Jack Ma!

I just watched a Jack Ma interview by Charlie Rose on Bloomberg TV. The 25 minutes I could watch was very inspiring and I would like to draw a few learning's that is so in common with eccentric entrepreneurs I read about:

-He has failed multiple times at primary and middle school, but applied to Harvard 10 times and got rejected every time. Said to himself that he would someday teach there.
Takeaway : Even in rejection, always nurture the hope of greatness and keep trying.

-Since there was absolutely no means to learn English in his place, toils for 9 years as a free guide at the only posh hotel catering to foreign customers, in
exchange for learning English. Makes a lot of friends along, among which one suggested an English name. Hence, Jack! Fascinating isn't it?
Recalls that his conversation with foreigners greatly changed his outlook and was very different from what he learned in school.
Takeaway: You need to pay attention to where your learning is coming from or has come from. And as I have experienced,there is a great deal you can learn by speaking to folks from different backgrounds or simply smart folks. The sort of people you hang out with greatly affect you.

-Does not know what internet or email is and is fascinated by the first sight of it during his visit to USA on a govt project. Plans to try that in China
as a free classified. No revenue for 3 years but he is so thrilled to only know that something like this works!Anything you pursue, pursue with a great deal of curiosity. And in search for a global name for his venture, he randomly asks to people on the street in Seattle if they have heard about Alibaba. Yes they have.Hence the name Alibaba. Emphasizes that building an institution of trust is supreme competitive advantage.Happily recalls how he has been randomly thanked by customers with free lunches
and cigar.

So he does not know internet,email or code. Is fascinated by what this thing can do and decides to try it and the rest is history.