IF NOT NOW, WHEN? IF NOT ME, WHO? — A WAKE -UP CALL INSPIRED BY JACK MA.

 

Written by Joan Nakagwe 

We all have dreams. Ideas that spark within us, changes we wish to see, or opportunities we secretly yearn to seize. Yet, how often do we find ourselves waiting for the “perfect” moment, the right” person, or the “ideal” conditions? Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, is no stranger to struggle. Rejected from dozen of jobs —including KFC —told he wasn’t smart enough to succeed, he defied every odd imaginable. Yet he built one of the most powerful companies in the world. His life and speeches echo with a powerful call to action:

“If Not Now, When? If Not Me , Who?”

This isn't just a catchy phrase; it's a profound philosophy that fueled one of the world's most incredible success stories. It's a double-barreled question that cuts through procrastination and self-doubt, urging us into decisive action.

The Power of Urgency: “If Not Now, When?” 

Jack Ma’s journey with Alibaba is a masterclass in acting with urgency, emphasizes the importance of taking immediate action. Too many people wait for the “right time” — when they’re older, richer, smarter, or more experienced. But that time rarely comes. 

 In the late 1990s, when internet penetration in China was minuscule and e-commerce was a foreign concept, most would have waited. Ma didn't. He saw a nascent opportunity and believed in its future, even when others scoffed.

In one of his famous talks, Jack Ma says:“You should learn from your competitors, but never copy. Copy and you die.”

“If you wait for things to be perfect, you will wait forever.”

Success favors the bold, not the hesitant. The more you delay your dreams, the further they drift from grasp. The clock ⏰ is ticking, and opportunities are fleeting. The real question is —-What are you waiting for?

• The Danger of Perfectionism:  We often tell ourselves, "I'll start when I have more money," "when I have more time," or "when I know everything." This pursuit of perfection is often a sophisticated form of procrastination. Jack Ma understood that waiting for ideal conditions means missing the boat entirely. Opportunities are fleeting; they don't wait for your convenience.
• Embrace the Unknown:  Ma started Alibaba with no technical background and faced numerous rejections. His "If not now, when?" mindset wasn't about having all the answers, but about taking the plunge and figuring it out along the way. It’s about being agile, adaptable, and willing to learn in real-time. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now.

 

The Responsibility of Action: If Not Me , Who? 

Beyond the urgency of "when," there's the powerful introspection of “who.” Why should you be the one to act? Because often, you are uniquely positioned – by your experiences, your passion, or simply your willingness – to initiate change.

We often think someone else will take the first step. Someone else will start the business. Someone else will stand up. But Jack Ma flips this idea on its head. He believes that true leadership and innovation come when you stop waiting and start owning your power.

   Help young people. Help small guys. Because small guys will be big. Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds, and when they grow up, they will change the world.”

This isn’t just about personal success. It’s about the responsibility to contribute. To lead. To take action for your community, your family, and the next generation.

• Set Up to Lead:  Jack Ma wasn't the most experienced or the wealthiest person in China when he founded Alibaba. He was just a passionate English teacher with a fierce belief in the internet's power to empower small businesses. He didn't wait for a Silicon Valley giant to replicate the model in China; he decided he would do it.
• Overcoming Self-Doubt: This question challenges your inner critic. It pushes back against the feeling that you're not qualified enough, smart enough, or connected enough. When you ask "If not me, who?", you force yourself to confront the possibility that perhaps you are the right person, and your unique perspective is precisely what's needed.
• Personal Responsibility: This mantra is a call to take personal responsibility for your vision. It means understanding that if you don't pursue your idea, it might never come to fruition. It's about empowering yourself to be the catalyst.

The Jack Ma Blueprint: Urgency Meets Self-Belief

Jack Ma's incredible journey with Alibaba is a living testament to the combined power of these two questions. He dared to act when others hesitated, and he took on the monumental challenge himself when no one else would. He built an empire not just on technology, but on this foundational mindset of proactive, self-driven urgency.

His story reminds us that success isn’t reserved for the lucky—it’s earned by the relentlessly determined. His refusal to quit after repeated rejection is what separates him from the millions who gave up. 

Jack Ma says success often belongs to those who are willing to:

• Stop overthinking and start doing.
• Embrace discomfort and uncertainty.
• Take the lead, even when they're not the obvious choice.
• Believe in their own capacity to create change.

So, look at your life today. What dreams have you been postponing? What problems have you been waiting for someone else to solve? What ideas are collecting dust in your mind?

Jack Ma didn’t wait for permission. He didn’t wait for the right moment. He created his moment. And you can too. 

The time to believe in yourself and for action is now. The person to lead that change is You. The person the world waiting for is ……You.

Don’t let fear, doubt, delay rob you from your future.

Take that first step 

Make the call. Start the project. Share the ideas. 

You’ve got everything it takes inside you. 

Because 

If Not Now, When? If Not Me, Who? The answer, for those who truly want to win, is clear.

Written by Joan Nakagwe 

(Joan@Journey to wealth)

Watch more on my YouTube channel https://youtu.be/7c78EiWlmkQ?si=AE6gOCoREG1-ijL9

You can also read more about the Real Secret of success https://thejourney2wealth.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-real-secret-of-success.html