Those of you who read my posts regularly will know I’m not really a fan of Elon Musk. He is an admirable businessman, however, I have realised that having lots of money does not make you a role model. One thing that did catch my eye, however, was that bizarre dance that he did at the launch of the Model 3 in China.
(Here is the link https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/07/tech/elon-musk-dancing-china-video/index.html)
To quote CNN… “The outlandish Tesla CEO danced like nobody was watching in front of a very large crowd”. Like that drunk uncle at a wedding, like that guy 15 Castle Lager’s down at the Rhodes University Union, like the old guy trying to join the circle at the office Christmas party when Nkalakata comes on. Elon Musk did not care who was watching. He wanted to dance and even if his coordination was off he didn’t seem to care.
I once worked with someone who needed to launch a new product to a difficult sales team. In order to capture their attention and make the launch memorable, he stood in front of them and sang a song. Yes, he broke into song. He had a good voice and I still remember the launch.
I also know a guy who dressed up as a beggar and went to beg on the street because he was working on a speech about what it is like to live on the streets. I can imagine that on many mornings he saw his friends and acquaintances stare at him as they drove past him begging at traffic lights. I imagine it was hot gossip in Durban North about how Mr X had gone literally from riches to rags. How they all saw it coming. How hard it must be on the wife and kids. Us humans have way too much time in our hands apparently. Not likely, however, that even with this gossip going around town that he actually cared.
We all know of people who have put themselves out there to achieve something and simply didn’t care. They have a high “shame threshold”. They don’t feel ashamed too quickly and because of this are able to push the boundaries of what they believe is possible.
I can think of so many things I have not attempted to do because I felt ashamed. What if it didn’t work? What if people found out? This is having a low shame threshold. However, to achieve things that we haven’t achieved before, will require us to put ourselves in situations where we may be judged or ashamed.
Maybe it’s time to say ‘stuff it’ and just do that thing you have been putting off because you have been ashamed of what the outcome could be. Time to increase the shame threshold. I don’t remember who said it but I like the phrase that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
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