Elon Musk has a line he keeps repeating: “The future should look like the future.” It’s a reminder that if we don’t make our cars, products, and buildings look like the ones in the sci-fi movies we love and aspire to, no one else will. Functionality above everything, sure. But once it works, can we also make it exciting?
Elon believes this is part of the mission, and that’s why Tesla keeps coming up with funky designs no one else would even bother to try. “That’ll be expensive.” “It’s not efficient.” “That’s just extra work.” All of these criticisms are valid points—and yet, who wants to drive around in a toaster on wheels?
It’s not only about beautiful design, either. The point is to have fun along the way. That’s another continuous Musk-ism, by the way: “Life’s gotta be about more than just solving problems.” There was always little capacity for the fun stuff at big corporations. But every now and then, inspiration still shines through.
For the grand finale of Stranger Things, for example, Google hid an easter egg in its search: If you looked up the show and clicked a dice at the bottom of the screen, you unlocked an animation that turned your results upside down. There’s nothing to it. No deeper meaning. It’s simply a fun nod to a cultural sensation. And it’s enough to make me appreciate Google and Netflix a little more. Thanks for the giggle!
Chase your big mission. Be a pro. Take it seriously. But remember to make time for the fun stuff.
