling its weight. Musk’s rule of thumb? If you don’t miss at least 10% of what you cut, you didn’t go hard enough.
Work Example: At Tesla, they ditched a pointless safety rule born from a one-time fluke. Boom—faster production. At your job, maybe skip that extra approval step no one cares about.
Home Example: Cooking a recipe with 10 steps? If chopping parsley’s just for looks and your crew doesn’t notice, ditch it.
Less clutter, more focus—it’s like decluttering your to-do list.
Step 3: Simplify What Remains
Now that you’ve trimmed the fat, make what’s left as easy as possible. Streamline it so it’s smooth and simple.
Work Win: Tesla simplified Model 3 production back in 2017-2018 to dodge chaos. For you, maybe swap three apps for one—like a combo calendar and task app.
Home Hack: Hosting a party? Ditch the five-course meal plan and go for a taco bar. Same fun, less stress.
Think of it as giving your tasks a glow-up—same results, less hassle.
Step 4: Accelerate Cycle Time
Time to speed things up. This step’s about shaving minutes (or hours) off without dropping the ball.
Work Trick: Batch your emails—answer them all in one 30-minute blitz instead of pinging all day.
Home Move: Doing laundry? Fold it straight out of the dryer instead of letting it sit in a pile for three days.
It’s like hitting fast-forward on your day—same quality, quicker pace.
Step 5: Automate
Last stop: let tech take the wheel on anything repetitive. But here’s the kicker—only automate after you’ve nailed the first four steps, or you’re just auto-piloting a mess.
Work Boost: Set up auto-reminders in your project app so you’re not chasing deadlines manually.
Home Save: Auto-pay your bills—say goodbye to “Oops, I forgot” late fees.
It’s like having a robot assistant who’s got your back.
Does This Actually Work?
Oh, it works alright. Tesla’s Fremont factory was a mess until Musk’s team applied these steps—questioning dumb rules, cutting waste, and automating the smart way.
They turned chaos into a well-oiled machine.
You can do the same, whether you’re crushing a work deadline or just trying to not lose it over a sink full of dishes. It’s all about focusing on what matters and ditching the rest.
Give It a Go—You’ve Got This!
Wanna try it? Pick one annoying task this week and run it through Musk’s steps. Here’s your cheat sheet:
Question: Why am I even doing this?
Delete: What can I axe without anyone noticing?
Simplify: How do I make this less of a headache?
Accelerate: Where can I pick up the pace?
Automate: Can tech handle this for me?
Say you’re dreading grocery shopping. Question why you go every other day—maybe once a week’s fine. Delete wandering every aisle—stick to a list. Simplify with a go-to meal plan. Accelerate by hitting the store at off-peak hours. Automate with delivery or pickup next time. Boom—less hassle, same groceries.
Why You’ll Wanna Share This
Musk’s 5-step trick isn’t just a productivity flex—it’s a way to rethink how you roll. It’s about ditching the overwhelm and making space for what you actually care about. So, next time you’re buried in tasks, channel a little Elon energy: question, delete, simplify, accelerate, automate. It might just turn your day around.
Give it a shot and let me know how it goes—I’d love to hear your wins! Share this with a friend who’s always complaining about their to-do list; they’ll thank you later.
Bodyguards Aren't Just for Celebrities Anymore, Everyone's Hiring Them Now
Ever wished you could have your own bodyguard, just like a celebrity?
Well, now you can—with a catch. Meet 'The Protector' the app that’s shaking up personal security.
It’s like Uber, but instead of a ride, you get a highly trained ex-military or law enforcement pro to watch your back.
With just a few taps, you can book your own elite security detail. And the perks? You can customize your bodyguard’s look—want them in a sharp suit or full tactical gear? Your call. Plus, you get to roll in style with luxury rides like Cadillac Escalades.
Sounds like a dream, right? But here’s the reality check: it’s not exactly budget-friendly. You’re looking at $200 per hour, with a five-hour minimum, plus a $129 annual fee.
So, while it’s more accessible than hiring a full-time bodyguard, it’s still a splurge for most of us. Despite the cost, demand for private security is skyrocketing. With safety concerns on the rise and police presence shrinking in some areas, apps like this are stepping in to fill the gap.
But not everyone’s cheering.
Critics argue it’s creating a safety divide—only the wealthy can afford this kind of protection. And there are ethical red flags too, with some calling it “Uber with guns”.
A bit over-the-top? Maybe, but it gets the point across.
So, what do you think? Is this the future of personal safety, or just a flashy trend for the rich?
One thing’s for sure: the way we think about security is changing.
AI’s Bringing Lost Languages Back to Life—Thanks to Indigenous Innovators
Imagine a world where languages lost to time get a second chance. That’s not just a cool “what if” anymore—Indigenous engineers are making it happen with AI. I stumbled across this story, and honestly, it’s too inspiring not to share.
People like Michael Running Wolf, Kyra Kaya, and Madeline Gupta are out here proving tech isn’t just for Silicon Valley. Michael’s leading the charge with something called First Languages AI Reality (FLAIR), using speech recognition to save over 200 endangered Indigenous languages.
Kyra’s cooking up AI tools to recognize Hawaiian Pidgin English—how dope is that? And Madeline’s got this VR project connecting Native kids to their ancestral lands, keeping culture alive in a way that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Here’s the wild part: languages are disappearing fast—one every two weeks, according to the UN. But these innovators are flipping the script. They’re not just saving words; they’re keeping whole cultures breathing. Sure, there’s hurdles—limited data, tricky linguistics—but they’re tackling it head-on, with heart.
It’s not every day you see tech and tradition team up like this. Makes you wonder: what else could AI bring back? Share this if it hits you like it hit me—pure genius worth shouting about!