"Separate relief from elation in high-stakes work Elon Musk described his emotional experience after SpaceX's first crewed missions succeeding: for him, success didn't feel like elation — it felt like relief. He noted that 'for high stress situations I find it's not so much elation as relief,' and that genuine enjoyment only came once systems were proven and he felt comfortable enough to be present rather than just vigilant. Anyone doing high-pressure work can use this distinction to reset expectations about what success will actually feel like, avoiding the trap of chasing an emotional high that rarely arrives. Source: Elon Musk, Lex Fridman Podcast, Elon Musk"