--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The customer is number one, the employee…" description: "\"The customer is number one, the employee is number two and the shareholder is number three. If the customer is happy, the business is happy, and the sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/jack-ma-2112_business_the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee_294399.jpg" --- # The customer is number one, the employee is number two and… ![“The customer is number one, the employee is number two and the shareholder is number three. If the customer is happy, the business is happy, and the shareholders are happy.” quote by Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/jack-ma-2112_business_the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee_294399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/jack-ma-2112_business_the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee_294399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/jack-ma-2112_business_the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee_294399.jpg) > “The customer is number one, the employee is number two and the shareholder is number three. If the customer is happy, the business is happy, and the shareholders are happy.” [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. Prioritizing customers, employees, then shareholders creates a harmonious business ecosystem. **In simple terms:** Customers first, then staff, then investors. Key Takeaway Focus on customer satisfaction to benefit all. Themes business leadership priorities Mood optimistic strategic Type business leadership When to use this quote - retail - service industry - startups - corporate governance Key Concepts stakeholder theory customer centricity Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure employee needs are met? - What metrics reflect true customer happiness? A Different Perspective Neglecting employees can harm long‑term success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Shareholders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shareholders/) ## Related quotes > [I try to make myself happy, no, because I know that if I'm not happy, my colleagues are not happy and my shareholders are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-try-to-make-myself-happy-no-because-i-know-that-if-i-m-not-happy-my/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If you want to invest in us, we believe customer number one, employee number two, shareholder number three. If they don't want to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-want-to-invest-in-us-we-believe-customer-number-one-employee/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I'm the C.E.O., nominated by the shareholders. If they're not happy, I have to take the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ghosn/i-m-the-c-e-o-nominated-by-the-shareholders-if-they-re-not-happy-i/) [Carlos Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ghosn/) > [Loyal employees in any company create loyal customers, who in turn create happy shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/loyal-employees-in-any-company-create-loyal-customers-who-in-turn/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Happy employees ensure happy customers. And happy customers ensure happy shareholders—in that order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/happy-employees-ensure-happy-customers-and-happy-customers-ensure/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Our business is to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/our-business-is-to-be-happy/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [He who gives up shyness in monetary dealings, in acquiring knowledge, in eating and in business, becomes happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/he-who-gives-up-shyness-in-monetary-dealings-in-acquiring-knowledge/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [In a creative business, if you're happy, it will come out in your work. I don't see how you can be happy if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/in-a-creative-business-if-you-re-happy-it-will-come-out-in-your-work/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [“Studies consistently show that happy companies are way more productive, creative and service-oriented than unhappy ones. Therefore, the happy companies will beat the pants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kjerulf/studies-consistently-show-that-happy-companies-are-way-more/) [Alexander Kjerulf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kjerulf/) > [If the employees come first, then they're happy. A motivated employee treats the customer well. 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How can we get ahead in innovation by doing this, because if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/every-day-were-saying-how-can-we-keep-this-customer-happy-how-can-we/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy, so they keep coming back. It's not one of the enduring green mysteries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-motivated-employee-treats-the-customer-well-the-customer-is-happy/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [“If by ‘foe’ you mean a brutal killer, then I suppose I’d fall into the ‘friend’ category,” I replied cynically. “Although in your case,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/if-by-foe-you-mean-a-brutal-killer-then-i-suppose-i-d-fall-into-the/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) ## More by Jack Ma > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [The world will not remember what you say, but it will certainly not forget what you have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/the-world-will-not-remember-what-you-say-but-it-will-certainly-not/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Only fools use their mouth to speak. A smart man uses his brain, and a wise man uses his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/only-fools-use-their-mouth-to-speak-a-smart-man-uses-his-brain-and-a/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-ever-do-business-with-the-government-be-in-love-with-them-never/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [It's impossible for China to keep 10 to 15% growth annually. The economy needed to slow down, and we have to learn to slow down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/it-s-impossible-for-china-to-keep-10-to-15-growth-annually-the/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I flunked my exam for university two times before I was accepted by what was considered my city's worst university, Hangzhou Teachers University. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. 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