When successful entrepreneurs are interviewed about their journey, they will often tell you of the trials and failures first. In fact, they often note that without these setbacks they would not have achieved success. They speak about how they couldn’t get a customer, or financing, or even any respect for their ideas. The will to stick to principles and to overcome obstacles takes not only a special person and team, but a special purpose.
In an interview at the World Economic Forum last week, Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, explains his drive to serve his customers and the people of his country. These ambitions helped him and his team launch the largest IPO in U.S. history, and brought 100 million people to their service EACH DAY! I highly recommend you make time for the 45-minute video interview with Jack Ma – I consider it a must-watch for entrepreneurs and leaders in both business and government.
Economic development organizations are here to serve both communities and clients. Just as Jack Ma indicated, we must serve those constituents with absolute integrity and provide leadership when tough things needs to be done. We must not be deterred from our goals, and we must provide balance when things go awry.
–Kenny McDonald
One Columbus Update
- This week is the culmination of nearly 2 years of work developing a global trade and investment plan for the Columbus Region, which we will launch on Thursday at the One Columbus Investor Update. With the help of the Brookings Institution, JPMorgan Chase, dozens of economic development peers from around the country, and companies and communities within our region, we will launch an essential plan to increase foreign investment and trade. Deborah Scherer and Jung Kim from the One Columbus team did great work to make this plan a reality, and they will lead our efforts to execute it going forward.
- This week, we will also present at the Columbus Metropolitan Club Forum about a related subject – how to continue and increase trade and investment with Canada, our closest and perhaps most important national partner.
- Congratulations to the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Experience Columbus and our partners at the Columbus Blue Jackets and Worthington Industries for hosting one of the very best events in sports, the NHL All-Star Game. The weekend was a real celebration of both hockey and the Columbus Region.