刘强东牛津大学精彩演讲：一直追梦 终能成功

Summary

The speaker shares his inspiring journey from a small city in China to founding JD.com, overcoming initial failures in university and entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from setbacks, and making bold decisions to innovate in business, such as transitioning to e-commerce and building a logistics network. His story illustrates the power of hard work, strategic thinking, and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker emphasizes the importance of education, sharing his humble beginnings and the challenges he faced as a student from a small town in China attending Renmin University.
• 💼 He discusses the necessity of adapting to circumstances and the need for self-reliance, as he had to find ways to survive and work while studying, given his limited financial resources.
• 🛠 The speaker's first venture into entrepreneurship was driven by the realization that his sociology degree might not provide him with a secure future, leading him to learn computer programming and eventually start a computer assembly business.
• 🍽️ His entrepreneurial journey took a turn when he bought a restaurant, aiming to create a chain of restaurants, but faced a significant setback due to poor management and trust issues with his staff.
• 💡 The failure of his restaurant venture led to a realization about the importance of management and the need for a structured system, prompting him to work in a Japanese company to learn better management practices.
• 💼 The speaker reflects on his experiences and learns to forgive his former employees, understanding that a lack of proper management systems can bring out the worst in people.
• 💡 After working in a Japanese company and paying off his debts, he started another business in Zhongguancun, focusing on selling computers and providing exceptional customer service, which set him apart from competitors.
• 📈 The speaker identifies the importance of trust and transparency in business, as he built a reputation for selling genuine products and not engaging in fraudulent practices, which contributed to his success.
• 🛑 The impact of the SARS epidemic forced him to close his physical stores and pivot to online sales, which was a turning point for his business and led to the realization of the potential of e-commerce.
• 🚚 The decision to build his own logistics system was driven by the desire to improve customer experience and address the inefficiencies and high costs associated with third-party delivery services.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes with the message that success is achievable through continuous effort, learning from failures, and adapting to change without fear or hesitation.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial challenge when he first arrived at Renmin University in 1992?

The speaker's initial challenge was survival, as he had only 500 yuan and 76 eggs given by his family and villagers, and he knew he had to rely on himself financially.

Why did the speaker decide to learn English during his university years?

The speaker decided to learn English because he knew it was crucial for either studying abroad or securing a stable government job, which were the best options at that time.

What significant event in the speaker's dormitory influenced his decision to learn computer programming?

The speaker's decision to learn computer programming was influenced by an incident where his dormitory's eldest student was rejected by a girl because of his less desirable major in sociology, prompting the speaker to seek a more marketable skill.

What was the speaker's first entrepreneurial venture after university?

The speaker's first entrepreneurial venture was buying a restaurant for 240,000 yuan, with the aim of eventually expanding it into a chain of restaurants across China.

Why did the speaker's first restaurant venture fail?

The restaurant venture failed due to a lack of proper management systems and oversight, which led to employees taking advantage of the situation, including embezzlement and dishonesty.

What did the speaker learn about management from his experience with the failed restaurant and subsequent work in a Japanese company?

The speaker learned that without a solid management structure, even the best intentions can lead to failure. He realized the importance of having a robust system in place to prevent the exploitation of trust and resources.

What was the turning point for the speaker's business when he decided to move from offline to online sales?

The turning point was during the SARS epidemic in 2003 when the speaker decided to close all physical stores to protect his employees and started selling products online, which eventually led to the success of his e-commerce platform.

Why did the speaker choose to build his own logistics system for JD.com?

The speaker chose to build his own logistics system to improve customer experience, reduce costs, and increase efficiency, as he identified significant problems in the existing logistics industry in China.

What was the speaker's approach to dealing with the fear of the unknown when he decided to expand JD.com into a full-category platform?

The speaker faced the fear by making a calculated decision to expand into a full-category platform, despite opposition from investors, and was prepared to take personal responsibility for any losses that might occur.

How did the speaker's early experiences shape his philosophy on business and opportunities?

The speaker's early experiences, including his struggles and failures, shaped his belief that industries with significant problems present the greatest opportunities for success, as solving these problems can lead to a successful business model.

What advice does the speaker give to students who want to succeed?

The speaker advises students to not fear or be confused by the unknown, but to keep moving forward and upward without stopping, as this persistence will ultimately lead to the realization of their dreams.