The Story

Jack Ma had a dream since he was a young boy. He always imagined himself as a successful entrepreneur, living in a big mansion, and traveling the world. His parents, on the other hand, wanted him to pursue a traditional career like medicine or engineering.

Despite their wishes, Jack decided to pursue his dream and applied to different universities to study business. However, his journey was not an easy one. He failed his entrance exams three times before finally being accepted into Hangzhou Normal University.

After graduation, Jack's job search was another uphill battle. He applied to dozens of companies but was rejected from all of them. He even applied to work at KFC, but they turned him down too. With no job prospects, Jack turned to teaching English at a local school.

One day, Jack's life took an unexpected turn when he traveled to the United States. There, he discovered the internet and saw its potential to change the world. Jack was fascinated by the idea of using technology to connect people from all over the world and to build a bridge between China and the global market.

Inspired by his experience, Jack returned to China and started his first internet venture, China Pages, in 1995. The company aimed to help Chinese businesses connect with foreign buyers, but it was not successful.

Despite the setback, Jack didn't give up on his dream. He continued to search for opportunities in the internet space and was eventually inspired to create an online marketplace connecting Chinese manufacturers with overseas buyers.

And so, in 1999, Jack founded Alibaba, with a small team of friends. The company started in Jack's apartment with a budget of $60,000, and they worked long hours to develop the platform.

Initially, Alibaba faced a lot of challenges. Investors were skeptical of the business model, and people were hesitant to do business with a Chinese company they had never heard of. Jack even faced challenges from established e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon.

But Jack was determined to succeed. He traveled around China to meet with manufacturers and convinced them to sell their products on Alibaba. He also developed a reputation for being a charismatic and inspiring leader, who was committed to his vision.

And so, Alibaba grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. The company went public in 2014, raising a record-breaking $25 billion.

Today, Jack Ma is one of the richest people on the planet, with a net worth of over $50 billion. Despite his incredible success, Jack remains humble and grounded. He often reflects on his journey and encourages others to pursue their dreams, no matter how challenging they may seem.

Lessons from Jack

1. Failure is okay as long as learn from it.

2. It’s never too late to get started.

3. Always enjoy the journey.

Favorite Quote