Jack Ma in 2020,

Top Lesson from the Shanghai Bund Speech:
If you don't have to go on stage, don't go on stage. Think carefully before speaking when you must.

On October 24, 2020, at the Shanghai Bund Financial Summit,
Jack Ma delivered a 20-minute speech,
canceling Ant Group's $310 billion valuation,
in exchange for the most hardcore survival rule.

What he said wasn't wrong:
It hit the pain points of bank pawnshop thinking, regulatory lag, and financing difficulties for small and micro enterprises, which are now gradually improving.

But the mistake was in the timing, the occasion, and the attitude:
On the verge of Ant's IPO,
with global live broadcast and top regulators present,
he arrogantly criticized and mocked the rules,
high-profile pushing for change, completely losing control of his words.

As a result, he was summoned for a talk within 48 hours, and the IPO was halted in 7 days.
Since then, he has kept a low profile, paying a painful price to the extreme.

This lesson is condensed into three pieces of advice:

1. Don't reveal yourself easily:
The more prominent your spotlight, the more you should hide your edge. The highlight moments are often the most dangerous;
2. If you must go on stage, keep your mouth shut:
In major occasions, only speak of gratitude, vision, and consensus. Avoid criticism, provocation, or reckless words;
3. Even if you are right, don't boast:
In front of rules, even the correct opinions cannot outweigh moderation and respect.

There are no tears on the Shanghai Bund. In the adult world, controlling your words not only helps manage your weight but also guards your future. $ETH