He’s dispensed Yoda-like wisdom over the years that have made him a role model in China and the subject of dozens of books. Here is a sampling:
On his leadership approach:
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On the importance of women in top management:
“Women understand the thing that makes them better than men, the greatest weapon that God gives them, is gentleness. They understand tolerance.”
On the importance of perseverance:
“Today is hard, tomorrow is harder, but the day after tomorrow is beautiful.”
On determination:
“If you don’t give up, you still have a chance. Giving up is the greatest failure.”
On fighting eBay’s efforts to enter China:
“EBay may be a shark in the ocean, but I am a crocodile in the Yangtze River. If we fight in the ocean, we lose ― but if we fight in the river, we win.”
On priorities for management:
“Customer first, employees second, shareholders third.”
On the distraction of rivals:
“Do not focus on your competitors, focus on your customers.”
On the role of technology:
“I believe it’s not the technology that changes the world. It’s the dreams behind the technology that change the world.”
On hiring the right people:
“We’re never in lack of money. We lack people with dreams who can die for those dreams.”
On perspective for young workers:
“If young people have awe for the future, act conscientiously towards the present and be thankful for the past, they will have opportunities.”
On China’s internet controls and Western companies involvement:
“Facebook and these companies, if they come here they have to follow the rules and laws. Google, they left – we did not kick them out. When you do business in any country you have to follow the rules and laws.”
On philanthropic strategy:
“To do philanthropy well, you need to use commercial means, while bearing a philanthropic heart; don’t use philanthropic means and bear a commercial heart.”
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