Posted on 09/23/2014 7:33:32 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
You are poor because you have no ambition.
Jack Ma: Before I founded Alibaba, I invited 24 friends to my house to discuss the business opportunity. After discussing for a full two hours, they were still confused — I have to say that I may not have put myself across in a clear manner manner then. The verdict: 23 out of the 24 people in the room told me to drop the idea, for a multitude of reasons, such as: ‘you do not know anything about the internet, and more prominently, you do not have the start-up capital for this’ etc etc.
There was only one friend (who was working in a bank then) who told me, “If you want to do it, just try it. If things don’t work out the way you expected it to, you can always revert back to what you were doing before.” I pondered upon this for one night, and by the next morning, I decided I would do it anyway, even if all of the 24 people opposed the idea.
When I first started Alibaba, I was immediately met with strong opposition from family and friends. Looking back, I realised that the biggest driving force for me then was not my confidence in the Internet and the potential it held, but more of this: “No matter what one does, regardless of failure or success, the experience is a form of success in itself.” You have got to keep trying, and if it doesn’t work, you always can revert back to what you were doing before.
As with this quote by T.E. Lawrence – “All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream in the dark recesses of the night awake in the day to find all was vanity. But the dreamers of day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, and make it possible.”
Jack Ma: People lose out in life because of these 4 reasons:
You are poor, because you have no ambition.
Ambition is living a life of great ideals; a magnificent goal in life that must be realised.
In this world, there are things that are deemed unfathomable, but there is nothing in this world that cannot be done. The depth of one’s ambition determines the potential of one’ future.
The Story of Juliet Wu Shihong – one of China’s first-generation professional managers, who gained success by working her way up the ranks from a cleaner, a nurse, a marketing executive, through self-education and learning on the job.
She had been the general manager for the world’s most famous multinational IT groups’ Chinese branches (Microsoft 1985-1998; IBM 1998-1999). She is also China’s first successful international corporate executive to join the executive team of a domestic private firm. Wu was seen as a symbol of the new generation of business executives that China has produced in its economic reform and opening-up.
When Wu started off in a big company working from the lowest ranks, her daily job was to pour tea and sweep floors. Once, because she forgot her staff pass, the company’s guard stopped her at the door and denied her entry. She explained to the guard that she was indeed one of the company’s employees, and that she had merely left the building for a short while to purchase office supplies.
Despite her pleas, the guard still did not allow to enter. As she stood at the gate, she watched as those of similar age to her, but smartly dressed in business attire walking through without having to show their passes.
She asked the guard, “Why are these people allowed through without producing a pass?” The guard dismissed her coldly nonetheless.
That was the turning point for Wu – she felt great shame, her self-esteem trampled on.
She looked at herself, dressed in shabby clothes and pushing a dirty push cart. Looking back at those dressed in smart attire, her heart felt a deep ache from the sudden realization of the sorrow and grief from being discriminated. From that moment, she vowed never to allow herself to be shamed like this again, and to become world-famous.
Since then, she used every opportunity to enrich herself. Every day, she was the first to arrive at work, and the last one to leave. She made every second count, spending her time learning the ropes. Her efforts soon paid off; she was made a sales representative, and quickly progressed to being the regional general manager of this multinational company in China. Wu did not possess strong academic qualifications, and was revered as the ‘Queen of Part-timers’. Subsequently, she assumed the position of GM of IBM China. This is the Wu Shihong, the heroine in China’s business circle.
If not for the incident, Wu Shihong would not have had the ambition to become rich, and her life would have taken a very different path then.
No matter how poor your family is, do not doubt your own abilities and lose sight of your ambition.
Go big, or go home. Otherwise, you’re wasting your youth.
The article is originally published in Chinese, and is translated into English. If you think this was helpful, feel free to share it with your friends.
Interesting perspective (and a welcome one) is the mini-bio of Shihong does not once mention her gender.
I am a US born American of Chinese descent. My SIL immigrated to this country from China and could speak only a few works in English. In a short period of ten years she learned English, went to junior college , then transferred to a business college and got a Bachelors in Accounting and then a CPA. She currently works for GM, transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars each day to other corporate divisions worldwide.
Jack Ma has it right on the money.
There are many US born citizens who have squandered every opportunity presented to them.
At this point in time, few people really know whether he is happy.
This company is a scam operation. I was on it last summer looking for parts wholesale to build computers. I sent inquiries to several sellers, and I ended up with emails from all kinds of Chinese scammers.
Agree; he’s lucky it didn’t go another different way.
Wow, have I stumbled on the wrong site? I’m shocked by the whining and sour grapes. Good for Jack Ma. He worked hard, took risks, and succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.
His message is a simple yet powerful and correct one. Too bad liberals and RINOs will boo-hoo and whine that he’s too blunt.
Amazing how many on this site don’t get it.
It isn’t necessarily about money. Everyone’s goals are unique.
It is about casting off your self-imposed chains,
and directing concentrated effort towards acheiving your goal.
The possible goals are endless, the only criterion that they be rational, possible in the real world.
A lot of people SAY that they’re for personal responsibility and the American dream, but judging by some of the excuse making in this comment section, I wonder how many believe it. Their rhetoric is indistinguishable from the people on Daily Kos who blame their failure on the white man or something else equally silly.
Amazing how you’re the only one who has figured it out. If it’s REALLY a scam operation, then obviously the stock will collapse. I’m sure you’re therefore shorting it, and are going to make a killing. Right?
Better lessons in traditional American values and capitalism from these Chinese successes than from our own academic and political failures.
Jack Ma is 100% correct and is apparently more conservative than many of our fellow freepers.
People have different levels of intelligence.
This is supposed to be “tough talk” “motivation”, but it’s just an insult to someone who simply does not have the mental capability to be a manager, leader or professional.
Not everyone has the same mental or physical capabilities, but that does not make any person of more worth than any other person in God’s eyes.
Everyone should strive to work to the fulness of their own potential - in such a manner as glorifies God.
Whether we have $1 or $1 billion, we ought to see it as a blessing and ourselves a steward of what God has blessed us with, and do good works, not out of trying to merit heaven, but out of faith in Jesus Christ and the obedience to God’s Word which follows from it.
For all our riches, we can’t take anything with us beyond the grave.
At that point - all is vanity.
Our only hope at that point is if we place our faith in Jesus Christ.
There is a point to what he says, but the others who say their lives are rich without a huge surplus of money are also right. This is what I love about America. Those of you who live in Asia might set me straight here: it seems some Asian cultures don’t even slightly consider the “riches” of a happy family or simple pleasures of coming together. They focus more on the financial. The successful. From an early age.
In the USA some families focus only on financial success, considering that both goodness and happiness, which it is neither but can help with both. You can be more happy with financial security, and you can be “more good” (better) by having more resources to donate.
But there is a theme running though our culture since pioneer days that the simple life, close to nature, filled with family, is just as acceptable a goal. And simple lives are lived and prized in some European countries as well. I’ve lived like thst in southern France and the contentment, the lack of striving, is a huge draw.
The song in “Jungle Book” by Baloo, “the Bare Necessities,” is a perfect example of the other American goal. Kicking back. Margaritaville.
Less ambition, more vacation...
They are both fine goals. Living to work and working to live. Vive la diffèrence.
Every one deserves to realize their dreams. That is a basic human need and its not about money. Its about the satisfaction you give yourself and to those around you. Life is a gift.
That’s what Jack Ma is saying and no wonder China is a prosperous country. People are recognized and esteemed for being successful.
Some conservatives are blind to learning from others. I hate the arrogance of the “ugly American.” One has never failed from benefiting from good advice.
I’ve said it for a long time, the biggest gap is the ambition gap.
Some people want to build companies, and get rich, or simply work hard to be the best they can be.
Others just want to sit around and get high all day.
And in this country we want to level differences and we show mockery and contempt for people who make it as though their success overshadows the rest of us.
In China, they recognize that differences matter and rich people are an asset to be cultivated and emulated. Equality is not about making every one the same or trying to pretend mediocrity is a virtue.
We’re trying to become good socialists while the Chinese see capitalism as the road to success.
Until the Politburo decides they have enough and confiscates all the wealth for its own purposes
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