What is Ma Yun's speech? Grateful? For example, if there is no Silicon Valley, there will be no Alibaba. In his speech, he reviewed his mental journey of founding Alibaba and thought that the times and the team had made his success. He even called himself a CEO who didn't understand technology at all, so he respected and feared technical talents. Ma also encouraged China talents who have studied and worked overseas to return to work, believing that the ever-changing society in China has brought more development opportunities.
The following is a record of the speech:
Ma Yun: I attended the meeting of the Nature Conservancy (TMC) in Los Angeles yesterday. Today (this activity) may be the last time I left the CEO a few days ago. I think it is very meaningful. I just sat down and thought, without Silicon Valley, there might be no Alibaba, and there are still old friends here. Many of our friends have been together for more than ten years.
I sat down and thought, this is really an interesting time. Wang Jian is telling my story. This is a true story. I remember in 1996 and 1995, I went to work by bike at night, in Wen Er Street, Hangzhou. Seeing several people stealing manhole covers, I have no martial arts. As soon as I saw that they were so big, I couldn't beat them, so I rode my bike to look for people everywhere to see if there were any policemen. About five minutes later, I didn't find the police because I thought of the manhole cover. A child fell into the manhole cover the other day and drowned in the manhole.
I think the impact is not small. I went back to ride my bike, and people were still astride it, saying that you were carrying it, and some of them looked at me. I guess they rushed over and I wanted to run. But I don't know where I got the courage. I still say you carried it back. At this moment, suddenly someone came. what did you say ? Suddenly someone helped me. I said they were stealing the manhole cover and had to get it back. I was very excited when I spoke, and later I found that there was a camera next to me. They (the TV station) were doing a test. It is said that I was the only person who passed the test in Hangzhou that night. (Laughter).
I think this is quite interesting. Sometimes the world changes. If you don't take some action yourself, this change has nothing to do with you. If you take part in a small action, you may be the beneficiary of this change. So that day, after they finished filming, the result was released by Hangzhou TV station, and now they can still find the film. As a result, everyone said that Ma Yun looked like a bad guy. (Laughter) That was my first time on TV, and I had no experience. I went to the TV station for the second time, and now there seems to be a movie outside. The first time I went to CCTV, Oriental Time and Space was called "The Story of Common People". I am a family running for the state committee, and I hope they can use the Internet, but I was rejected. The film was finished, and now the man has passed away. He is the producer of Oriental Time and Space. During the film review, the director said that the film could not be used. First, the Internet is very sensitive, and second, Ma Yun looks like a bad guy and is useless. (Laughter).
Over the years, growing up, no one has ever said that I am capable, that I am smart, and that Ma Yun will achieve something one day, but I am really curious that I can walk for so many years and still be alive. I started working on the Internet from 1995 to 1994, half a year earlier than Yinghaiwei, and China should be the first to work on the Internet. Written in Zhongguancun, Beijing How far is China people from the expressway? At the time of this brand, I had actually started a business for half a year. I went to see what building he was in when he started his business in Beijing. Of course, he has money. At that time, we only had 50 thousand yuan. After chatting with him for half an hour, I think there is definitely hope for the internet to be the first, but the hope must not be with him, because I think if I die, he will die before me. As long as I am the last one, I think I have a chance.
After so many years, I feel grateful to this era, to the Internet and to many friends on this road, but I am especially grateful to Silicon Valley for giving me a lot of inspiration. When I was online in China in 1995, everyone thought you were a liar, and you had no idea what you were talking about. Of course I don't know what I'm talking about, because I don't know anything about computers and technology, but every time I come here, I feel that all the parking lots are full of cars on weekends, and there are traffic jams every night when I go back. Even on weekends, all the buildings you see are brightly lit. I tell people that everyone's eyes are full of reverie about the future. So when I came back to China, I always felt, alas, people have done so much. We should do something to finally make the Internet.
I am grateful. I remember my first speech at Harvard. At that time, I felt very successful. Harvard invited me to give a speech. Going to Harvard must be a great success. So for the first time, I talked about why we survived on the Internet in China at Harvard, a place bigger than the venue. 200 1 We talked about survival. Now I feel very naive, and the ignorant are fearless. Let me talk about three reasons why we survived. Three reasons are really reasonable. The first is that we have no money, the second is that we don't know technology, and the third is that we never make plans. Of course, Harvard professors were angry and students were happy. I remember a video of a speech. I never said anything else. My application to Harvard was rejected. It's true that the second one survived, because there is no money, and we really have no money. At that time, I worked as an Internet teacher, then started my own business, and then worked in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, with a salary of 4,000 yuan. That's a temporary job.
When we started our business, we only had 50,000 yuan. If we spend money, we may die. My competitors are better than me. I later learned that many entrepreneurs died because of too much money, because you think that when you use money to solve problems, your problems will come. I don't think any problem solved with money is a problem. Money is only an important means to solve the problem. So many people say that I have money, and I can do this. The beginning of this day is the beginning of failure.
Today, Alibaba may be an Internet company in China and a company with a relatively large cash reserve on the global Internet. We still keep this style. We want you to understand that I said many years ago that a company's money is like a national army, and it cannot be moved easily, but once it is moved, it must be strict. Money can't be squandered, thinking that money can solve problems. Second, we have no technology. I don't know technology. I really don't understand technology. Until today, I still don't understand what coding is all about. Until today, I still don't understand how the technology of the Internet came out. Ignorance of technology does not mean disrespect for technology. In Ali, technicians may quarrel with me. I think the only time 14 didn't quarrel, so we couldn't quarrel. I think Ali's tragedy is that the CEO knows nothing about technology, and the luckiest thing is that the CEO knows nothing about technology. If the CEO is very technical and sits next to you every day, you can't do it well, because I don't know how to do it, so I look at them with admiration.
Up to today, I admire the engineers in our company very much, because I didn't write a code, I checked it, but today it has affected thousands of people, and I think they have turned our dreams into reality. I really respect your engineers for changing the world, so they are in our company. All along, everyone thinks that Alibaba has no technology because I don't know technology. In fact, engineers in our company have suffered a lot, but I think someone has asked me this sentence, Ma Yun, you don't know technology. I said Wang Shi, you are a real estate company. Can you build a house?
That's not a concept. A layman can lead an expert. The key is to respect experts. Because I don't know technology, I became the only technical product tester in the company. I can test whether this thing works or not, because 80% people are like me. We fear technology, we are afraid of technology, as long as it can be used. If Ma Yun says it won't be used, no matter how good it is, it's useless. On the premise of Alibaba products, we help small and medium-sized enterprises to do e-commerce. If it is so complicated, it depends on instructions and there is no way to survive. So I was a product tester.
Why did I retire? I can't even take the exam now. It's really developing too fast. I believe more young people do better than me. Why are you still CEO? I'm really old. It is important not to understand, respect, appreciate or fear technology, especially technology, but the people behind it are more important, because without faith, technology is just a tool. If there are people who use them, these technologies will become productive forces, innovate and affect society. So we don't know technology. I have another mentality. I believe that China and the world are not short of technology. What they lack is appreciation and awe of technology.
Third, we have no plan. I really didn't write a business plan. I wrote a business plan when I was in Silicon Valley and returned to China. A venture capitalist told me that you have to write me a formal one. I haven't written since, because 1995, 1996, 1997, I asked you to write an Internet business plan. Either you are deceiving investors or you are deceiving yourself. You don't know what will happen. Some venture capital for you to write. I don't even know, can I write such a beautiful (scheme) by looking for an MBA from Stanford?
It doesn't work. It works by putting it into action. Later, I decided not to write a plan. Our life is a plan, and we will implement it slowly. Embrace change. Change is the best plan, but don't lose your sense of direction. We have been insisting on this for so many years, but today, I want to tell you that many people are half-hearted. I said I never planned at Harvard, but I didn't say we never planned. Everyone else in our company has a good plan.
I never thought that Ma Yun would have today, I never thought that Alibaba would have today, I never thought that Taobao would have today, Alipay would have today, and I never thought that the Internet in China would have today. To tell the truth, I took 99.9999% of Ma Yun's property today. I think I took it all, leaving 0.000 1%, which is a lot for me. Because I have no chance of success. To be Alibaba, we will pursue it, but I didn't expect it to be so big, far beyond my imagination. So I was thinking, why? Why do we have today? In fact, we are in a very good era, although today's era is very interesting. This era is the era of the most complaints. We are the best times and the worst times. No one in China is happy in this era, and it may not be much worse in the world. You are much better than your competitors. When you go to America, you think America is wrong, that's wrong, and China is better.
In China, this is wrong, that is wrong, and the United States is better. In China, the government does not trust the people, the people do not trust the government, the media does not trust the people, and the people do not trust the United States. The same is true in America, where the poor are unhappy and 1 people are unhappy. Why? We are in an era of change. In the first 30 years of China's economic development, I also believe that Deng Xiaoping made this decision more than 30 years ago, and never thought that China would become like this. Entrepreneurs 30 years ago had no idea that it could be like this today, and it will be like this in China. Now amazing changes have taken place in China. China 30 years ago was not much better than North Korea this year. Worse cake. But the changes that have taken place in these 30 years. In these 30 years, we didn't expect the economy to be so fast. In these 30 years, we didn't expect the environment to be destroyed. We didn't expect people to become so impetuous. We didn't expect people to be forever. The rich begin to hope for a better life, while those who have no money want to be richer. In the next 30 years, China will also be in a changing 30 years.
However, changes in any era and social contradictions are opportunities for young people. If there is no change, you have no chance. If there is no change, the industrial age will continue, and people will be ranked according to their generations, not your opportunities. Only change is an opportunity for young people. I like to challenge and change my personality. My father wanted me to concentrate on one thing since I was a child, but I never did. I think inattention is the greatest concentration. Writing calligraphy, I am Oracle Bone Inscriptions-style calligraphy, I am unique, because I am really ugly, and my handwriting is like painting, because other people can never write it by formal writing methods, so I can draw and draw. What is the reason? We must adapt to the changing times. If you don't change, you will die. If you change, you may have a chance. So I am grateful for this great era.
We sometimes regret it. When boys were young, they always wondered why I wasn't born in wartime. I may have been a general at that time, so what can I do? Actually, think about it. Is war really good? The worst thing in this world is war, but today we can influence an era and a society through economic development and China's own innovation without war. Today, you may not be a prime minister, a minister or a governor, but you can influence thousands of small software, functions and ideas. As long as you really agree with this idea, the world will change. This is very important.
So I have an idea about creativity. If Ma Yun can succeed, 80% of young people can succeed. I really want to prove it. I studied in primary school for seven years. Really, because our primary school is too poor to learn the lesson. We studied for another year. There used to be a middle school in Hangzhou, which was established only one year ago. It was called Shallow Water Middle School. Maybe there is no such name in history. One year, no one wanted to graduate from our school, and the teacher said that the school would become a middle school. I took the college entrance examination three times, and many people know it. Stanford, I dare not even think about it. Up to now, we all think that sometimes you work hard and live in a good era, plus some good friends and good opportunities, luck is very important. You can't do this without luck.
But how did luck come from? Walking, luck will come naturally. Luck is interesting. Luck is like planting outside. Everyone's luck and wealth in this world are 1. Some people believe in God. Some people say that that person is doomed in this life. How much money can you earn? If you exceed this money, you will earn 1 million in your life. More than 2 million is out of luck. Others will have five fortunes, and you will have a seventh. If you are lucky, share it with others and plant it here. This kind of luck is like beans planted today, which will grow out one day, and you may have more.
Ali, from the first day, we really have this idea, so that there is no difficult business in the world, and we just want to help entrepreneurs. Nothing, because I am too tired to start my own business. I never thought about it. I worry about having no money every day. I wonder if I have customers buying our products every day. This is sweeter than my dad. Knowing that small businesses are too hard, especially in China. Of course, small businesses all over the world are very hard, and China is the hardest. Therefore, we feel that if Internet technology can help these small enterprises succeed today, the Internet will have the opportunity to help small ideas become a reality. Without Internet technology, where did Google come from, where did Yahoo come from, where did facebook come from and where did Tencent come from?
Today, if this technology can become every small catering boss and everyone has a small idea, then today, no matter what small businesses Alibaba helps, you will all become Taobao and consumers. Before I left Hangzhou for the United States, I once again emphasized to the company management that Alibaba is not a consumer company. Our first task is to make the world free from difficult business. We are consumers and know that small businesses need consumers. If you want to be a consumer,
How fast the world changes, it is difficult for you to know the real needs of consumers. Our small enterprises know the needs of customers better, so we will make every effort. All our strategies are to let them use technology to help countless small businesses become stronger and more adaptable to the changes in the future consumer market. We hope those small enterprises can compete with big companies with technology. In the past, big companies were rich, influential and well connected. We hope that every young person only needs you to have an idea and no connections. As long as you are willing to work hard, you have a chance to succeed.
It's easy to say that Ma Yun can succeed and everyone can abide by the rules, but you really have to give everyone a chance to succeed. Today, many young people always climb the roof and say that they want to reform the political system. If they do, they will have a chance. It's really none of your business. I am absolutely critical when I say this. Ma Yun, why don't you talk about the political system? If you can't change it, what if you change it? Moreover, most people who say these words have foreign passports, which means running away. Turn dreams into social dreams and national dreams. Sometimes national dreams are very successful, but does it have anything to do with you? Not necessarily, let everyone dream of success, and the dream of this society will succeed.
Therefore, we hope that in our generation, we will talk about who Alibaba is competing with. In the past, we said that we were competing with ebay and Yahoo, and we were competing everywhere. Later, it was discovered that we were competing with the previous generation and the future. What do we people think about the future, what kind of society do we want, and what kind of people do we want to care about and help? If you do this, the world may become a better place.
Sometimes activities are done by politicians, and most activities are done by entrepreneurs and young people. Therefore, a more realistic assumption is that we can do what Ali can do in the process of progress. No matter how big your ideal is, being able to do it yourself is the key, so Alibaba has become this company. Today's dream remains the same. We want to be a market. If we want to make social progress in business and ideals, today's market is too big in business. There are countless small businesses in China, the United States and Africa. As long as there are small businesses, we have opportunities. Second, if there are no small enterprises, we will make large enterprises small. (Laughter).
The future of this world depends on the scale of the industrial age, the innovation of the information age and the personalization of the data age. Big data will directly make big enterprises smaller, make big enterprises miserable and make small enterprises flexible. It was a personalized era. So I think I'm glad that we live in this era. Our company is strange. From many years to now, all the activities I have participated in, as well as the activities within our company, have been recorded on DVD in case failure is regarded as a case study, and success is also considered as a decision made at that time. I have said a lot, Alibaba may fail, but people who take Alibaba Road will succeed, we may fail, we may not be smart, we have not changed or become wrong, but some people take this road.
People say that you help small businesses, how can you engage in finance? I tell you, Ali is doing Ali Microfinance, and we really don't want to make this money. There are banks in China and banks in China, both of which are very big. But today, I remember I just became a company called Haibo translation agency. I mortgaged everything in our store for a loan of 30 thousand to 50 thousand, but I still can't get the money. If we can make use of today's technology, we can create countless small businesses. If there is no mortgage, you can use a credit loan, so credit is equal to wealth 1. This is the mission of our Ali business. When people's dribs and drabs become the credit of this society, and these credits become wealth 1, society will move towards positive energy.
Just now I talked about dollar loans. What is a dollar? I trust you. I believe many colleagues in our company say that beggars can also get loans. Why can't beggars get loans? As long as I start today, I am willing to pay attention to credit. But if you really do this, you need a lot of technology, a lot of thinking and a lot of manpower to support it. So today is very interesting. In the past, it took guns and fire to change the world. Today, changing the world requires ideas and technology. Technology can change many people's lives. My favorite thing is that I go to dinner, and someone comes over and says someone will pay for you. I take a bus in front of a hotel. A young man opened the door for me and said thank you, Ma Yun. I work here. My wife runs a Taobao shop and earns more money than I do. I had a full meal and someone came and handed me a cigar. Thank you. I made a lot of money on Taobao Ali. Although I felt guilty, I didn't do anything, just rushed forward with that big guy.
These are interesting times. So Ali is fine, and I hope I can do it. Like them, countless companies are advancing wave after wave, changing people's lives through their own efforts. China is the same as other parts of the world. In the next 30 years, I believe that the world will be turbulent and turbulent. When everyone has real ideas to do it, I believe this is the era when young people are in this turbulent and changing process.
I came here today just to be grateful. The first person I am grateful to is Silicon Valley. I am grateful for the street lights and traffic jams every night. Just now I said that the traffic in Hangzhou is poor. People will find a solution, but not today. If you really want to solve it, there will always be some ways. I saw people chatting in restaurants in Silicon Valley at midnight. Without the encouragement and persistence of these people, we wouldn't be here today. So Ali's development so far is correct. When we come to America, we will come to America. We hope to increase investment here, not compete with anyone. We are still grateful. Without it, because of this spark, the American Dream not only ignited the Americans here, but also helped countless people in China. There are countless American angels in China, and I am grateful. In this world, sometimes Silicon Valley gives many kinds, but some fires may be set in Silicon Valley.
Sometimes this Yahoo deal, many people say that it is really a bad time for Ma Yun to buy this Yahoo China. I don't think it is expensive at all. I will buy it again. The truth. Some people or many times, I Ma Yun do things to cover up my mistakes, but for China Yahoo and Yahoo, we just don't want to be a tradition. After the buyer's company came in, he developed more and more. We just ate and digested Yahoo. Without Yahoo's transaction, engineers' thinking and Yahoo's ideas at that time, it is impossible to squeeze into the advertising platform. Because of this thing, I put it in the search engine at that time, and it was too small in the womb of China Yahoo, so I had to grow up in the womb of Taobao. Today, there are many ideas and there is a huge market in China. Taobao will have more than 100 million consumers rushing in one day, and half of Americans will rush in to buy your things, which is unimaginable. Can you imagine the huge growth of third-and fourth-tier cities in China? Have you ever thought about a lot of troubles here? But you are always worried about the river, and you will cross it when you cross it.
We want to do more things in America, not just for competition. Sometimes competition is necessary for business. If you are afraid of competition, you shouldn't do business. How can you do business? Don't be afraid of business competition. So we feel that when we come to the United States, we hope to do something for the small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States. We hope the fire here can be lit a little more, and these fires can be lit. Lao Mao said that a single spark can start a prairie fire and spread innovative ideas to the whole world. This is us. Engineers present today, if you can hope to do this and do something different one day, maybe China is a very good place. I'm not talking about this today, I'm talking about it for everyone. Later, I chose a place of change, which is where I developed. Welcome to Alibaba. It's ok to work here. Welcome to work in Hangzhou, and so is Beijing.
Second, we are afraid of technology, and we are afraid of future development. If we are lucky, we are lucky, Ali. Today, we need to plant this kind of luck in more people and more places, because only in this way will people not be too greedy. We have got something beyond all of us. Today, we work hard, but we still surpass it, far beyond it. So we hope more people will come. The future times are changeable. If you want to try it today, or go to the battlefield, try a new way in a new place. For young people, they think of thousands of roads at night and get up in the morning to take the original road. I told many friends before that they would start a business with me tomorrow. Tonight, I think, oh, no. I have to wait until next year. I went to see him last year, and my face turned blue. Of course, no one can guarantee to win, and of course no one can guarantee to fail. Many people promised that I would fail. So I don't want to say that I am resigned, but there is nothing wrong with trying to change in my life.
Thank you, if you have any questions, let's communicate.