JACK MA

I want to change history, do something important in my life, and influence individuals like we have with millions of small businesses on Alibaba. Then they love and respect you because you made their life important.

I know nothing about technology.

What kind of business world are we living in?

The lessons I learned from the dark days at Alibaba are that you've got to make your team have value, innovation, and vision. Also, if you don't give up, you still have a chance. And, when you are small, you have to be very focused and rely on your brain, not your strength.

I got my story, my dream, from America. The hero I had is Forrest Gump... I like that guy. I've been watching that movie about 10 times. Every time I get frustrated, I watch the movie. I watched the movie before I came here again to New York. I watched the movie again telling me that no matter whatever changed, you are you.

A peace talk is always difficult, always complicated.

Nobody wanted to believe Jack Ma.

When I was 12 years old, I got interested in learning English.

I am going to enjoy some other things apart from business.

I try to make myself happy, no, because I know that if I'm not happy, my colleagues are not happy and my shareholders are not happy and my customers are not happy.

Before I left China, I was educated that China was the richest, happiest country in the world. So when I arrived Australia, I thought, 'Oh my God, everything is different from what I was told.' Since then, I started to think differently.

People think, 'Jack, you do too much.'

I absolutely don't have $20 billion. But I'd love to, right?

Help young people. Help small guys. Because small guys will be big. Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds, and when they grow up, they will change the world.

I flunked my exam for university two times before I was accepted by what was considered my city's worst university, Hangzhou Teachers University. I was studying to be a high school English teacher. In my university, I was elected student chairman and later became chairman of the city's Students Federation.

I don't want to be liked. I want to be respected.

You should learn from your competitor, but never copy. Copy and you die.

When I am myself, I am happy and have a good result.

I want people to learn what democracy means.

I don't shop online, but my wife buys everything at home. We buy sea crabs, fresh crabs, all kinds of things.

EBay is a great company. There are a lot of good assets and good customers, and the U.S. people love it.

I don't want people in China to have deep pockets but shallow minds.

I think Yahoo is a great company, with great assets.

The very important thing you should have is patience.

My dream was to set up my own e-commerce company. In 1999, I gathered 18 people in my apartment and spoke to them for two hours about my vision. Everyone put their money on the table, and that got us $60,000 to start Alibaba. I wanted to have a global company, so I chose a global name.