bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Shea Driscoll

Jack Ma shared more of the thinking that has made him the richest man in Asia, as he delivered speeches on successive days at Alibaba’s She-Era 2017 and Global Netrepreneurs conferences in Hangzhou in July.
Here are seven takeaways for a happy life and career. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Eight lessons for a successful career (and life) from Jack Ma at Alibaba’s Gateway ‘17
1. There will always be haters
There will always be those who don’t believe in you, Ma said - and the people who do won’t necessarily speak out.
“People who do believe in you won’t say anything to support you, but those who don’t will always jump out to say so,” he said. “That’s human nature.”
Elaborating, Ma added: “When you’re right, no one will support you. When you’re wrong, everyone will criticise you.”


2. From up high, things look clearer
Ma compared running a successful business to climbing a mountain, and said he started from the mountain’s foot just like everyone else.
“When you’ve climbed up thousands of kilometres, what you see from your vantage point is very different from what you could see at the base,” he said.
The problem with that? “The people at the base may not believe what you say you can see from above.
“In fact, the clearer you see things, the more afraid you feel - not for yourself, but for those in the industry, who are on the wrong track and need to make changes.”
3. Don’t be fixated on past successes
Here’s what’s holding you back - your past successes, Ma said. Today, there are great opportunities, but “if you are too fixated on the old ways of thinking, especially the successes of the past, you’ll suffer”.
He continued: “Yesterday’s successes often hinder progress.
“Successful people are the most difficult people to change.”
The US lawyer and his Chinese ‘tour guide’: how meeting Jack Ma inspired a footloose American 37 years ago
4. Think globally - or you don’t stand a chance
A short and sharp message from a man, who preaches globalisation: embrace it, or else.
Ma said: “Right now, if your company doesn’t think globally, you don’t stand a chance. It’s impossible to ignore globalisation today.”
5. Don’t put everything into your business
According to Ma, a big business doesn’t equal a good business. “The bigger one is, the more tiring it becomes,” he elaborated.
“Many small entrepreneurs put everything they have into their businesses, and when their happiness is determined by how well they do, the pressure they face is immense.”
Try this instead, he said - make your employees happy, your customers happy, and be happy yourself. Those are the businesses that are sustainable and can live long, Ma said.
“Hold on to your dreams, this is a good company.”


6. Love your business - because no one else will
Setting up a new business is very difficult, Ma said - it’s like a newborn baby.
“Other than you, no one else thinks she is beautiful,” he explained.
“But she’ll become more beautiful as she grows, and with time and effort, it’ll become great.”
Jack Ma unseats Wang Jianlin as China’s richest man with US$31 billion fortune
7. Some business opportunities can’t be counted on
Do you entertain at night for business? Ma has a few harsh words: “Business opportunities obtained through one or two glasses of wine cannot be relied on.”
His own experience is vastly different. “Believe it or not, since I set up my business in 1999, I’ve never entertained – I go out only because my friends are going and I’m happy, not because I’m chasing an order.”


Ant Group buys retail broker Bright Smart to set up ‘bridgehead’ in Hong Kong’s market

In AI race against US, China is racking up real-world wins

Alibaba founder Jack Ma calls for responsible AI amid its wide adoption across China

How Alibaba is turning into China’s AI powerhouse and a school for entrepreneurs

Jack Ma

Seven more lessons for a successful career (and life) from Jack Ma

Jack Ma speaks during the welcoming ceremony at Alibaba’s Gateway '17 conference in Detroit in June 2017. Photo: Xinhua

Tech

Tech leaders and founders

Alibaba

Tech CEOs