Shooting Down Moonshots

Astro Teller says the momentum within X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory, depends on teams discovering as fast as possible if something is a bad idea, so they can move on to the next one. That requires a work environment where both creativity and critical thinking are rewarded. “Every place is a legitimate place for ideas to come from,” Teller says. “You can’t destroy the positivity that comes from saying crazy ideas.”