Mr. Wei-Hsien Lin shares “Identifying global trends, grasping the future, and managing innovation”

Text/photo: Chia-Yi Lee
Translation: Steve J. Lin

Economic growth is slowing down in Taiwan. Is it better for college graduates to start up a company or work for others? On October 17, the Office of Student Affairs invited Wei-Hsien Lin, the founder of Doers Education Group, to share with faculty, staffs and students about “identifying global trends, grasping the future, and managing innovation.” He began with the global trends, that innovation and entrepreneurship are the key engines for enhancing economic vitality, and he encouraged young people to think about starting up their own businesses and getting ready for it. Mr. Lin revealed that when he was in the college, he was dismissed by Soochow University, due to his poor academic performance, yet this year he was appointed as chair professor by the same university. He inspired students who didn’t have good grades to believe in themselves and to excel in whatever they do, since life has unlimited opportunities.

在經濟成長緩慢的台灣，到底應該鼓勵年輕人創業還是就業呢？慈濟大學學務處17日邀請實踐家教育集團創辦人林偉賢董事長分別與師生進行「掌握趨勢,掌握未來及創新」兩場演講。從當前環境與創新創業的趨勢，以及創新創業應有的準備談起！林偉賢表示，他是被東吳大學退學的學生，但在今年卻受聘為東吳大學校友講座教授，林偉賢首先鼓勵學生，書念不好，不代表無法適應社會，人生有無限可能。

Doers Education Group was founded in 1998, headquarters in Taipei, and branches in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, etc. The group has over 100 worldwide affiliates. The founder has a special affinity with Hualien, so he set up Sowers Culture and Arts Foundation in Hualien to care for underprivileged children on the east coast, to promote local culture, arts and agricultural products, and to sponsor various education and training programs.

實踐家教育集團創始於1998年，全球總部位於台北，海外分支機構位於新加坡、香港、馬來西亞、印尼、中國大陸等地，投資的相關企業公司多達上百家。李偉賢與花蓮有很深的因緣，花蓮播種者基金會就是由其創立，播種者基金會關心偏鄉的孩童，也宣傳花蓮文化藝術和農產品，以花蓮為基地，舉辦各式營隊。

In 1991 Tzu Chi worked with King Car Cultural and Educational Foundation to promote “Establishing a pure land on earth.” Lin was a key member of King Car and in charge of this series of events. He later joined Tzu Chi Foundation and took part in relief efforts in China and medical outreach in Ethiopia, and initiated a camp for college students to learn Buddhism and practice Buddhism. The keys for turning him around from a dismissed student to chairperson of such a sizable group were confidence, courage and persistence. He believes that the only way to achieve a goal is to work devotedly toward it. Whenever we have an idea to initiate a business, it starts with setting up a corporation.

1991年慈濟與金車教育基金會合作，展開「預約人間淨土」系列公益活動，林偉賢是金車基金會活動負責人，由於認同上人理念，包括慈濟大陸賑災，非洲衣索比亞義診等，都有他的身影，並規劃了慈濟第一屆「學佛營」。從退學生成為實踐家教育集團董事長，林偉賢表示，靜思語的「信心、毅力、勇氣三者具備，則天下沒有做不成的事。」影響他很大。而他深信，達成目標唯一的方法就是實踐目標，他更鼓勵同學們，如果心中已經有了想要創業的念頭，現在馬上行動去登記公司名稱，這就是第一步，因為沒有開始就永遠沒有開始。

Lin guided students to see what the trend of global entrepreneurship really is. He indicated that the Chinese government is now doing everything to encourage young people to set up their own businesses, universities even allow their students to take a leave of absence for starting up their businesses, and venture capitalists provide needed resources to assist students. While Chinese students endeavor to start up their businesses, Taiwanese students can no longer stay in their comfort zone anymore. On this day 10% of the audience expressed their willingness to become entrepreneurs. Lin said that starting and running a business was a meaningful goal, and he encouraged students to hold onto their goals. Moreover, an entrepreneur can do more for the community.

創業好嗎？林偉賢以國際趨勢引導學生應該要如何看待創業這件事，林偉賢表示，目前中國大陸，在官方引導下，正在積極推動年輕人創業，包括保留學籍讓大學生創業，甚至給予創業基金等。當大陸的大學生全力以赴在創業的時候，台灣的大學生不能只是待在舒適圈！林偉賢也問台下的學生，有人想要創業嗎？台下有1/10的學生表達想要創業，林偉賢老師表示，不要放棄目標，當老闆可以發揮更大的影響力。

Lin said every encounter in his past was to prepare for his future. In his freshman year, he was a deputy editor for the school magazine, and the pressure was very high. While doing military service on Matsu, he was assigned to be editor-in-chief of Matsu Daily News, and in the beginning he simply published other’s articles till one day, on which he found out that he was allowed to write articles or translate English articles for his newspaper or other newspapers, and earn extra income. While his peers made only NT$1,000 monthly, his daily income was nearly NT$ 3,000.

林偉賢以自身經驗為例，他表示過去的一切都在為未來做準備，大一時他被迫當校刊副總編輯，壓力很大，但也因此當他到馬祖當兵時，擔任馬祖日報的編輯，剛開始只是拿別人的稿件刊登，但最後他自己寫文章賺稿費，甚至翻譯外電，當時當兵一個月只有一千元薪水，但他一天可以賺3千元的稿費。

The Doers Education Group has many affiliates in Asia, and Lin insists on employing local people to run these companies. He has followed Master Cheng Yen’s teaching that wherever we are, we are always grateful to the local people for allowing us to work with them. Giving is receiving, and the more we give, the more fruitful our lives will be. After listening to Lin’s sharing, Shang-Ru Wu, a senior in Children’s Development and Family Studies, said that running a student club might be similar to managing a company, thus he determined to set his goal and devote himself to achieving it, and to take action now.

雖然在亞洲有很多分公司，但林偉賢堅持用當地的員工，他覺得上人常告訴大家，每到一個地方，要感恩別人願意給你機會。他鼓勵同學要當一個手心向下的人，給愈多你的人生就會愈豐富，有時候你所做的事會在你不知道的時候影響到你。台下很多大四的學生正在為未來做準備，這場演講給予他們很多靈感。兒家系四年級吳尚儒同學表示，他覺得經營社團就很像經營公司一樣，今天聽了演講，他會不斷告訴自己，實踐目標非常重要，而一切都要先從第一步開始。

Lin promised to provide entrepreneurship education and training programs free of charge to Tzu Chi University students and alumni, and wished students have a clear life’s direction, and while serving others with a mind to make this community a better one.

林偉賢表示願意提供免費的青年創業課程給慈大的學生和校友參加，希望大家能為未來思考出一條路，發揮更大的影響力。