Success & life lessons from Alibaba founder Jack Ma

BEIJING — I believe that as an entrepreneur and writer, travel is one of the most important sources of continuous education and mind expansion, so I never refuse any invitation to travel anywhere because all places are interesting to me and every trip can teach new things.

Thanks to a recent media invitation to visit Beijing during the Oct. 1 National Day holiday, I had the opportunity to again observe China’s entrepreneurs, from the persevering sidewalk food vendors toiling all night to the loquacious small shopkeepers to the bold, swashbuckling self-made billionaires dreaming of taking on the world’s biggest multinationals.

The people’s capitalism: Intense competition & nonstop innovation

Ironically, despite the traditional Western media depiction of China as a somber socialist monolith under the straitjacket of authoritarian rule, it is actually one of the most vibrant places for entrepreneurial dynamism and intense competition, thanks to the late “capitalist roader” Deng Xiaoping and his successors, now under President Xi Jinping. At the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit late this year in Beijing, I hope Xi gets to finally meet our Philippine President Noynoy C. Aquino since both of them share the same anti-corruption zeal.

In contrast to our oft-archaic notion of China as “communist” and dour, in fact, I see it as a place where people’s capitalism is flourishing as never before. Examples of entrepreneurial ventures that showcase what I call “people’s capitalism” are new business brands like Alibaba.com, Lenovo, Xiaomi, WeChat, Baidu.com, Huawei and many other firms. 

The most amazing of China’s numerous fascinating entrepreneurs is “rags-to-riches” former teacher Jack Ma of Alibaba, who recently achieved the largest ever Initial Public Offering (IPO) in world history, which made him China’s wealthiest person and also made his investor, Japan-based ethnic Korean tycoon Masayoshi Son, into the richest billionaire in Japan. His Alibaba is now also the world’s biggest e-commerce business, a tiny firm that he launched with 18 friends out of his small apartment in historic and scenic Hangzhou City in 1999.

Even the Economic Times of China’s neighbor India has raved about this iconoclastic, humble and unique entrepreneur, compiling some of his public statements that I believe can inspire entrepreneurs, business people and everyone else. Here are some of the Jack Ma’s quotes, with my personal comments:

On having a larger mission: “It doesn’t matter if I failed. At least I passed the concept on to others. Even if I don’t succeed, someone will succeed.” — This is the good, gung-ho attitude of a person who has long-term vision, whose hopes and dreams are not only for his own sake, but with the goal of benefiting the world and future generations. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us, especially our leaders in business and politics, could think this way?

On competition: “You should learn from your competitor, but never copy. Copy and you die.” — This is a good reminder. Indeed, let us learn from all our competitors but still innovate and be original in order to stand out in the market.

On teamwork: “If we are a good team and know what we want to do, one of us can defeat 10 of them.” — This is good advice on the overwhelming importance of a cohesive team effort, and on the superiority of quality over sheer numbers of people.

On the benefits of his technological ineptitude: “Intelligent people need a fool to lead them. When the team’s all a bunch of scientists, it is best to have a peasant lead the way. His way of thinking is different. It’s easier to win if you have people seeing things from different perspectives.” — This is a good quote and reassuring for non-techies like me. Let us not be afraid of technological ineptitude but embrace technologies and invite good tech people to help us, as we lead with our original ideas.

On starting a company: “If you want to grow, find a good opportunity. Today, if you want to be a great company, think about what social problem you could solve.” — This is a good idea, to remember the old Chinese adage on problems giving us new opportunities. For example, I believe our politicians’ failure to build parks, museums and recreation centers for the public in our mismanaged, overcrowded cities, allowed entrepreneur Henry Sy to create his “We have it all” SM malls as recreation centers with air-conditioning, cinemas, food courts and even Sunday Catholic Masses. Another social problem is our woeful airports. Entrepreneur Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corp. is now proposing to develop for the country a new $10 billion international airport at no cost to the government. Why not try this solution?

On work: “If we go to work at 8 a.m. and go home at 5 p.m., this is not a high-tech company and Alibaba will never be successful. If we have that kind of 8-to-5 spirit, then we should just go and do something else.” — I think this willingness to work beyond the 9-to-5 schedule isn’t just for high-tech firms but ideal, too, for other ventures, and most especially for artists and writers like me!

On not giving up: “Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.” — I strongly believe this gritty and courageous “never give up” spirit is more crucial to success than talent, intelligence or other advantages.

On perseverance: “We will make it because we are young and we will never, never give up.” — This is another reminder about perseverance that Ma addressed to young people. I think a lot of youths nowadays are too impatient and easily give up in this era of instant gratification. Remember, the advantage of youth is having more time, which is all the more reason for younger folk to never, ever give up!

On growth: “In carrying out e-commerce, the most important thing is to keep doing what you are doing right now with passion, to keep it up.” — This saying applies not only to e-commerce but to all other ventures. Do everything with passion and keep growing, whatever your project, venture, or craft is.

On past mistakes: “If you don’t give up, you still have a chance. And when you are small, you have to be very focused and rely on your brain, not your strength.” — I agree 10,000 percent with Jack Ma on the need to psychologically and emotionally overcome past mistakes with a “never-say-die” attitude. As long as we are alive, whatever our financial, physical, or emotional condition or predicament, we should use our wits, brain and prayers to focus on achieving our goals and dreams.

I wish to add that past mistakes can be priceless lessons and do strengthen us. In fact, it is my belief that committing mistakes and the painful experience of crisis are actually requisites for us easygoing ordinary mortals to attain future greatness because they develop within us vast reservoirs of perseverance, granite character and wisdom.

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