Jack Ma is a business magnet, a founder of one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world- Alibaba. Born on 10th September, 1964 in Hangzhou, China, Jack Ma grew up as an ambitious and optimistic boy, with a great passion in learning English language. And he did. Though he could fail in some instances, he never thought of giving up at any point in life but rather looked at every obstacle as an opportunity.
From the story of Jack Ma, you will learn to look out for opportunities, even in the most difficult and disgusting situations. You will learn to stay positive be it may.
He is the man to watch when it comes to e-commerce business. One of the richest men in the world, failed many times, but eventually rose to become the best entrepreneur to emulate. There’s so much to learn from Jack Ma’s ladder to success.
I have basically watched him speak to students and entrepreneurs across the world, and one thing that stands out is the spirit not to give up. He can tell you that failure is inevitable for any journey to success, having been rejected in many instances, failed exams, he remained optimistic to become the man he is today.
“The opportunity lies where people complain” Jack Ma’s quote. He urges people never to complain in anything but rather find opportunity where there are complains.
Net worth
According to Business Insider, Jack Ma is worth $38 billion, and is the richest in China, one of the richest men in the world.
Education
The love for English language gave him an opportunity to study at Hangzhou Teachers Institute that is now Hangzhou Normal University. Though he failed many tests, he graduated in 1988 with Bachelor of Arts in English. He later becomes the English lecturer at Hangzhou Dianzi University.
3 Big Failures that Ma Overcame
- Rejected 10 times at Harvard Business School
Everyone knows Harvard as one of the world’s prestigious institutions and Jack Ma was not rejected once but 10 times. In a YouTube Video interview by Charlie Rose during the Davos World Economic Forum, Jack Ma highlights all his failures that motivated him to be what he is today.
- Scored 0.8% in exam
Perhaps this would mean total failure for someone to score measly 1 point out of the possible 120 points in a math exam. He never gave up but tried again. This time, he scored 19 out of the possible 120 points. Though it was an improvement, it is still a very weak grade for any institution to admit. That’s the reason he was turned down by the university.
- The only one rejected by KFC out of 24 Interviewed
What a discouraging situation for one to be rejected and all other interviewees hired. Out of the 24 applicants, 23 were hired and he was rejected by KFC. That’s a matter of great concern that can make anyone look down upon him/herself but not for Jack Ma.
Five things to learn from Jack Ma’s story
- Never give up
Jack Ma’s story and resilient spirit portrays that those who want to succeed must never have a thought of giving up. Despite the many failures, he overcame them to become the worlds most adored personality when it comes to entrepreneurship, and e-commerce, and even to becoming the most respected personality in the world.
- You don’t need to be an expert
Jack Ma didn’t know anything to do with computer and coding but he is leading the worlds e-commerce company, as a layman in computer programming. This is a great ingredient for anyone that needs to be an entrepreneur or succeed in life. You don’t need to be an expert to succeed.
- Set higher goals
Average goals yield average results. Great goals yield great results. This man’s vision is out of this world, a dreamer and an executor. That shows that the road to greatness is must be defined by greater goals.
- Follow your passion
Do what you love most. There is that area that you are passionate about and if you can concentrate where your passion lies, you are likely to become the Jack Ma of tomorrow. Don’t strain yourself where you don’t fit. Just follow your passion, do what you like doing.
- Develop mental toughness
If you are not mentally tough, you are likely to give up on the slightest provocation. You need to develop a resilient spirit of positivity and optimism in order to overcome the hurdles that lie in your way to success.
In conclusion, being rejected does not mean you are a failure, as Jack Ma would put it. Don’t let failure intimidate you in your business, corporate sector, and even in relationships.
We hope that you have learnt something from Jack Ma’s story. Feel free to motivate your friends you care about by sharing this post to them, and stay tuned to our future stories.
