--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I graduated from university I tried…" description: "\"When I graduated from university I tried to buy a beeper, and it cost me $250. My pay at the time was $10 a month.\" — Jack Ma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/jack-ma-2112_cost_when-i-graduated-from-university-i-tried_2566937.jpg" --- # When I graduated from university I tried to buy a beeper… ![“When I graduated from university I tried to buy a beeper, and it cost me $250. My pay at the time was $10 a month.” quote by Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/jack-ma-2112_cost_when-i-graduated-from-university-i-tried_2566937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/jack-ma-2112_cost_when-i-graduated-from-university-i-tried_2566937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/jack-ma-2112_cost_when-i-graduated-from-university-i-tried_2566937.jpg) > “When I graduated from university I tried to buy a beeper, and it cost me $250. My pay at the time was $10 a month.” [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. Early tech costs were prohibitive, highlighting the financial challenges of starting a business. **In simple terms:** Old tech was expensive, straining budgets. Key Takeaway Plan finances carefully when launching. Themes entrepreneurship technology cost barriers Mood nostalgic pragmatic Type reflective advisory When to use this quote - startup funding - equipment purchase - service pricing Key Concepts budgeting resource scarcity innovation Questions to Reflect On - How would you fund a similar venture today? - What strategies reduce early financial strain? A Different Perspective Modern tech is cheaper, but cash flow remains critical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beeper-786427/) [Beeper Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beeper-cost-1655806/) [Buy Beeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buy-beeper-1655807/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Cost 250](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-250-1655808/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Month](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/month/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [I tried getting my dad to buy me a beeper for my birthday,” he says, “but he thinks only doctors and drug dealers need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-tried-getting-my-dad-to-buy-me-a-beeper-for-my-birthday-he-says-but/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [I was born in 1992, I was around when the beeper was around, and landlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-cargill/i-was-born-in-1992-i-was-around-when-the-beeper-was-around-and/) [Jade Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-cargill/) > [Nowadays, we never allow ourselves the convenience of being temporarily unavailable, even to strangers. With telephone and beeper, people subject themselves to being instantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/nowadays-we-never-allow-ourselves-the-convenience-of-being/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [I waited with a beeper for a year and 10 months to get that gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-fabares/i-waited-with-a-beeper-for-a-year-and-10-months-to-get-that-gift/) [Shelley Fabares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-fabares/) > [I flunked my exam for university two times before I was accepted by what was considered my city's worst university, Hangzhou Teachers University. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-flunked-my-exam-for-university-two-times-before-i-was-accepted-by/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“is older than a month.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sue/is-older-than-a-month/) [Mary Sue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sue/) > [There have been trade-offs every day, every month, every year. 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Shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-ziyi/we-re-still-working-out-the-details-but-i-d-be-delighted-to-do-the/) [Zhang Ziyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-ziyi/) ## 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. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-flunked-my-exam-for-university-two-times-before-i-was-accepted-by/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [China's government is so strong on investment, so strong on exporting, but they're too weak on domestic consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/china-s-government-is-so-strong-on-investment-so-strong-on-exporting/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [If the 'Post' can play the role of a connector between the West and the East, I have confidence in the paper's future success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-the-post-can-play-the-role-of-a-connector-between-the-west-and-the/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [I know nothing about technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-know-nothing-about-technology/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/today-is-cruel-tomorrow-is-crueller-and-the-day-after-tomorrow-is/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [30% of all people will never believe you. Do not allow your colleagues and employees to work for you. Instead, let them work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/30-of-all-people-will-never-believe-you-do-not-allow-your-colleagues/) [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/) > [Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-give-up-today-is-hard-tomorrow-will-be-worse-but-the-day-after/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [A great opportunity is often hard to be explained clearly; things that can be explained clearly are often not the best opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/a-great-opportunity-is-often-hard-to-be-explained-clearly-things-that/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [The customer is number one, the employee is number two and the shareholder is number three. If the customer is happy, the business is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee-is-number-two-and-the/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) [Explore all 185 Jack Ma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) ## More Cost quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. 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It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I believe that government is too large, costs too much, spends too much, and has too much regulatory power in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walberg/i-believe-that-government-is-too-large-costs-too-much-spends-too-much/) [Tim Walberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walberg/) > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [They brought on someone who cost more than our stadium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/they-brought-on-someone-who-cost-more-than-our-stadium/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. 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