Even if you haven’t heard of Elon Musk, you’ve probably heard of one of his companies. Musk is the founder of PayPal, Tesla Motors, and SpaceX, and chairman of his latest endeavor, SolarCity. Not only are these companies wildly successful and innovative, but they’re just downright cool. Legend has it that Robert Downey Jr. took inspiration from Musk for his portrayal of Tony Stark in the Iron Man movies. It makes sense when you think about it, Musk’s resume reads more like a science fiction character than anyone in history. He’s not your typical entrepreneur. There’s something that I can’t seem to get out of my head about Musk, however. Most, if not all, of his endeavors so far are capable of completely reshaping the relocation industry. Musk has already made a mark on humanity, and he’s clearly nowhere near finished. Here are some ways in which Elon Musk's companies are changing relocation.
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PayPal
Sure, on the surface PayPal isn’t completely dazzling, but the idea of having an online wallet is insanely convenient when you think about the tediousness of entering your credit card info every time you want to make a purchase. It makes even more sense when you’re on the go, however. PayPal and similar systems like Google Wallet make transferring money pretty easy, which is ideal for relocation expense reimbursement. There are several viable options besides PayPal, but they got things started, and they’re changing the way we handle our money in a digital landscape. It might not be Musk’s most exciting company, but it’s probably the most widely used.
Tesla
Musk’s automobile interests are a little bit more exciting. Tesla Motors is one of the fastest growing car companies in recent history, and with their mix of advanced electric power, sleek design and luxury, and five-star safety ratings, it’s no surprise. Tesla’s Model S sedan is one of the best-looking luxury models on the road today, but it’s also the most fuel-efficient. Relocation costs start to add up when you factor in fuel. Whether your employees handle that cost themselves, or you reimburse them for it, the more fuel-efficient your vehicle is the less money you’ll spend. Tesla’s vehicles are currently on the higher-end of the price range, but their goal is to provide the general public with affordable, fuel-efficient cars.
Then There’s SpaceX
SpaceX is without a doubt one of the coolest companies in the world right now. They made serious waves in 2012 by becoming the first privately funded company to dock a vessel with the International Space Station, and they haven’t slowed down since. They have contracts with NASA, as well as government-sponsored space programs in other countries, and they’re pushing the limits of what humans can accomplish through space travel. The SpaceX website states, “SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.” They eventually plan to put a greenhouse on Mars, and someday, they’d like to make it simple for humans to move between earth and a colonized Mars. Imagine relocating for work to an entirely different planet! Private sector space travel is infinitely cool, though it’s consumer impact isn’t coming anytime soon. Elon Musk is setting things in motion at least.
The Hyperloop
It’s hard to deny Musk’s focus on moving people. If his work through Tesla and SpaceX aren’t representative enough, Musk recently unveiled one of his more theoretical ideas, the Hyperloop. The Hyperloop is a proposed alternate method of transit that reduces friction by suspending trams electromagnetically, and propels them using air pressure inside of a vacuum. The system basically pushes trains through a cylindrical tube, and Musk estimates that it would be capable of reaching speeds of 760 mph. He wants to build a prototype between LA and San Francisco, making that commute last roughly 35 minutes. Musk has also made the design open-source, inviting anyone willing to try and improve or modify his original idea. If the hyperloop is actually implemented someday, it will completely change the way relocation affects business. Not only would the actual process of moving potentially become more efficient, but workers would be capable of living further away from their offices. You could feasibly live in a different state than the one in which you work, and the commute would still be reasonable.
Elon Musk is basically a super-human at this point. His contributions to society are already becoming invaluable, and he’s finding ways to shape the way humans interact with the world and beyond. Transportation and relocation play a distinct and intriguing role in Musk’s businesses, and the things he’s doing will undoubtedly shape our industry. He’s certainly one of the most important entrepreneurs in the world, and somebody to watch closely.
