In the beginning I just wanted to survive. For the first three years, we made zero revenue. I remember many times when I was trying to pay up, the restaurant owner would say, 'Your bill was paid.' And there would be a note saying, 'Mr. Ma, I'm your customer on the Alibaba platform. I made a lot of money, and I know you don't, so I paid the bill.'
Interpretation
Initial struggles can lead to eventual success, and support can come from unexpected places.
This quote by Jack Ma reflects on the challenges he faced in the early days of his entrepreneurial journey, where he struggled to generate revenue for his business. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity and highlights the kindness and support from customers who believed in him, illustrating that success can come from community and goodwill.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming hardships in business.
Hong Kong people say Hong Kong needs to preserve its uniqueness. I say Hong Kong's uniqueness is in its diversity, its tolerance of difference cultures... China does not want to see Hong Kong in decline. I have full confidence in its future.
If we are a good team and know what we want to do, one of us can defeat tons of them.
It's not that other countries steal jobs from you guys. It's your strategy. Distribute the money and things in a proper way.
Helping doing business easier, we choose the name Alibaba because it is a global company. It is founded in China, but it was created for the world.
Even if your competitor is still small in size or weak, you should take him seriously and treat him as a giant. Likewise, even if your competitor is massive in size, you shouldn't regard yourself as a weakling.
A leader should have higher endurance and ability to accept and embrace failure.
Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose.
We need the whole squad, every player of the team, if we are to be successful.
I feel that I had been rescued from the gutter by America. One day I was under the gutter, chased by police, thinking dogs were going to get me. I laid there listening to the dogs and the gutter. The next day, there I am standing on the Olympic platform, and you hear the anthem. I was proud.
Thankfully I've been quite lucky in my career, but it's always good to re-evaluate things and think about what else you want to do.
One of our things is that money follows; it does not lead. So we want people that are fired up and passionate about their mission... and people that aren't so married to spreadsheets and thinking that kind of voodoo controls the future. Because it doesn't.
Many companies aspire to change the world. But very few have all the elements required: talent, resources and perseverance. Microsoft has proven that it has all three in abundance.
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