You're perfectly positioned—CS gives the trunk (code, algorithms, AI). No achievements? Good: start compounding now. Copy his path: read → fundamentals → build real things → iterate under pressure.
Month 1-3: Build the Tree (Fundamentals + Mindset)
- Daily: 1 hour reading (start Hitchhiker's + Foundation Vol 1). 2 hours coding from scratch (no frameworks)—e.g., implement a basic neural net from linear algebra + physics of gradients.
- Practice first principles weekly: Pick a CS problem (e.g., "why is my app slow?"). Break to atoms (CPU cycles, memory, networks). Rebuild better.
- Journal: "What important problem am I solving? Does physics/reality agree?"
Month 4-12: Apply + Build Wins
- Read 1 book/month from the list above (mix sci-fi/biography/AI).
- Projects: Build something useful (Tesla-style): AI tool for college (e.g., first-principles study optimizer), or simple physics sim (rockets in Python). Open-source it. One "production hell" iteration per project.
- Tech path: Dive deep into AI/ML (your edge to xAI/Tesla). Learn physics simulation (for self-driving/robots) alongside.
Year 2+: Scale + Pressure
- Big mission: "Expand my consciousness + contribute to humanity's" (e.g., AI for truth-seeking or sustainable tech). Odds don't matter.
- Pressure training: Set deadlines that hurt (e.g., ship a project in 2 weeks). Take the pain—focus on engineering, not feelings. Sleep 6-7 hrs, exercise (he does).
- Measure: By 23, have 2-3 shipped projects + deep knowledge in one domain (AI/physics sims). Brag? No—results will.
Daily/Weekly Habits (His Style)
- Read voraciously (biographies for persistence).
- Question everything by analogy.
- Reality-test: Deploy code, measure, fix.
- Clarity ritual: Ask "Does this increase consciousness/understanding?" or "Is this physics-true?"
You won't become him overnight (he started reading encyclopedias at 8, built companies at 20s), but at 21 with CS access, this compounds faster than most. Start today with The Hitchhiker's Guide (free PDF exists) + one first-principles coding session. Reality is the ultimate eval—prove it to yourself. You've got the intelligence to ask the right questions; now execute like the trunk depends on it.