This article originally appeared on Evan Carmichael and Vulcan Post.
Hong Kong-based billionaire Li Ka Shing is as unassuming as they come. Born into poverty, the tycoon — who’s known as “Superman” in Hong Kong these days, thanks to his business smarts — continues to prefer simple suits and watches from brands like Citizen and Seiko. In fact, you might never imagine just by looking at the man behind the trademark glasses that he lives in a house in Hong Kong’s Deep Water Bay — or that the property costs an estimated £13 million (S$27.7 million).
Li sits as CEO of two main companies — Hutchison Whampoa Limited and Cheung Kong Holdings — but the various brands and businesses he owns reads like a laundry list of services we’ve come across on trips overseas. They include UK mobile operator O2 and beauty and health retailer Superdrug, as well as Canada’s Husky Energy. Closer to home, he’s made donations to both SMU and NUS’ Lee Kuan Yew School Of Public Policy.
With his wealth overshadowing so much of everything else Li can teach us, though, we thought it might be a good idea to bring it back to the basics, and look at some of the life and entrepreneurial lessons he can teach us.
All the great things to make him successful. He has own rules to follow:
1. DEVOTE YOURSELF TO WORK
Li ka Shing said "I cannot deny it's the times that create heroes. I was being modest then. Today I can be frank when I started my business. I almost certainly didn't rely on luck. I relied on work, hard work and the ability to make money. It's very important to devote yourself to work. you need to be interested in your business. If you are interested in your business you are bound to do well". So, we should do what we love. And then, We know how to manage our money.
2. GIVE YOUR EMPLOYEES A SENSE OF BELONGING
In a small business, a family business, you've got to do everything personally. But when the company I big, you need to give your staff a sense of belonging and make them feel at ease that's vital. All my senior staff gets along very well with me. that's gratifying. The secret of management is simply identifying and making use of talent. but you must be in principle make them feel they belong and like you first.
3. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
Some morning I was trying to get my car key from my pocket and accidentally dropped a two-dollar coin. It rolled to beneath the car. If the car was moved, the coin would fall into the drain. So, I squatted down to try to get the coin back, not wanting to lose it. the guard saw me doing that come up to ask me, " Mr. Li, what's up? I said I dropped a coin. He then gave me some help. The coin was picked up back. I got two dollars back and gave him one hundred dollars." Why did I do that? If I hadn't picked up the coin when the car moved. the coin would drop into the drain and would be lost forever. But I got it back and gave the guard one hundred dollars which would not be lost because he makes use for it. In a word, the money may be spent but never squandered
4. ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE
I became an apprentice at the age of 12. By the time I was 15. I had to support my entire family, thus depriving me of a formal education. At the time I was very certain that I must work hard and acquire knowledge to have good prospects. I bought a second-hand books whenever I spare more and adsorbed them before trading them for more books. Even today I still read every night before going to sleep. Knowledge doesn't guarantee a life of riches. But it does open up more opportunities and recognizing the opportunity is really the best that you can expect.
5. MAP OUT YOUR STRATEGY
All my senior staff knows I demand efficiency. Before the meeting, the other side knows what's going on and I know what they've done. Everybody is well prepared and no time should be wasted. Some people only know how to complain. Hoping you will help to solve their problems. Frankly, if they are fully prepared, they make the best suggestion. Simply speaking, you are the commander in chief the head of the group of armies. you can never be better with a machine gun than a machine gunner or better than a gunner at operating a cannon. But as the commander, you don't do these things. your job is mapping out the strategy. So a good organization is very important.
6. BE PREPARED FOR RAINY DAY
Be prepares for rainy days. No matter how well you are doing. you've got to be prepared. In the past year, when the stock market, the property market, and the general economy were in the doldrums. We increase our investments. One of the reasons was that we are always prepared. We don't get carried away when time is good and get to a pessimist when time is bad
7. STRIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT
When I was young, I appeared humble but was inwardly very arrogant. Why was I arrogant? When my colleagues went to play, I went to study. We'd all very little education but they remain the same. While I was becoming increasingly knowledgeable, we were doing similar work but I was striving for improvement all the time. So, when I went into business, I remain myself that if I allowed myself to be arrogant, I'd fall one day. And so I named my company Cheung Kong. The Yangtse River doesn't pick and choose its tributaries water from small streams and springs are just pulled over. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any Yangtse would there?
8. LOOK BEYOND MONEY
There are things that might bring in a lot of money but I shouldn't do it. A person has to be able to look beyond money. As long as we can keep our dignity, life becomes more meaningful.
9. FIGHT FOR YOUR PRINCIPLES
What am I after? As a Hong Kong citizen, I do things for myself as well as for Hong Kong. I have several principles. One, a liberal economy that allows free movement of assets and remittances that do not require official approval and I'm very insistent on this. Three, Permanent resident status... and I argued about this point. What did I argue for? As long as you've lived a full seven years in Hong Kong regardless of what happens afterward. You may have emigrated and returned. You are considered the same as all Hong Kong residents and may keep your permanent resident status.
10. CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD
My life differs from the lives of most people in that I didn't have a childhood. War broke out when I was ten. I was constantly on the move. First just to make a living and later for my career. In this life of mine, I think if I make up for what I lost in my youth..like education and medical health. If I can make some contribution to such areas as long as I'm up to it. I would like to do more. Some twenty years ago, when my sons were small a summer day it was we came to this lake and went kayaking. The hills have remained the same, as has the environment. One hundred... one thousand years from now, they will remain the same out the people now will not be there. When you think that life is but a short journey, you'll hope to make the most of the time when you're still able to work, to sow good seeds in the world. This is worth doing.
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