分析近年對技能訓練的研究， 發現「學習」原來包含著難解的吊詭性：起步時(cognitive stage)，吸收的速度最快；中段(associative stage)收穫最大；相較之下，到達完美階段(autonomous stage)，學習量和速度的增幅都一併減少；這也解釋了爲何學藝到了一定境界，雖然操練不輟，卻難有新的突破。
若按這樣的「學習弧線」(Learning Curve)來了解人生，一生事業可粗略分爲三個階段：
有趣地，孔子對一生學習的自述 --「吾十有五而志於學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」-- 也可以透過這樣的Learning Curve來理解：
圖表中，可以吊詭地看到，人到了「從心所欲，不逾矩」的階段，其實有其不易調整的矛盾。一方面，黃金歲月，得心應手，處處掌聲。另一方面，身處高峰，容易「目空一切」，困於自己的「廣闊視野」而不自覺。哈佛商學院教授Clayton M. Christensen１９９７年出版的一本經典著作：The Innovator's Dilemma, 指出原來實力雄厚的大企業也陷入同樣的困境：完善的管理，大量人才物力資源，所有的創意都用於開發已證明是高回報的市場空間，業務蒸蒸日上，但越成功便越與潛在的新趨勢脫節，越缺乏回應環境急速轉變的能力。冷不提防新興的中小型企業，由於更能靈活運用緊貼環境轉變的所謂Disruptive Technology，迎頭趕上，殺個措手不及。怎樣從這樣的「有成」困局脫穎而出？我想可以透過書法家「當代草聖」于右任的「寫字歌」得到啟示:
起筆不停滯
落筆不作勢
純任自然
自迅速 自輕快 自美麗
吾有志焉而未逮
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落筆不作勢
純任自然
自迅速 自輕快 自美麗
吾有志焉而未逮
從這歌，我看到新鮮活潑不斷開啟的學習空間，以下是個"fusion"詮釋：
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Wonderful! Keep learning is the key, no matter where you are!
ReplyDeleteRecently, I read two new books, Outliers and What Shamu taught me about life, love and marriage. Lots of new ideas and integrations of different disciplines.
The last graph looks like the product cycle curve with innovation!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing again! Your simple words simply pierce through what most of us have neglected today. Thank you 斗叔.
ReplyDeleteSonia, did you go to Malcolm Galdwell's seminar? We hosted it. It was great. And I like Outliers too.
Yes, it may well be that the product cycle behaves in the same way as the learning curve--if I understand you correctly--which would imply (I'm thinking as I write) that eventually the momentum of a specific product-line would necessarily taper off over time.
ReplyDeleteIf this be true, it would be all the more important that we don't just stick to old product-lines, no matter how profitable they may be, but keep starting something new from time to time.
Thanks for the stimulation!