Twitter is usually a space for inconsequential messages, motivational quotes and people trying to convince others that they have the absolute truth.
It is often difficult to filter out the people who provide something of value… or entertainment… or both.
The truth is that in this virtual world of social networks, it seems that little can be done that can really help people with real needs.
But sometimes important things do get done.
A few weeks ago Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation, wrote:
@elonmusk, while you are trying to colonise Mars, Russia is trying to occupy Ukraine. While your rockets are successfully landing from space – Russian rockets are attacking Ukrainian civilians! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and turn to the sane Russians to stand up.
Within hours Elon Musk replied:
Starlink service is already active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
Wow!
That’s customer service. Big time. The CEO having a conversation with a country’s minister and responding immediately.
A little later, Mykhailo confirmed:
Starlink – here. Thank you, @elonmusk
Elon Musk is famous for his projects that move on a scale incomprehensible to most companies: Tesla, SpaceX, Hyperloop, OpenAI, Neuralink, and so many, many others.
He can go into any sector and think not big, but the following.
How much can a consultancy with Elon cost?
Just this week, Elon Musk was back at it with his tweets:
Spain should build a massive solar array. Could power all of Europe.
In these times of energy costs, the political implications of dependence on sources outside Europe and the great concern about eliminating fossil fuels in the fight against global warming, this proposal is worth considering.
That’s my humble opinion.
And this message from Elon is a free consultancy from a person who understands macro projects and could have huge positive implications.
I’m not saying it’s right or wrong.
But it would be interesting to know the pros and cons of trying to get something like this off the ground.
Do we have something like this in mind?
Well, it seems we do because the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, replied shortly afterwards:
We’re already implementing most ambitious plan towards efficient & sustainable energy system. All sectors on board. Maximizing opportunities, digitalization and value chain for a long lasting success. Time is now. Let’s get it right. Come and see.
We welcome investors in Spain.
Great!
I had no idea.
Let’s see… Does “the most ambitious plan” include powering the whole of Europe? Because, otherwise, it wouldn’t be the most ambitious.
If we want to be ambitious, we could even consider covering the whole world.
And what does digitalization have to do with the energy system? I don’t understand this part.
Reading it a few times, it’s not at all clear to me that we are really considering building a large solar park that could power the whole of Europe.
Because Elon’s proposal was very specific. Two sentences that make his proposal very clear.
But from the President’s response, it is only clear to me that we have a plan for something that all sectors support and that is guaranteed to succeed.
It could be a plan to power Spain’s traffic lights with solar energy.
I hope not.
Anyway, I’m not going to get involved in political issues.
This conversation makes three things clear to me.
- That you can have meaningful and productive (and transparent) conversations on social networks.
- That ideas can travel freely around the world. And for free. All that is needed is for someone to pick them up, evaluate them and, if applicable, implement them. Surely someone is already doing so with the idea of the large solar park, or has already come to the conclusion that our plan is clearly more ambitious than Elon’s proposal.
- That in Spain we have an organization that welcomes international investors. We do not know if, in addition to a welcome and a bouquet of flowers, it gives something else to make it really attractive for investment to come. But we will know this soon when we see if it convinces Elon Musk to invest in our plan.
What about you? Would you dare to share great ideas on social media? For free?
Do you think people don’t value enough what is free?
P.S. If you have a software-based project that you need to plan well, I can help you with a consultancy (not for free). We talk about it here.