Li Ka-shing is a man of the hour. In the mid-1960s, Hong Kong's real estate industry was at a low ebb, and Li Ka-shing seized the opportunity to enter the market on a large scale, transforming from the owner of a plastic factory to a real estate king. Later, Changjiang Group grew rapidly and its business expanded to all parts of the world.
Li Ka-shing now controls four listed companies, namely Changjiang, Hutchison, Changjian and HEC, with a wide range of business, ranging from real estate, telecommunications, container terminals to supermarkets. By February 15, 2000, its total market value reached HK$ 80,600.
To Hong Kong people, Li Ka-shing means wealth. As early as 1987, the international authoritative financial magazine Happiness estimated that Li Ka-shing had a wealth of 2.5 billion US dollars, ranking 26th in the world. Li Ka-shing ascended the throne of "the richest Chinese in the world".
From 65438 to 0992, Li Ka-shing topped the annual rich list listed by Hong Kong-funded magazines, with assets of US$ 3.8 billion, and was called "Superman Lee" and "Brother Cheng".
Rely on faith and loyalty, courage and integrity.
From 65438 to 0950, Li Ka-shing started a small plastic factory with a sum of money saved by scrimping and saving, specializing in the production of toys and household necessities. In the second half of 1950s, there was a plastic flower craze in European and American markets. Li Ka-shing resolutely decided to switch to making plastic flowers and produce them in large quantities for export to Europe and America.
During the period of 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries drastically cut crude oil production to combat the actions of the United States and other economic powers supporting Israel's invasion of Syria, which led to the international oil crisis. Affected by this, there is a raw material famine in the plastics industry in Hong Kong. Some profiteers took the opportunity to hoard, so that the colloidal particles, which were originally less than HK$ 65,438+0 per pound, soared to HK$ 4-5 per pound. Many small and medium-sized plastic factories can't bear the losses caused by rising raw materials and face the threat of shutdown. Li Ka-shing was deeply worried about this, running around, lobbying around and taking various measures to help these enterprises tide over the difficulties.
First of all, he mobilized importers to step up the import of plastic raw materials to ease the contradiction between supply and demand; Secondly, take out 6.5438+0.2 million Jin from the fixed hard rubber of Changjiang Industrial Co., Ltd. and sell it to the factories at the original price; Finally, 65,438+02,430,000 pounds of blow-molded soft rubber were transferred from the company's inventory goods and sold to factories at a price lower than half of the market. Li Ka-shing's kindness has made many small and medium-sized plastic factories suffer from drought. Everyone praises Li Ka-shing as "timely rain".
Successfully realize the transformation of self-role.
During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression period, 12-year-old Li Ka-shing wandered to Hongkong with his parents. 65,438+05 years old, serving tea and water in a teahouse. 65,438+07 years old, resigned as a salesman in the plastic factory. At the age of 20, he used his savings of HK$ 7,000 to set up his own small plastic factory in a dilapidated shed. At the beginning of the establishment of the factory, there were few funds and talents, and he had to do it himself in procurement, design, construction and sales promotion. It took Li Ka-shing 10 years to become the "king of plastic flowers" and "multi-millionaire" known to all women and children in Hong Kong.
What should we do next? This is a severe test for Li Ka-shing. He resolutely turned the "factory" into a "company", from the heroic management of entrepreneurs who had to ask him in detail to the "group management" relying on management experts and technical talents. He relies on his subordinates for management and is responsible at different levels. Li Ka-shing has realized that it is very important for entrepreneurs to work hard at the beginning of the enterprise, because at this time, funds are scarce and various relationships have not been established. Success or failure depends on how much effort the entrepreneurs themselves have made. However, the enterprise has gained a firm foothold (note that some people mistakenly think that it is the maturity of the enterprise), and the "heroic" management style of early entrepreneurs is no longer suitable. The work of each department depends on secretaries, translators, engineers and technicians.
Broad vision and flexible mind.
In just over 20 years, Li Ka-shing has become the king of plastic flowers from the lowest factory salesman and the super-rich in the real estate industry. His success is closely related to his keen and long-term vision and correct prediction.
1950, Li Ka-shing set up its own plastic factory, specializing in the production of toys and some household items. But he soon found that there would be an infinite market for plastic flowers, so he decided to switch from operating plastic toys to operating plastic flowers. Thanks to correct prediction and decisive decision, Li Ka-shing has achieved great success. The plastic flower market has been booming to 1964. Before and after seven years, it brought tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars of wealth to Li Ka-shing and laid a foundation for his future development.
It was also at this time that Li Ka-shing Superman's first-class vision took aim at the infinite Hong Kong real estate industry. Although the real estate industry in Hong Kong experienced many ups and downs around 1964, many multi-millionaires went bankrupt because of their investment in real estate. It can be said that the real estate industry in Hong Kong was at a low point at that time. However, Li Ka-shing accurately predicted that a year or two of small ups and downs are nothing in the whole economic tide; What's more, Hong Kong has a large population and a small population, and land prices will always rise to an alarming level. As a result, Li Ka-shing invested the profits of the plastic industry in the real estate industry and boldly bought a lot of land and old buildings. Because of his unique vision and accurate prediction, his investment in real estate was smooth and his wealth soared. Now, Li Ka-shing has become the richest man in Hong Kong.
Self-denial, not self-interest.
Rich as he is, Li Ka-shing never shows off his wealth. He lived in his private house for more than 20 years and wore an ordinary watch. He doesn't get paid in the group, but only gets a director's fee of $640 a year, and there is no other welfare allowance. He bought all the luxury cars and yachts at his own expense and never even paid for lunch.
Before 1979 established itself, Cheung Kong Industrial Group paid the directors' salaries out of his own pocket to show his confidence in the company and save money.
One summer many years ago, my son used his school summer vacation to work in Changjiang Industrial Company. He once jokingly said to his father, "I am the lowest paid employee in the company." Li Ka-shing said to his son, "No, I am." He also said: "Now I don't make money for myself."
There is another little thing that moved Hong Kong financial reporters. One year, they wanted to hold a seminar, but they lacked funds and asked Li Ka-shing for help. Li Ka-shing said that if the donation is made in the name of the company and needs to be discussed by the board of directors, I might as well pay for it myself. A cheque for 2000 Hong Kong dollars was drawn at once.
That's how Li Ka-shing's reputation spread, and that's how Changjiang Industrial Company's reputation was established.