--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Customers should be number 1, Employees…" description: "\"Customers should be number 1, Employees number 2, and then only your Shareholders come at number 3.\" — Jack Ma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/jack-ma-2112_business_customers-should-be-number-1-employees-n_827603.jpg" --- # Customers should be number 1, Employees number 2, and then… ![“Customers should be number 1, Employees number 2, and then only your Shareholders come at number 3.” quote by Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/jack-ma-2112_business_customers-should-be-number-1-employees-n_827603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/jack-ma-2112_business_customers-should-be-number-1-employees-n_827603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/jack-ma-2112_business_customers-should-be-number-1-employees-n_827603.jpg) > “Customers should be number 1, Employees number 2, and then only your Shareholders come at number 3.” [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Customers first, employees second, shareholders third in priority. **In simple terms:** Prioritize customers, then staff, then investors. Key Takeaway Focus on customer and employee value. Themes business hierarchy stakeholder management prioritization Mood pragmatic strategic Type business philosophical When to use this quote - company policy - customer service - HR - shareholder relations Key Concepts economics leadership strategy Questions to Reflect On - Is this order sustainable long‑term? - How to balance all stakeholder needs? A Different Perspective Neglecting shareholders can affect funding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Customers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customers/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Number 2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-2/) [Number 3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-3-134073/) [Number Employees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-employees-530244/) [Number Shareholders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-shareholders-530242/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Shareholders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareholders/) [Shareholders Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareholders-come-530243/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [Write down the most important things you have to do tomorrow. 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