"Don't Chase Happiness or Money" - The Conditions for Entrepreneurship that "Earns Through Value" as Discussed by Elon Musk

1. The Podcast Revelation: "Neither Happiness nor Money Can Be Directly Pursued"

In the fall of 2025, Elon Musk appeared on the podcast "People by WTF," hosted by Indian investor and entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath. When asked by young Indian entrepreneurs how to make money and achieve success, Musk's response was unexpected.

He began by saying, "I love people who try to create something," and explained that entrepreneurs should aim to give back more value to society than they receive—**"make more than you take."**The Economic Times

The discussion then shifted to the relationship between "happiness" and "money." Musk explained that happiness and money should not be pursued as "ends in themselves," but rather as **"outcomes that result from creating valuable products or services and building trustworthy relationships."**The Economic Times

2. The Concept of Happiness as a Byproduct

Breaking down Musk's argument, it becomes clear.

• Happiness is not something to be "chased and acquired,"

• but rather a byproduct of engaging in meaningful work, learning, and connecting with family and friends.

This aligns with psychological research. For example, a study in 2024 reported that people who are overly fixated on "having to be happy" tend to experience lower long-term happiness.American Psychological Association

One reason is that the pressure of "having to be happier" can amplify dissatisfaction and anxiety about one's current state.

Furthermore, there is research indicating that making money the central goal of life can decrease happiness. The more one pursues financial success, the more comparisons and anxieties increase, leading to a decline in subjective well-being.ResearchGate

Musk's message of "not directly pursuing happiness" aligns well with the latest psychological insights.

3. Money is Also Just a "Result"

Musk points out that the same structure applies to money as it does to happiness.

"If you really want to create something of financial value, you shouldn't chase 'making money' itself. You should focus on providing useful products or services. Then, money will naturally follow."

He has repeatedly made statements to this effect.The Economic Times

In other words, money is merely like a "scoreboard indicating whether value creation is being done properly," and if you only try to raise the score, the game itself becomes unsustainable.

Here, Musk challenges entrepreneurs with the question,

"Are you creating value?"

This simple question serves as a self-check for entrepreneurs.LinkedIn

His standards are extremely stoic. If tomorrow, your company or product disappeared from the world, how many people would be inconvenienced? Musk suggests that imagining this is a self-check for entrepreneurs.

4. "Make More Than You Take"—A Mindset Centered on "Giving"

The phrase "make more than you take" is a key theme of this podcast.

Musk emphasized to entrepreneurs around the world, including India, to become "net contributors" who give back more value to society than they receive.The Economic Times

This mindset carries several implications.

1. Aim for long-term trust rather than short-term exploitation.
   Focus on long-term relationships with users and society rather than one-time profits.

2. Make decisions based on "how much better the world becomes" rather than "how much you can earn."
   Of course, as a business, you cannot ignore profitability. However, the idea of "sacrificing user experience for profit" is the opposite of this mindset.

3. Adopt the same mindset at an individual level.
   In the workplace or community, the habit of asking yourself, "Am I leaving more than I receive?" can significantly change the direction of your career.

Considering the context of India, where the temptation to engage in "valuation-first" or "subsidy-dependent" number games is strong in the rapidly growing startup market, Musk's message serves as a challenge to such an atmosphere.

5. Embrace Super Hard Work and "Meaningful Failures"

Meanwhile, Musk is not just telling romantic success stories.

He states that those trying to make their company successful

• should be prepared for "super hard work,"

• and must accept the possibility of "a fairly high chance of failure."

He emphasizes this realistic message as well.The Economic Times

Still, Musk seems to believe that the experience of "output exceeding input" is what gives life meaning, making the challenge worthwhile.

Here, "output" refers not only to sales or profits but also to the comprehensive value, including benefits to users, technological breakthroughs, and the skills acquired by the team.

6. Politics as a "Blood Sport"—How Involved Should Entrepreneurs Be?

The podcast also touched on the distance one should maintain from politics. Drawing from his own experience, Musk described the political world as

a "blood sport,"

and advised keeping as much distance as possible.Free Press Journal

Summarizing his message,

• in the early stages of a startup, one should focus on the product and users rather than spending time and energy on politics. .

• Once a company grows to a certain size, politics, including regulations and lobbying, inevitably come into play. At that stage, it cannot be avoided, butuntil then, it's better not to forcibly participate in the political game..

This serves as practical advice.

In an era where political statements can significantly impact business, it is crucial to carefully consider "when and to what extent to speak out."

7. How Did Social Media React: Praise, Sympathy, and Skepticism

Musk's remarks spread through reports by Sportskeeda and economic newspapers, generating various reactions, particularly on X and LinkedIn.Sportskeeda

 

7-1. Sympathy for the Idea that "Money is a Byproduct"

On X (formerly Twitter), Indian AI researcher Rohan Paul shared Musk's video, commenting
that "value creation is the goal, and money is its byproduct," which gained significant traction.Free Press Journal

Another influencer posted,
"Focus on useful products and services, and money will naturally follow. Don't chase money directly,"
gathering many likes and reposts.X (formerly Twitter)

On LinkedIn, comments such as
"The shift to focus on 'usefulness' rather than money is wonderful,"
and "Value creation should be a KPI"
were prominent, with some trying to incorporate Musk's message directly into their company's values or team guidelines.LinkedIn

7-2. The Impact of the Question "Are You Creating Value?"

Many users found the question **"Are you creating value?"** to be particularly impactful.

One comment noted,
"This single question can filter business ideas, careers, and even personal relationships,"
while another user wrote, "We should ask every week who would be inconvenienced if the company disappeared tomorrow."LinkedIn

These reactions indicate that Musk's message is not just a "famous quote" that went viral but is being received as a concrete thinking tool by many entrepreneurs and business people.

7-3. The Cool Reception: "Isn't This Obvious?" and "Why Musk?"

However, not all reactions were applause.

Among LinkedIn comments,

• "Why do we need Musk to hear such basic advice?"

• "It's just the rationalization of a successful person after the fact."

Such somewhat skeptical opinions were also observed.LinkedIn

##HTML_TAG