Lessons from Jack Ma as he retires…

Jack Ma started as an English teacher, and built a half trillion dollar company. These are lessons that I got that helped me build my business.

 

It’s Jack Ma’s 55^th birthday and he’s stepping down.

 

So, I thought it would be a good day to take some time, and celebrate Jack Ma, the man.

 

One of the things I most admire about Jack Ma, is his spirit of drive and determination, and his ability to persist despite what people around him say.

 

He started his career as an English teacher.  Some might say that’s a humble beginning, with no relevance to starting an internet business.  Others might say he had a distinct advantage over a lot of China, as he was fluent in English.

 

Neither would be wrong.  But I believe the way he would look at it, is that neither are relevant.

 

Afterall, he famously said, “if you don’t do it, nothing’s possible”.  I prefer to flip that around and say, “if you choose to do it, anything’s possible”.

 

Technically, it’s not the same thing.

 

But let’s take a look at the rise of Jack Ma.

 

His determination was evident from a young age.

 

As a child, he used to hang around hotels to improve his English.  As he grew up, he started giving tours to English speaking tourists.

 

He failed his university entrance exams 3 times, and so didn’t go to university.

 

Instead, he went to teachers’ training, and became an English teacher.

 

In 1995, he recognised the power of the internet and he started his first business with $20,000.  In his first 3 years he earned $800,000.

 

Then in 1999, he started his second business, Alibaba.

 

As he steps down as Chairman of Alibaba, he has taken the company to half a trillion dollars.

 

There are just so many lessons in the life of Jack Ma.

 

Lessons that all of us will do well to learn.

 

It’s really not where you start, but it’s what you decide to do with your life. 

 

He’s also famously said…

“Your attitude is more important than your capabilities. Similarly, your decision is more important than your capabilities.”

 

If you decide to change your life, and if you have a good attitude around it, anything is possible.

 

Making a decision, and keeping to that course are so important for an entrepreneur.

 

I see many students wanting to change their lives, and signing up for training with us on starting an online business, only to be discouraged by friends and family, and their own negative self-talk.

 

That’s something that every entrepreneur faces.  But if you want the freedom that being a business owner in the internet age brings, then you will go through a period like that, especially as you’re building your business.

 

I went through it.  And I’m certain Jack Ma did.

 

After all, if everyone could see the opportunities that we have, everyone would do it and they would no longer be opportunities.

 

“The opportunities that everyone cannot see are the real opportunities.” – Jack Ma

 

When that happened, I recall seeing all the parallels between what I was facing, and what I had read Jack Ma going through.

 

I was starting an online business.  Same as him.

 

I was not educated in technology.  Same as him.

 

I was giving up a good career.  Same as him.

 

I was working from home.  Same as him.

 

And the list goes on.

 

But I was determined to prove everyone wrong, because I had made a decision that I needed to change my life.

 

I had the benefit of coaching, and a community around me.  And so, if he could do that without the coaching and community, surely I could to.

 

So I looked at Jack Ma, not as inspiration, but as evidence of what was possible.

 

Within 6 months, I replaced my corporate lawyer’s income, and went on to build a 7 figure business.

 

You might be facing your own challenges.

 

But I urge you to look at Jack Ma, me or anyone you think is successful, not as inspiration, but as evidence that you can do it too.

 

And then make a decision.

 

“your decision is more important than your capabilities”

 

Image Courtesy of Foundations World Economic Forum [CC BY 2.0], edited by Digimax Life Pte Ltd

 

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