Why it matters: Twenty years after founding the company that came to be a global giant, Jack Ma kept a promise he had made to step down from his role as chairman of Alibaba on 55th birthday. Ma made it clear he is not retiring, but rather planning to pivot to other projects and goals. This piece looks at three sage pieces of advice Ma offered over the years to young professionals and overall society. The first tip urges young people to choose their first job wisely.
"You should find a good boss that can teach you how to be a human, how to do things right. Stay there for at least three years."
That is wise advice, but sometimes identifying good potential bosses is a skill people develop later in their careers. Often, landing a first boss who is a great boss comes down to pure luck.
