Responsibility is the purpose of our existence. If you want to become an entrepreneur and grow a company, you should focus on solving social problems. Over time, you will realize that your efforts create tremendous long-term value for both the company and your dreams. The excessive emphasis on "shareholder first" in the last century has, to some extent, led to greed. I respect shareholders—without investors like SoftBank, Alibaba would not exist—but if we had followed shareholders blindly, Alibaba would not exist either. Most shareholders tend to focus on short-term gains.
After Alibaba went public, its stock price rose from 14 to 40, and many shareholders exited. When a company faces its greatest difficulties, shareholders are often the first to leave, while employees stay and customers continue to trust you. Remember, customers pay you, and employees create value. They are the most important assets of a company. If you fail to improve employees' lives and, through them, serve customers better, your company is merely a money-making machine and will eventually bring regret.
Turning the tangible into something solid and the intangible into something meaningful is the key to becoming an excellent entrepreneur. The "tangible" refers to measurable results such as revenue and profit. The "intangible" refers to corporate culture, mission, systems, and processes. This philosophy is also inspired by traditional thinking.
The future will not be completely smooth, nor will it remain stagnant. The global financial environment is likely to face continuous changes and challenges over the next decade. If you fear risk and crisis, entrepreneurship is not for you. Businesses must grow through crises, competition, financial pressure, and workforce changes. Treat employees well, respect customers, and the company will have the foundation to survive and grow. A business needs faith, and so do people.
