What Do Mars and the Moon Have to do with Your Business?

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What Do Mars and the Moon Have to do with Your Business?

One thing that is different in this episode from the last one is there is very little ice left on the ground in Jackson, TN. Us Southerners love the snow, but not the ice. And frankly, we really only love the snow for short stretches. It’s good to see sunshine and some temperatures that are above freezing.

Speaking of cold weather, do you know how cold it is on the moon? According to NASA, about -200 degrees Fahrenheit when it’s nighttime (which can last 14 earth days by the way). But did you know during the day it can get up to 250 degrees? Why would I ask this question? Because there will be human settlements on the moon if Elon Musk has his way. You may have heard or read about his ambitions for settlements on Mars – but he has recently expanded that vision to include the moon. In a recent post on X, he made the audacious claim that he thinks a “self-growing city” could be viable in the moon in less than a decade. It would appear that Musk wants the moon to be a testing ground of sorts for his Martian ambitions. It could also prove to be a helpful supply station for efforts on Mars. Space settlement is no longer a subject of futuristic and seemingly impossible sci-fi movies. It is a very possible new frontier for human exploration and civilization. A recent Newsweek article unpacked Musk’s most recent thoughts about the Moon and Mars. So why would he care about the Moon? The bottom line is that it is easier and faster to get to the moon. Launches are possible every 10 days. On the other hand, you can only make trips to Mars every 26 months. The Artemis II NASA crew may leave as early as March for a non-landing mission to prepare the way for Artemis III to make the first lunar landing since 1972.

The timing of this strategic disclosure is important, because Musk is preparing for the largest IPO in history. CNBC reports that Space X acquired xAI in a deal that makes the company worth approximately $1.25 trillion dollars. Space X makes rockets and satellites, xAI is his artificial intelligence company. Musk says that the purpose of merging the two companies is to build “better orbital data centers.” CNBC speculates that it may also be for the purpose of raising capital for xAI, which is burning through cash at a fast rate trying to keep up with Open AI’s Chat GPT and Anthropic’s Claude. The Financial Times estimates the IPO will launch sometime this summer, aligning with Mr. Musk’s birthday. An initial public offering (IPO) is the opportunity for the public to own shares of a company. Right now, SpaceX and xAI are both owned privately. If the IPO successfully launches, it is possible that Elon Musk will become the world’s first trillionaire.

I want to focus on one major takeaway as we consider a world beyond our world, and the technology that will enable this: the rate of change is accelerating. Change is an inescapable fact of life – for every generation. But what is different about the generations of today is that the rate of change is accelerating with every year that goes by. Buggy whip companies saw early iterations of the automobile – but they didn’t go out of business overnight. They had a runway that allowed them to see the changes in technology and either adapt or go out of business. Today’s runway is much shorter. But knowing that change is coming and having the wisdom to understand how that change is going to impact you are two different things. I think about this often when it comes to banking. Some may say that rapid changes in technology are going to render community banks unnecessary. Others say that the role of community banks will change, but the need will remain. Which is it? Will community banks be extinct? Or will they just have to evolve to serve clients differently in a technologically saturated world? It would be helpful to be a prophet here, but none of us have the ability to precisely predict the future. So, here are three practical activities for small business owners.

I think this means that I have to have my finger on the pulse of our business in real time to detect any major changes in trend as they are happening, not after they have already happened. If there are concerns that bank deposits could go “on chain” – in other words into the crypto world, then I need to be aware of the day-to-day movements of our deposits. So whatever business you may be in, you need to be aware of the threats. But not just to be aware of the threats, but aware of the impact on your business of those threats. If we are not careful, we can live in fear that paralyzes, rather in awareness that activates. You can’t put your head in the sand and just hope things will go well. But neither can you live in a constant state of paranoia. There is a difference between a possible threat, and a present threat. Having your finger on the pulse of your business to distinguish the two.
I need to proactively prepare for a few contingencies. You cannot prepare for every contingency – but you can select the ones with the highest probability and the highest impact and have a plan or at least direction if those threats materialize.

Lastly, see if you can turn a threat into an opportunity. There may be opportunities to adapt your business model so that the changes we see around us become a tailwind rather than a threat. Google began as a search engine. They have evolved into a technology company. And they will continue to evolve in this new AI age. Facebook has become a very different company than when they began. Apple began as a computer company. They would now tell you that they are a content security company. Change is happening faster than ever. Can some of these changes be embraced rather than shunned? Can your business adapt to the new world that is coming into focus before us? It is a great time to be in business.

At Foundation Bank and MBC, we believe that every business needs a great financial partner. We view our work as more than providing you with money. We build financial partnerships. Isn’t it about time you talked to us about your next financial decision? Visit foundationbank.org and start your financial conversation with us? We hope you’ll subscribe to this podcast to it in your favorite podcast app and share it on social media. Until our next episode, God bless you.

-President Chad P. Wilson, CFP

Today’s episode of “Money Matters” was written and recorded by President Chad P. Wilson of Foundation Bank/McKenzie Banking Company on February 10, 2026. This episode does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a financial professional to discuss your specific needs. Any rates mentioned are subject to change and are accurate as of the recording date. Foundation Bank/MBC is an Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC.