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As the richest man in Asia with an estimated $26.5 billion to his name, Li Ka Shing is certainly an entrepreneur to aspire to. Born on June 13, 1928 he has risen to considerable wealth via a number of lucrative investments and a lot of hard work. His beginnings were certainly humble, but he managed to rise above his early life and soon became an economic force to be reckoned with. This is why the entrepreneur could indeed provide any person determined to make it in business with the inspiration to do just that!

Humble Beginnings

Li Ka Shing was hardly destined to be a successful entrepreneur and the 11th richest man in the world (according to Forbes in February 2008) on the day of his birth. Born into a poor family, he and his parents were forced to flee China in 1940 as a result of the political discontent there and moved to Hong Kong to live with his wealthy but arrogant uncle. Inspired by the entrepreneur, Li Ka Shing vowed to one day be wealthy in his own right.

However, before he had chance to finish his education, his father died. He was then forced to work to keep the family and found a job labouring for 16 hours a day at a plastics factory. It was the factory and his work ethic that were to pave the way for him to rise on the corporate ladder and eventually make his money in various entrepreneurial ventures.

Li Ka Shing – Businessman Extraordinaire

Li Ka Shing has had many entrepreneur ventures over the years, including plastics, real estate, cell phones, satellite TV, banking, electric, airports, steel products, shipping, pharmacies and construction, amongst other ventures. His first business was founded in 1950. After spending years working in a plastic plant himself, he had the necessary knowledge to be able to operate his own and Cheung Kong Plastics was born. After schooling himself with trade journals and business news reports, he had been able to gather the knowledge necessary to make a success of it. When combined with his hard work ethic, there was very little chance he would fail.

After investing in several more industries, he founded Cheung Kong Group. The Group currently has assets of US$157 billion.

La Ki Shing – The Inspiration

La Ki Shing has undoubtedly worked hard for his money and deserves all of the success that his entrepreneurial ventures have brought him. He truly is a shining example of what hard work can bring in terms of rewards, and yet he has never forgotten his roots. Spending money wisely and sparingly on simple but inexpensive clothes and instead giving over $1 billion to charities to date, he has made his name as a great philanthropist as well as an entrepreneur. He is certainly an inspiration in terms of both business and how to spend the fruits of your labour.

The entrepreneur in Li Ka Shing is practical and calculating. He has never taken a risk that will not benefit him and does not allow vanity to get in the way of common sense. As such, he has never been lucky but has deserved everything he has now. This is why his entrepreneurial skills should be admired and studied by those wanting to achieve the same level of success.