Part of The Musk Algorithm: A 5-Step Process
03 Operating Principles Play

Delete Any Part of the Process You Can

Delete ruthlessly, then add back only the ~10% you actually need.

A common mistake is to simplify and optimize a part or a process that should not exist.

Musk’s mantra is to delete ruthlessly, then add back only 10% if needed. It pushes against the bureaucracy and bloat that accumulate in any organization.

Twitter (X). Post-acquisition in 2022, he deleted ~80% of staff (7,500 → ~1,500 within six months) and whole feature sets, leaving the company focused on core functionality.

The Boring Company. He deleted complex tunnel designs and cut Vegas Loop costs to $10M/mile versus $1B/mile for traditional subways.

SpaceX. The same instinct led to reusable rockets. Deleting disposable parts saved billions in launch costs.

After PayPal’s sale, Musk could have retired. Instead he deleted comfort itself and started SpaceX, risking everything on a mission he believed in.

Pre/post-deletion impact

SpaceX $400M/rocket → $60M/rocket, 500+ launches.
Tesla 6-month delays → Gigafactory output up 50%.
Twitter/X Bloated workforce → 80% reduction in operating costs.
Boring Company Traditional tunnel design → 90% cost reduction per mile.

Apply it. Review your workflow and delete meetings under 5 people. Expect 10–20% efficiency gains immediately. Make deletion a regular practice rather than a one-time event.