Jack Ma's Ultimate Advice for Students & Young People - HOW TO SUCCEED IN LIFE

Summary

The speaker encourages young people to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, emphasizing the importance of creativity, imagination, and independent thinking over traditional knowledge in the future. He shares personal anecdotes of failure and rejection, drawing inspiration from movies like 'Forrest Gump' to highlight the value of persistence and simplicity. The message is to find hope and opportunities in challenges, and to believe in one's endeavors, regardless of setbacks.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Embrace Mistakes: At 25, it's important to make mistakes and learn from them, as they are valuable for personal growth.
• 🎭 Enjoy the Journey: In your mid-20s, enjoy life and the experiences it brings, without worrying too much about the future.
• 🧐 Self-Reflection: From 30 to 40, reflect on your career path and whether you want to be an entrepreneur.
• 🎯 Focus on Strengths: In your 40s and 50s, concentrate on what you're good at and refine your skills.
• 👶 Support the Young: After 50, support and invest in the younger generation, as they are the future.
• 💡 Creativity Over Competition: The future is not about knowledge competition but creativity, imagination, and independent thinking.
• 🤖 Adapt to Change: As technology advances, adapt to a world where machines mimic human behavior, and wisdom and experience become more important.
• 💖 Emphasize Love and Care: Develop a high level of love quotient (LQ) to genuinely care for others and their success.
• 🤝 Teamwork Over Isolation: Success often comes from working together as a team, especially when resources are limited.
• 🌟 Persistence Pays Off: Even after numerous rejections and failures, persistence can lead to eventual success.
• 🔍 Find Opportunities in Complaints: Complaints often indicate areas where there is room for improvement and opportunity.
• 🌈 Believe in Your Vision: Even if others don't understand or agree with your ideas, staying true to your vision can lead to innovation and success.

Q & A

What advice does the speaker give to young people around 25 years old?

The speaker advises young people at this age to make enough mistakes, not to worry about falling, and to enjoy the learning process as it is a time for growth and gaining experience.

What is the significance of the age range from 30 to 40 according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that from 30 to 40 years old, individuals should think very clearly about whether they are working for themselves and if they truly want to be entrepreneurs.

What should one focus on between the ages of 40 to 50 according to the transcript?

The speaker believes that between 40 to 50 years old, one should focus on the things they are good at, honing their skills and expertise.

What role does the speaker recommend for people aged 50 to 60 in relation to younger individuals?

The speaker recommends that people aged 50 to 60 should work for and support younger people, as they can do better and rely on the youth's creativity and innovation.

What does the speaker consider as 'income' or 'revenue' for young people?

The speaker considers any mistake made by young people as an 'income' or 'revenue,' implying that mistakes are valuable learning experiences.

How does the speaker describe the future competition in terms of knowledge, creativity, and imagination?

The speaker describes the future competition as not just about knowledge, but also about creativity, imagination, learning, and independent thinking, emphasizing the importance of these skills over traditional knowledge-based competition.

What change does the speaker predict for the relationship between humans and machines in the next 20 years?

The speaker predicts that in the next 20 years, machines will look like people, indicating a future where technology and artificial intelligence will become more human-like.

What does the speaker suggest will drive the future instead of knowledge and manufacturing?

The speaker suggests that the future will be driven by wisdom, experience, and creativity, rather than just knowledge and manufacturing.

What does the speaker mean by focusing on 'LQ' or the 'Q of Love'?

The speaker means that in addition to focusing on IQ and EQ, individuals should also focus on 'LQ,' or the quotient of love, emphasizing the importance of caring for others and empathy in personal and professional success.

What personal failures did the speaker mention and how did they influence his perspective?

The speaker mentioned failing primary school tests twice, failing university entrance exams three times, and being rejected from numerous jobs, including KFC and the police. These failures influenced his perspective by teaching him resilience and the value of persistence.

What Hollywood movie and character did the speaker find inspiration from during a difficult time?

The speaker found inspiration from the movie 'Forrest Gump' and its titular character, admiring his simplicity, resilience, and the philosophy of never giving up.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of optimism and unity among a team?

The speaker believes that optimism and unity are crucial for a team's success. He emphasizes that his team's belief in the future and their ability to learn from mistakes, without giving up, was key to their achievements.

What does the speaker suggest is the source of opportunities?

The speaker suggests that opportunities often lie in the midst of complaints and problems. By addressing and solving these complaints, one can find and create opportunities.

How does the speaker define 'crazy' in the context of his entrepreneurial journey?

The speaker defines 'crazy' as having a vision or idea that may not be immediately understood or agreed upon by others. He believes that being 'crazy' in this sense can be good, as it allows for innovation and taking risks that others might not.

What is the speaker's advice for entrepreneurs regarding failure and setbacks?

The speaker advises entrepreneurs not to be scared of failure and setbacks, and to never give up. He emphasizes the importance of learning through mistakes and maintaining a positive outlook.

What does the speaker believe about the intelligence and success of his founding team?

The speaker believes that the success of his founding team was not due to their intelligence or graduation from prestigious schools, but rather their unity, optimism, and the ability to learn from mistakes.

How does the speaker describe the journey of his company over the past 19 years?

The speaker describes the journey as one filled with tough situations and numerous mistakes, but also one that has been lucky and successful, taking only 19 years to reach their current size.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Embracing Mistakes and Creativity

The speaker advises young people to make mistakes and learn from them, emphasizing that at 25 years old, it's important to enjoy the journey and not fear failure. As one ages, the focus should shift to clarity in goals, especially for entrepreneurship, and then to leveraging one's strengths. After 50, the speaker suggests supporting the younger generation, trusting in their ability to innovate and lead. The speaker also highlights the importance of creativity, imagination, and independent thinking over mere knowledge, predicting a future driven by wisdom and experience rather than traditional manufacturing or knowledge-based approaches. They advocate for the development of love quotient (LQ), caring for others, and finding opportunities in complaints and rejections, drawing inspiration from movies like 'Forrest Gump' and personal anecdotes of failure and perseverance.

05:02

🚀 From Failure to Opportunity

The speaker reflects on the evolution of their perspective from believing 'everything is possible' to understanding the complexities and responsibilities that come with age and success. They stress the importance of hard work, hope, and finding solutions to problems as a path to opportunities. The speaker uses personal stories of rejection and failure, including failed attempts to get into Harvard and various jobs, to illustrate the value of persistence and self-reflection. They also discuss the importance of not complaining and instead focusing on solving problems as a way to create opportunities. The speaker shares the story of AliPay's initial reception and how it grew to be used by millions, emphasizing the power of belief in one's ideas despite skepticism from others.

10:04

🛠 Learning from Experience and Mistakes

In this paragraph, the speaker acknowledges the journey from founding their company to its current success, highlighting the many challenges and mistakes made along the way. They emphasize that these experiences have been instrumental in shaping their business and personal growth. The speaker also touches on the importance of unity, optimism, and learning from mistakes, using their own story of starting a business with 18 founders, most of whom were not from prestigious backgrounds. They encourage respect for those who graduate from less well-known schools and stress the importance of believing in one's vision and the power of persistence.

Keywords

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are errors or faults made in action or judgment. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of making mistakes, especially at a young age, as they are seen as opportunities for learning and growth. The speaker encourages the audience not to worry about falling but to stand up after each fall, using the metaphor 'Any mistake is an income,' which illustrates the value of embracing failure as a means to future success.

💡Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is a person who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards. The video discusses the journey from age 30 to 40 as a time for individuals to consider whether they want to be entrepreneurs, suggesting that this is a period of self-reflection and clarity about one's career path and aspirations.

💡Creativity

Creativity refers to the use of imagination or original ideas to create something. The speaker predicts that the future will not be about the competition of knowledge but of creativity, indicating that original thought and innovation will be more valuable than accumulated knowledge alone. This concept is central to the video's theme of adapting to a changing world where new technologies and ideas will drive progress.

💡Imagination

Imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. The video suggests that imagination, along with creativity, will be a key competitive factor in the future. It is implied that the ability to envision and create new possibilities will be more important than traditional forms of knowledge or learning.

💡Learning

Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught. The speaker mentions learning as a competition, emphasizing the importance of continuous education and self-improvement in a rapidly evolving world. The video implies that those who learn and adapt quickly will have an advantage.

💡Independent Thinking

Independent thinking is the ability to form one's own opinions and make decisions without being swayed by others. The video encourages the development of independent thinking as a key attribute for success in the future, suggesting that conformity and thinking like a machine will lead to problems, while independent thought will be valued.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the proper application of knowledge. In the video, wisdom is contrasted with knowledge, with the speaker suggesting that wisdom, along with experience, will be more important in the future. Wisdom is presented as a driver of success, particularly in a world where machines may replicate human knowledge.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something or a situation favorable for the forward movement. The speaker identifies opportunities as being in places where people complain, suggesting that recognizing and addressing these complaints can lead to success. This concept is integral to the video's message of finding and creating opportunities in the face of challenges.

💡Failure

Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desired objective or not achieving predicted or expected results. The video repeatedly mentions failure as a part of the journey to success, with the speaker sharing personal anecdotes of rejection and failure. The concept of failure is used to encourage resilience and the idea that setbacks are not the end but part of the path to eventual success.

💡Respect

Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. In the video, the speaker advises graduates of prestigious universities to respect those from less well-known schools, and vice versa, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect regardless of educational background. This concept is used to promote unity and the idea that everyone has unique strengths and potential.

💡Optimism

Optimism is the hope and belief for the best possible outcome. The speaker describes the founding team of his company as being united and optimistic about the future, despite their humble beginnings and numerous mistakes. Optimism is portrayed as a driving force that helped them persevere through tough situations and ultimately achieve success.

Highlights

Embrace making mistakes at 25 years old as they are valuable learning experiences.

From 30 to 40 years old, clarify your goals and determine if entrepreneurship is right for you.

Between 40 to 50 years old, focus on leveraging your strengths.

After 50, support younger generations, as they can outperform you in certain areas.

Mistakes at 25 are a form of income and a source of revenue for personal growth.

The future is not about knowledge competition but creativity, imagination, learning, and independent thinking.

Avoid thinking like a machine; machines will become more human-like in the next 20 years.

The future will be driven by wisdom and experience, not just knowledge.

The next 30 years will see significant changes in the world driven by new technology.

Focus not only on IQ and EQ but also on LQ, the quotient of love and care for others.

Opportunities often arise in the midst of complaints; solving them can lead to success.

Despite numerous rejections, persistence and self-reflection are key to eventual success.

Believe in your endeavors, even if others do not, and maintain simplicity.

Life's unpredictability is likened to a box of chocolates - embrace the unknown.

The speaker's early failures and rejections from universities and jobs.

Forrest Gump's simple philosophy of never giving up inspired the speaker during tough times.

The importance of unity, optimism, and learning from mistakes in building a successful team.

Respect for education diversity and the potential of graduates from less prestigious schools.

The speaker's belief in the uniqueness of each individual and the need for a distinct approach to success.

The speaker's view on competition as fun and not a zero-sum game.

The story of AliPay's initial rejection and eventual widespread adoption.

The speaker's experience with venture capitalists and the importance of believing in one's own ideas.

Transcripts

My advice to the young people

25 years old,

make enough mistakes,

don't worry

You fall

you stand up. You fall, you stand up

Enjoy it, I mean, 25 years old enjoy the show, enjoy the show.

From 30 to 40 years old,

you have to think very clearly

Were you working for yourself

if you really want to be entrepreneur.

So 40 to 50 think about,

how can you focus on things that you are good at

But when you are 50 to 60 years old

work for the young people

because young people can do better than you.

So rely on them, invest on them making sure they're good.

So 25 years old

Don't worry

Any mistake is an income, is a wonderful revenue for you.

In the future, it's not about the competition of knowledge.

It's the competition of creativity,

it's a competition of imagination,

it's a competition of learning,

it's a competition of independent thinking.

If you think like a machine the problem will come.

In the past 20 years, we make people like a machine

in the next 20 years, machines will look like people.

So in the future it's not knowledge driven,

it's the wisdom driven,

it's the experience driven.

In the past it's the knowledge driven and it's the manufacturing driven

and in the future it's the creativity driven.

I think next 30 years the world is going to change a lot.

The new technology is going to change every aspect of the world

So this is what we think the world should be focusing on

not only the IQ, EQ but also focus on LQ

the Q of Love.

Because only when you care for the others, only when you care for

the others that succeed and are more successful than you are

you have the chance.

10 years ago internet was so good

when nobody believed internet was so good.

Now internet is so tough because all the smart people go to internet.

So you should go to the off ground.

I fail for...

Funny things like I failed in a key primary school test for two times

and I failed like three times for the middle school, middle schools.

No I tried, there is an examination that young people if you want to go university

you have to take, take the examinations.

So I failed three times.

When I graduated from university,

and before I, you know,

for three years I tried and failed in the universities.

So I apply for jobs for 30 times,

got rejected.

I went for police, they say “No, you’re not good”

I went to even the KFC,

when KFC came to China, come to our city

- You applied? - 24 people went for the job

23 people were accepted, I was the only guy.

And we went for the police, 5 people, 4 of them accepted.

I was the only guy they're not receiving.

So to me, being turned down, rejected

Oh, by the way, I told you that I applied for Harvard for 10 times, rejected.

I learned so much about the Hollywood movies

especially the- Forrest Gump

- You love Forrest Gump? - I love Forrest Gump.

Why do you like him?

Simple.

Never give up.

People- people thinking he's dumb

but he knows what he's doing.

And I was very depressed

the day... the year 2002 or 2003

in the States

I was very depressed when I could not find out a way for the internet

and then I watch the movie in my friend's home Forrest Gump

when I see him I think, "This the guy

we should learn from."

Believe in what you're doing.

Love it whether people like it or don't like it, be simple.

And like the words, "Life is like a box of chocolates"

you never know what you can get, right?

I never knew I would be here talking to you,

I never know.

But today I made it.

I told my people in my apartment

18, 15 years ago

"Guys we have to work hard

not for ourselves, if we can be successful

80% of the young people in China can be successful.

We don't have a rich father,

a powerful uncle, we don't get one dollar from bank,

one cent from government.

Just work as a team.

I worry about it today, young people, a lot of young people lose hope,

lose vision and start to complain.

We also have the same problem, when I got...

It's not a good feeling being rejected by so many people

We also depressed

but at least later we find...

that the world has a lot of opportunities.

How you see the world?

How you catch the opportunity?

So... and Hollywood gives me a lot of inspiration.

I, at the beginning I never thought...

I thought when I was young I said,

"Everything is possible".

Now I know not everything is possible.

When you have something you have to think about

you have to consider about the others, you have to consider about the customer,

society,

your employees, the shareholders.

There are so many things that

I think if you continue to work hard there's...

there's possibility.

It's not... if you don't do it

nothing is possible.

If you try to do it at least you have the hope.

Calm down, there's always a way out.

And keep yourself balanced.

And meanwhile, don't try to...

because business is a compt... Competition is fun.

Business is not a battlefield, you die or I win

Business... even if you die I may not win

right? So it's about, it's about fun.

- Yeah, - Tell them the story,

and tell them that if Jack...

I don't think in this world a lot of people be rejected more than 30 times

If we, you know, the only thing we never give up,

the only thing like, we’re like Forrest Gump.

We keep on fighting, we keep on changing ourself.

We don’t complain. Whether you are successful or not successful.

I find that when people, when they finish the job,

if they make a mistake and they fail,

if they always complained to others,

this guy will never come back.

If the guy only check himself,

Yeah. Something wrong with me here, something wrong with me there.

This guy has hope.

So many people I talked to at that time for AliPay, they say

"this is the stupidest idea you have ever got."

But I say, "I don't care if it's stupid or clever as long as people use it"

Now we have 800 million people

using this AliPay.

1999, year 2000 and even at the Yahoo time

a lot of people say, "This Jack is crazy.

He's- he's doing something that we don't understand."

And a lot of venture capitals give you money

because there is such a American model already there.

But they say, Alibaba we don't see this kind of model, right?

- They say Jack's crazy - yeah this is crazy guy

I mean I remember my first time in Time magazine

they call me crazy Jack

and I, I think crazy is good

we are crazy but we're not stupid.

We know what we are doing

but if everybody agree with me, if everybody believed my- our idea is good

we have no chance.

So that's... the money we raised, we're very thankful.

So, when our investors make a lot of money,

I feel proud and honored.

Everybody is made unique and different

so you must have a unique and different way.

A lot of people today have a lot of complaints

say, "I don't have opportunity."

I complained a lot when I was young

And suddenly I realized complaining does not solve any problem

where the opportunity always in the place where people complain

there are so many, if there are so many opportunities in the world in this world

because there are so many complaints.

If you can solve the complaint, one of the complaints

that’s the opportunity

so this is what we- we made

I think young people if my advice is to be an entrepreneur

don't be scared of failure, of setbacks

and don't give up.

When we start the business,

we had 18 founders including me

17 of them, most of them my students

and most of them...

Well, today people think, these 18 people, the smartest people in China

We don't think we were smart.

Honestly,

we all graduate from the very poor schools.

The only thing we did

we were very united, we all believed in the future,

we are all optimistic,

and we learn through mistakes,

we never give up.

If you graduate from famous university

please,

respect the people who graduate from the poor schools.

Those people like us graduate from poor universities

please respect yourself.

We have chance

we came today to...now

We made so many mistakes

people say, "You are lucky" Yes, we are very lucky.

We took only 19 years to today's size

But we have gone through so many tough situations.

We made so many mistakes

that people cannot even imagine.

In probably 19 years, you have gone through so many tough experiences

and that will make you different.