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Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, is no stranger to rejection. His story is a testament to resilience and perseverance in the face of repeated setbacks. When asked about his experiences with rejection, Ma shared some striking anecdotes.
Photo: CNBC
"I applied for jobs 30 times and got rejected," Ma said. He recalled applying for a position with the police force. They turned him down, saying he wasn't good enough. When KFC first came to China, Ma was among the 24 applicants. Out of those, 23 were accepted. Ma was the only one who got rejected. Even in applying to Harvard University, Ma faced rejection ten times.
Despite these repeated setbacks, Ma's perspective on rejection is enlightening.
"We have to get used to it," he said. "We're not that good. Even today, we still have a lot of people reject us."
This acceptance of rejection as a part of life has been crucial to Ma's success.
Ma's story highlights an essential lesson: rejection is not a reflection of your worth but a step in the journey to success. This idea resonates with the experiences of other successful entrepreneurs. Take Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, for example. His recipe was rejected 1,009 times before a restaurant accepted it. His persistence led to the creation of one of the world's most famous fast-food chains.
Another example is J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. She faced numerous rejections from publishers before one finally accepted her manuscript. Today, her books are beloved by millions around the globe.
Similarly, Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper job because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas." He faced multiple business failures before creating the Disney empire. Disney's story, like Ma's, is a powerful reminder that rejection is often a precursor to extraordinary success.
In conclusion, Jack Ma's experiences with rejection teach us the importance of perseverance. Rejection is not an endpoint but a stepping stone. By embracing and learning from it, we can move closer to our goals. This perspective is shared by many successful individuals who have faced and overcome rejection to achieve their dreams. As Ma demonstrates, the key is to keep moving forward, regardless of the setbacks.
Listen to Jack Ma: