According to Business Insider, Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire revealed three key traits for succeeding at Elon Musk’s companies during a November 17 podcast episode. Maguire, who has led investments in SpaceX, The Boring Company, and xAI, emphasized that employees need to constantly volunteer for tasks and deliver results. He stressed the importance of going “five levels deep” in understanding any subject and being able to handle multiple layers of questioning. Maguire also highlighted that loyalty means trusting Musk’s system rather than blind obedience. Interestingly, he mentioned Musk has an inner circle of about 20 people who can “almost read his mind” after years of working together.
The Musk Success Formula
So what does it actually take to thrive in Musk’s world? Maguire’s insights are fascinating because they’re not about technical skills or Ivy League degrees. It’s about mindset and work ethic. The first trait—constantly volunteering and delivering—sounds simple but is incredibly rare. Most people wait to be told what to do. At Musk companies, you’re expected to identify problems and solve them without being asked.
The “five levels deep” concept is particularly revealing. This isn’t about surface-level knowledge. You need to understand things so thoroughly that you can answer increasingly complex questions without stumbling. Basically, you can’t fake expertise in these environments. They’ll find you out immediately.
The Inner Circle Reality
Here’s the thing that stood out to me: Maguire’s mention of the 20-person inner circle. This isn’t just about individual contributors—it’s about building a trusted team that operates almost telepathically. These are people who’ve been through multiple product cycles, failures, and successes with Musk. They understand his thinking patterns and can execute without constant supervision.
This explains why Musk can manage so many companies simultaneously. He’s built what amounts to an extension of his own brain—a collective intelligence that shares his vision and work ethic. For anyone looking to understand how Musk operates at scale, this might be the most important insight.
What Musk Demands From Investors
Maguire’s comments about investors are equally telling. “Most investors are leaky” he says, and Musk values those who can keep confidential information private. This seems like a low bar, but in the venture world where information is currency, it’s apparently rare enough to be noteworthy.
The work ethic expectation extends to investors too. Musk wants partners who will stick around through difficult periods, not just show up for the victory laps. Given the cyclical nature of both automotive and aerospace industries, this makes perfect sense. You need investors with stomach for the volatility.
Beyond the Musk Mystique
What’s interesting is how these traits translate beyond Musk’s companies. The emphasis on deep knowledge and voluntary initiative would serve anyone well in demanding technical environments. Whether you’re working with advanced manufacturing systems or developing cutting-edge hardware, the fundamentals remain the same.
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Maguire’s comparison of Musk to Nvidia’s Jensen Huang is particularly timely. Both leaders share that relentless drive and ability to see opportunities others miss. The fact that Maguire bought Nvidia stock back in 1999 as a teenager shows he’s been spotting tech trends for decades. His perspective carries weight because he’s seen multiple cycles of innovation.
Ultimately, Maguire’s insights suggest that succeeding at Musk companies isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being the most reliable, the most curious, and the most committed. In an era where many tech companies have become bureaucratic, Musk’s approach remains refreshingly meritocratic. Brutal, but effective.
