I've never bought into this, and without significant evidence proving it to be true, I never will. Removing the soul of the company is never good. I've followed leaders who were passionate about their business and I've worked for companies where there is no passion. Hard to commit to the latter!
Tim Cook is a pretty boring guy, but he's an adult and he's responsible, and Apple has grown 4 times since he took the reins. Cook has the temerity to consult the experts he's surrounded by before making a big decision. Musk ignores the experts he (used to be) surrounded by and fires them if they resist his efforts to decouple Tesla from reality. Musk has never been a good leader, he's a full-blown textbook narcissist, replete with the deception, cruelty, and delusions of grandeur that it comes with.
It was fall 2016 that Musk made 3 unilateral, and delusional strategic decisions: the Alien Dreadnought, Solar City, and HW2. I call it the ASH doctrine: Musk's 3 point plan to reduce Tesla to ashes. Before that, I thought Tesla had a chance, but since late 2016 I've been on Tesla deathwatch. And now, here we are, no solar shingles, no $35k Model 3, no full self driving, no money, no profit, no credibility, and no surprises to anyone who has been watching this without Musk approved rose coloured glasses.
The bonfire of his vanity is gloaming, and yet the fans are still fanning the flames.
