All 25 tactics
17 Mindset

Start With Whatever Is Available

Begin with the resources you have — resist overcomplicating or waiting for perfect conditions.

Musk believes in starting with available resources and simple solutions rather than waiting for perfect conditions or overengineering from the beginning.

The principle. Begin with whatever tools, materials, and resources are immediately available. Resist the temptation to overcomplicate solutions or wait for ideal circumstances.

This enables rapid progress and learning through real-world testing rather than theoretical planning.

In practice.

Early SpaceX Used off-the-shelf parts wherever possible instead of custom components, allowing faster development cycles.
First Tesla Roadster Built on a Lotus Elise chassis rather than designing an entirely new platform.
Starlink Began with basic satellite designs that evolved through iteration rather than attempting perfection from the start.

Apply it. Launch your MVP with basic, available tools and technologies. Focus on solving the core problem simply before adding complexity.