8 (Genuine!) Tips For Success From Asia's Richest Man Li Ka-shing

Thanks to Will for passing this along.

*As a leader, one should spend more time than others planning for the future.

*I do not get overly optimistic when the market is good, nor overly pessimistic when the market is down.

*A good reputation for yourself and your company is an invaluable asset not reflected in the balance sheets.

* It doesn’t matter how strong or capable you are; if you don’t have a big heart, you will not succeed.

*To be a successful manager, attitude and ability are equally important ingredients. A leader inspires others to greatness. A boss dominates his subordinates and makes them feel small.

*Though a universal formula for success is difficult to come by, caution signs for failure are posted everywhere. Establishing a structure that serves to minimize failure will prove to be a shortcut to success.

*Successful managers should also have a keen eye for talent. They not only select people who are smarter than themselves, but also avoid picking corporate superstars whose reputation precedes them.

*The art of good management lies in the capacity to accept change, and the ability to meld new and traditional thinking.

...................

Related article: Where Asia’s richest man is putting his money now

Excerpt: 

“Businesspeople in general shouldn’t have an overly narrow view of their industry,” he says, explaining his interest in Europe at a time when others see a cloudy future. Rather, they “need a 360-degree perspective and to look at everything from all possible angles.”

That’s in part why even now Li tries daily to read books about science, economics, politics and philosophy. In February he was deep into a history about an influential political leader during China’s Ming dynasty, Zhang Juzheng. “I know how to find peace within my heart and soul,” he says. “If I have a rare vacation, I will spend it reading.” His curiosity about the world and openness to it is summed up in the spirit of a Chinese-style calligraphy painting behind his desk. “Set your goals high; make friends with different kinds of people; enjoy simple pleasures. Stand on high ground; sit on level ground; walk on expansive ground.”