I’ve always been fascinated by people who built themselves up from nothing.
Jack Ma is one of those folks who rose from humble beginnings, got rejected a bunch of times, and eventually turned his vision into a global powerhouse.
It’s not every day you come across someone who was turned down for dozens of jobs, including a KFC gig, and then went on to become one of the richest entrepreneurs in the world.
So, what’s his deal? Why has he been able to navigate challenges that leave many of us stuck?
Today, I want to unpack five secrets Jack Ma swears by. These lessons, in my opinion, aren’t just for tech moguls. They’re for anyone determined to break through barriers, whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or a corporate employee trying to launch a side hustle.
Let’s dive into these five secrets, each of which I’ve tried to weave into my own life whenever I’m looking for an extra jolt of perspective.
1. He bets on people, not just ideas
One of the standout traits Jack Ma is known for is how relentlessly he invests in people.
He’s quoted as saying, “Help young people. Help small guys. Because small guys will become big.”
That’s not just a feel-good statement—it’s a rock-solid strategy.
When you support and mentor the right individuals, you’re effectively planting seeds that can grow into entire forests of opportunity.
People want to contribute where they feel valued, and if you’re the one who believes in them first, you’ll have a loyal team that’s ready to hustle hard.
Truth is, the difference between a mediocre venture and one that takes off often comes down to the people behind it.
A subpar concept can sometimes turn profitable if you have a cohesive team that adapts quickly, learns from failures, and keeps each other motivated.
On the flip side, the greatest idea on earth can flop if the team lacks passion or trust.
From everything I’ve observed, Jack Ma’s focus on “small guys” is also a long-term play. He knows that investing in human potential pays off in ways you can’t fully predict.
And in a rapidly shifting business landscape, the people who’ve grown with you from the ground up are more likely to stick around when things get turbulent.
That sense of loyalty can make all the difference when challenges—like new competitors or changing market conditions—start piling up.
2. He embraces mistakes as gateways to growth
Jack Ma’s also famous for saying, “If you don’t give up, you still have a chance. Giving up is the greatest failure.”
But there’s another layer to this. He doesn’t just refuse to quit—he leans into his mistakes. Anyone who’s read his early story knows he tried (and failed) at several different ventures. He was far from an overnight success.
If you ask me, his real skill isn’t avoiding errors. It’s learning from them fast, then pivoting hard and quick.
The logic here is backed up by psychology. According to Dr. Carol Dweck’s research, when people view mistakes as evidence they’re “not good enough,” they end up in what’s called a “fixed mindset.”
But if you see failures as learning opportunities, you’re stepping into a “growth mindset,” which fosters resilience and innovation.
Jack Ma embodies that growth mindset. He’s proof that you can face closed doors—lots of them—and still push forward if you treat each setback like a stepping stone rather than a roadblock.
3. He stays laser-focused on long-term impact
Jack Ma is all about the long game. The big picture.
He urges us to think about the long haul—where is the world going, and what problems need solving?
It’s that kind of long-term outlook that helped him build Alibaba from a scrappy e-commerce startup into a global titan.
Successful leaders often plan years (sometimes decades) ahead. They’re not merely reacting to what’s hot right now; they’re designing strategies for a future they believe is coming.
Jack Ma definitely falls into this category. He saw early on that the internet would revolutionize commerce, especially in regions that many tech giants overlooked at the time.
In my own ventures, I’ve learned that chasing “quick wins” can keep you afloat, but they rarely propel you to the next level. Jack Ma’s approach reminds me to zoom out.
Yes, monthly metrics matter. Yes, you need profitability. But if you focus too much on immediate returns, you risk neglecting the very innovations that will keep you relevant five or ten years down the line.
Ultimately, the entrepreneurs who stay in the game are the ones who balance short-term adaptability with a very real commitment to what comes next.
4. He believes in purpose over profit
Jack Ma has said that making money isn’t the end-all-be-all. In various interviews, he emphasizes that profit is merely a byproduct of providing true value.
At first glance, this might sound like a cliché—who hasn’t heard that you should “focus on value creation”? But the way he puts it into practice is what sets him apart.
Alibaba didn’t grow just because it aimed to be the biggest e-commerce platform. It grew because it tackled a pressing challenge: it helped countless small businesses access global markets.
In psychology, there’s this concept known as “intrinsic motivation,” which refers to doing something because you find it inherently rewarding, rather than chasing external rewards like money or accolades.
If you’re building a startup—or even working a regular job—it’s worth asking: Do I actually believe in what I’m doing, or am I just in it for the paycheck?
Personally, whenever I’ve pursued a path purely for financial reasons, I’ve found my enthusiasm and creativity wane pretty quickly.
But when I’m working on something that resonates with my core values, I’m way more willing to power through the tedious parts and figure out solutions when I hit a wall. That’s what Jack Ma gets right, in my book.
By putting purpose first, you attract partners, employees, and even customers who share your vision. And that sense of shared mission does wonders for long-term success.
5. He keeps going when everyone else stops
A big part of Jack Ma’s legend is how many times he was told “no.” He didn’t get into Harvard. KFC turned him down. He was rejected by many companies before he even got Alibaba off the ground.
But here’s the thing about him—he never took those rejections as a final verdict. He kept moving, searching, and iterating until something stuck.
This “never give up” mantra isn’t just motivational fluff. There’s a neuroscience angle to it, too.
The brain is malleable and adapts to how often we push ourselves to try new things or persist through challenges.
When we keep going despite initial failures, we essentially train our minds to be more resilient. It becomes easier—psychologically—to tackle the next obstacle.
That mindset shift is huge, because the real difference-maker isn’t skill or luck—it’s pure determination. Stick around longer than most people think is reasonable, and you might just find your breakthrough.
Wrapping things up, but it’s still a big deal…
These five secrets show why Jack Ma’s mindset propelled him from repeated rejections to incredible triumphs.
It’s less about complicated business strategies and more about how he views obstacles, teams, purpose, and long-term possibilities.
He’s got this mix of optimism, resilience, and sheer tenacity that most of us could probably stand to adopt.
If there’s one core lesson, it’s that you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You don’t need a perfect track record, or an Ivy League degree, or a million bucks in the bank to start.
What you do need is the willingness to keep learning, keep showing up, and keep trusting the process—even when the outcome seems iffy.
Jack Ma’s story is living proof that mindset often trumps everything else.
Until next time, friends.
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