Elon Musk (Image source: Reuters)

Success stories around global business leaders often focus on money, innovation, or intelligence. In the case of Elon Musk, the billionaire behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, much has been written about his work ethic and ambition. However, one of the most direct insights into how he approaches success came not from Musk himself, but from someone who knew him long before global fame followed. That insight came from Justine Musk, his former wife and a published author.In a widely discussed public talk and later interviews, Justine Musk described a single habit she believes played a crucial role in Elon Musk’s rise. It was not a technical skill, access to capital, or luck. Instead, she spoke about his repeated and deliberate use of one word: “NO.” According to her, this word helped him protect his time, energy, and focus at every stage of his career.

Justine Musk revealed Elon Musk’s secret word for success

Justine Musk spoke about Elon Musk’s approach to success during a TEDx talk titled “The Obsessive Genius”, delivered at TEDxOlympicBlvdWomen. In this talk, she explained how he consistently used the word “no” to protect his goals.As per reports, she said that Elon Musk was very clear about what he wanted to do. He didn’t hesitate to say “no” to requests, distractions, or demands that didn’t fit with those goals. She explained that this behaviour was not about arrogance but about focus.

Why saying “no” mattered so much

According to Justine Musk, the habit of saying “no” allowed Elon Musk to avoid being pulled in too many directions. As his responsibilities grew, so did the number of demands on his attention. She noted that many people fail not because they lack ability, but because they say yes too often.By refusing commitments that did not serve his long-term objectives, Musk was able to concentrate deeply on fewer things. This made him fully commit to hard projects that took a lot of time and effort.This explanation doesn’t say that it’s easy or socially acceptable to say “no.” Instead, it shows how hard choices about time and focus can affect professional results for a long time.

How this insight became public

Justine Musk first talked about this point of view in public during her TEDx talk, which is still available on TED’s official sites. In later interviews and essays about ambition, relationships, and power dynamics, she talked more about similar ideas.There was no advice or instruction in what she said. They were framed as personal observations based on what they had seen and done. Over time, these comments were used in news stories and articles about leadership.