You can only become successful when you help others.

Consider this piece of advice from the successful and renowned founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma who has had his own fair share of rejections and failures—from getting rejected at KFC when he applied as a waiter, to applying for Harvard, and getting rejected yet again.

When he came up with the idea of Alibaba, it was rooted in the belief that they need to help people and in the process they will grow too. Decades later, what Jack Ma initiated in 1999 in his apartment together with his 17 co-founders, has more than 79 million users in 240 countries. Jack Ma is also officially the richest man in China with an estimated net worth of $25 billion.

“Today we are like a four hundred billion dollars market cap, this does not belong to us,” Jack Ma shared in an interview. “And why we succeed: we support young people, we supported small and medium-sized companies, we support women. And because of supporting these people, we also succeed.”

Jack Ma firmly believes that if you contribute to other people’s success, you will be successful too. So how can you apply this timeless advice to yourself and your business?

Also read: Growth strategies for 2020: What you can learn from successful businesses

Focus on solving a problem, not making a profit

Sure, you build a business to make profit. But that should not just be your sole reason. What problems are you trying to solve with your business? Alibaba was born with the idea of empowering people online which allowed it to grow as a successful B2B company. Ride-hailing app Angkas is trying to solve mobility problems in the Philippines through motorbikes. In much the same way, GlobalLinker makes the business growth of small and medium enterprises simpler, more profitable, and enjoyable.

Jack Ma once shared, "We support young people, we supported small and medium-sized companies, we support women. And because of supporting these people, we also succeed.”

 

Profit may not come instantly, but it will soon follow as long as you solve real problems of your target customers. Set your eyes focused on building impact and create a business that makes a difference.
 

Help your team to grow

Your team is not just your manpower. They play a significant role in making your vision and dreams for your business happen. Give them the opportunity to grow in their career. Invest in training and seminars. Make sure that as they perform at their best, they are also receiving the opportunities that they deserve.

Support other entrepreneurs

One of the ways to support other entrepreneurs is to share your network which can be helpful to them and their business. Invite them to networking events or groups that can add value to their business journey. If they are not yet on GlobalLinker, you can invite them and let them know that there are free business tools and a network of entrepreneurs that they can leverage to grow their venture.

You can also organize a founder’s meet-up where entrepreneurs can share their challenges, small and big wins, and share some opportunities to help each other.
 

Without a doubt, the greatest success in life comes from helping other people succeed.

Also read: TradeConnect Musings – The mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship of SMEs and Corporates

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, official policy or position of GlobalLinker.