Wake Up to Your Potential: A New Era of Entrepreneurship
Last updated: October 11, 2024 Read in fullscreen view
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In this era, the world moves fast. As Jack Ma once said, "The rooster crows, and the sky is bright. If the rooster doesn't crow, the sky will still be bright." The message? The universe doesn’t wait for you. Opportunities come whether you’re ready or not—the question is, are you awake yet?
For young people and aspiring entrepreneurs, the clock is ticking faster than ever. We live in a VUCA world—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. In this environment, if you’re not constantly evolving, adapting, and learning, you will inevitably fall behind. Opportunity doesn’t wait for the unprepared. Life will pass you by, and you'll be left scraping the ground, struggling to catch up.
Story 1: The Power of Learning, Even When You Don’t See It
There’s a story of a grandfather and his grandson. The boy, frustrated with his inability to retain what he read, questioned the value of reading books. In response, the grandfather handed him a basket and asked him to fetch water. The boy ran back, but by the time he returned, the basket was empty. Still, the grandfather smiled and pointed out that the once dirty basket was now clean.
The lesson here? Just like the water cleaned the basket, knowledge purifies the mind, even if it’s not immediately visible. We often underestimate the long-term impact of our efforts, especially in learning. But as Feuerbach said, "Man is the product of his own rumination." What we consume, intellectually or physically, shapes us.
Jack Ma’s wisdom echoes this: "What you read, you become." Even if you don’t remember every detail, every book you read silently transforms you. So, invest in your mind, and the return will come, often when you least expect it.
Story 2: Vision Over Value
Another story teaches the importance of perspective. A young girl put her phone on her expensive piano, drawing admiration for her device, not her piano. Her mother saw only the house, and her father valued himself even more. Vision shapes reality. If you only focus on the small things—like a phone—you miss the bigger picture.
In life and business, what determines your success is not your resources, but how you use them. Suzuki drivers worry about gas prices, while Bentley drivers dream of more. The difference is vision.
The paradox here is simple: the harder you work without purpose, the less you may achieve. Effort without strategy is like a donkey grinding corn—going nowhere despite endless toil. Don’t confuse busyness with productivity. Focus on what truly matters.
Story 3: Relationships Are Built on Value
Many people chase after relationships, hoping they’ll unlock doors to success. But as one story illustrates, you are your only real relationship. If you are a valuable person, opportunities—like the Phoenix—will come to you. You don’t beg for connections; you attract them.
This touches on a fallacy many people believe: that networking is about who you know. The truth is, it’s about what you bring to the table. Money follows value, not the other way around. The more valuable you become, the more meaningful relationships will come your way.
Story 4: Opportunities Are What You Make of Them
When Obama became president, his neighbor tried to sell his house for a fortune, hoping proximity to power would increase its value. Yet no one bought it due to privacy concerns—until a young entrepreneur named Daniel saw an opportunity. He turned the house into a kindergarten, branding it as the safest in America. He even monetized the wall by auctioning it for advertising space.
This story perfectly illustrates a key entrepreneurial insight: resources are like puzzle pieces. If you don’t know how to arrange them, they’re worthless. But when you do, they become gold. Vision and creativity turn opportunities into success.
Story 5: The Second Life Begins When You Live for Yourself
Everyone lives two lives: one for others and one for themselves. The second life often begins when you realize that success isn’t about what others think—it’s about your vision, your efforts, and your discipline.
What if someone offered you a sports car and a villa in exchange for waking up at 6 a.m., working 12 hours a day, reading 2 hours daily, and exercising for three years? Many would hesitate. But those who say yes are already on the path to success. The journey itself transforms you into someone capable of achieving that goal, even if the reward isn’t given outright.
Jack Ma said it best: "This is the era of 'money robbery,' where you don’t have time to waste." If you’re still sleeping while the world moves forward, don’t expect it to wait for you. Prepare yourself, seize the moment, and live a life that reflects your vision.
Your Life, Your Choice
The final takeaway is simple: success is not about finding the right people or waiting for opportunities to come. It’s about being the right person, ready for the opportunities. Accompany the right people, do the right things, and persist with bravery. When you are prepared, the opportunities will find you.
Are you ready for the new era, or are you still sleeping?
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