© Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images From his early role at PayPal to DOGE, Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and more, Elon Musk is certainly everywhere, all at once. Add to his success story his purchase of X and the rise of Grok in the world of AI, and it’s easy to see why Musk is one of the most important and most powerful individuals on the planet. Whether you love or hate Elon, there’s no denying that he’s also a titan of business. Which is why his advice so important for a 40-something to hear. 1. “If the rules are such that you can’t make progress, then you have to fight the rules.” Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images Elon Musk knows a little something about breaking the rules. It’s hard to imagine a more Elon Musk quote than this one, considering he is someone who seemingly makes up the rules as he goes. While it’s hard to argue that every 40-something should follow the same advice, the overarching theme of this quote remains true in that if you can’t push past a ceiling, you have to figure out how to bust through it. 2. “Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.” Maja Hitij / Getty Images News via Getty Images There is something to be said about Elon’s view on failure. The reality of this quote is one that Musk knows all too well, as his companies have often seen big challenges that might have otherwise crushed other names. If you’re a 40-something, this should serve as a reminder that failure is okay, but what’s more important is that you keep trying until you push past the failure with something that succeeds. 3. “Persistence is very important. You should not give up unless you are forced to give up.”