■ Charles H. C. Kao 高希均
The world today is a knowledge-based e-conomy, and the new equation for obtain-ing competitive advantage is knowledge and language (Knowledge + Language =Advan-tage). While language, such as the ability to speak English as a second language, can give us some extra advantage, it remains only a tool. The major key to advantage is therefore in knowledge.
Drawing from my personal experiences, there are ten things to know in order to become an intelligent" knowledge worker". The first point is that knowledge is earned through effort. Unlike wealth or legacies, knowledge cannot be inherited nor easily passed down from generation to generation. Knowledge must be earned in order to become knowledgeable. And while the accumulation of wealth is a zero-sum game,since it comes at the price of others, the sharing of knowledge allows for a "win-win situation."
The second thing that we must keep in mind is simply that while "little knowledge is dangerous, hav-ing no knowledge is absolutely the worst." And this leads to my third point, in which unfortunately, even with all the knowledge learned, it can easily become obsolete. Hence, it is essential that we continue to improve, and see learning as a life long process.The same goes for organizations. There is a close relation-ship between success and knowledge. A learning or-ganization is more likely to be profitable one.
In the past, we have focused on generating capital;lack of it has been associated with backwardness.However, today, knowledge accumulation is now far more important than capital accumulation. Taking Taiwan experience for instance, Taiwan's economy was also formerly based on capital accumulation, but hass-ince then developed a more sustainable economy by dramatically changing the focus towards technology and innovation, evolving into a knowledge-based economy.
We may ask the question " why is knowledge so valuable " It is knowledge that brings about inno-vation, facilitates problem solving upon past experi-ence, and increases overall productivity and efficiency. In face with the today's problem of limited energy resources, it is knowledge, technology, and innovation that can help us save the use of resources. Finally, knowledge also makes life more enjoyable.
To be a knowledge worker we have to be "smart" in managing our time. We should remind ourselves to be fully focused on what is important and not let the immense "information overload" distract us and delay our course. Countless emails, phone calls, and the like may appear urgent but not necessarily important. Be-ing smart and wise in managing our time is what we do to function efficiently and effectively.
Further more, we must learn how to say "no," re-fusing anything that is of little significance. The skill will come with experience, age, and increased status, however we must first be willing to say the word "no" so to allow us to focus on the more important issues. Being generous in spirit is doubtlessly encour-aged, but it is also crucial to be some what selfish with our use of time.
The last two key points in becoming a knowledge worker is to maintain a balanced life, spending70-80% of our energy on our professions and 20-30%on our quality of life. Developing a "balanced lifestyle" is just as important as finding a balance between knowl-edge-sharing and wealth-sharing. If one dies with immense wealth then one dies shamefully. Balancing knowledge-sharing with wealth-sharing is for the betterment of the society. Sharing knowledge is not merely making an argument; it is also to making a difference in the lives of others. Making contributions to society is requisite of all knowledge workers.
在今日的知識經濟世界裡，維持競爭力的新競爭優勢公式為：知識+語言能力＝優勢，例如具備第二外語能力讓我們有額外的優勢，但語言能力也只是工具，競爭優勢的核心還是來自知識。
依據我個人的經驗，要成為明智的知識工作者必須知道十件事。第一件就是知識，是要靠努力爭取來的，不同於財富及遺產，知識無法透過兩代之間的繼承流傳下來，必須要爭取知識才能成為有知識的人，財富的累積是零和競局，因為一人財富的取得必是另一人財富的支出，而知識的分享卻可以達到雙贏效果。
第二件我們必須謹記的事是，僅擁有少許知識是危險的，但沒有知識絕對是最糟糕的。由第二件事可以延伸到我所要說的第三件事──即便擁有知識，也容易因為過時而遭到淘汰，因此，持續進步及終生學習都是必要的；同理，對企業來說成功與知識兩者中即有密切的關連，一個學習型組織獲利的可能性就相對較高。
過去我們專注在資本累積上，缺乏資本就會相對落後，而今，知識累積遠比資本累積更為重要，以台灣為例，過去的台灣經濟也是以資本累積為基礎，但已轉型為重視技術及創新並永續發展的知識經濟。
善用時間
我們或許會問：「為什麼知識有這麼高的價值？」因為知識有助於創新，並幫助我們以過去經驗來解決問題及增加生產力，面對有限的資源，唯有知識、技術及創新可以幫助我們節約資源，知識最終可使生活更有樂趣。
想成為一個知識工作者，我們必須很有智慧地運用自己的時間。我們必須不斷的提醒自己，專注在重要的事情上，不要讓「過多的資訊」分散注意力，而阻礙了正常的步調。數不清的電子郵件、電話等，看起來或許很急但不一定重要，我們必須學習如何分辨並管理它們。聰明並有智慧地管理我們的時間，才能使我們的工作更有效率且更有效益。
學習說不
更進一步來說，我們必須學習如何向不重要的事情說「不」。雖然說「不」的能力會隨著經驗、年齡及地位增加，但是我們首先必須「願意」去說「不」，以專注在更重要的事務上。待人大方是很值得鼓勵的，但在時間的運用上自私一點，也是很重要的。
成為知識工作者的最後兩點關鍵是：維持平衡的生活──70-80%的時間精力花在專業上，20-30%花在維持生活品質上。發展平衡的生活與在分享知識及分享財富之間尋求平衡點，二者對我來說同等重要。如果一個人死去時擁有無數的財富，那是令人羞恥的。在分享知識與分享財富中取得平衡，可以進一步改善社會。分享知識並非僅僅只是與人議論而已，它可以改變別人的生活，而貢獻社會正是所有知識工作者的責任。
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