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Blair Sr. looked down at the paper newspaper in his hand, which carried an article with the headline "Americans are so lazy!" editorials. As a veteran tech entrepreneur, he knows this all too well.
Once upon a time, Blair and his team worked late into the night to develop a new breakthrough technology. And now American employees seem to scoff at this. They can't wait to get home from work, and they don't see anyone for three days on weekends, and a few weeks of long holidays every year are a matter of course.
"It's so lazy!" Blair couldn't help but sigh. But with such a group of people, why is the United States still ahead of the world in scientific and technological innovation? It's a puzzling contradiction, like an intertwined mystery...
We need to admit that the work lifestyle of Europeans and Americans is indeed more "lazy". Let's be honest, who doesn't want to be able to enjoy life to the fullest outside of work? However, it is accompanied by the continuous leadership of scientific and technological innovation in Europe and the United States.
Why this seemingly contradictory phenomenon? Let's start with the unique work culture of European and American countries:
In Europe and the United States, work has never been the whole of life, family, friends, and personal development are equally important. People have plenty of rest time and are more experience-oriented when working. This balanced lifestyle fosters a passion for work and gives them the motivation to think and innovate.
In contrast, in our country, the importance of work can be said to be unparalleled. 9 to 5? That's a luxury! It's normal to work overtime. The annual vacation is limited, and even if you take a vacation, you will be disturbed by work. Work is like the whole meaning of life.
In this overloaded work culture, people are inevitably exhausted, and the enthusiasm and drive to innovate can easily be overshadowed by the pressure of survival. Therefore, this "lazy" model in Europe and the United States can give people a chance to breathe and inspire new inspiration.
Having plenty of personal time doesn't mean just passing the time. On the contrary, Europeans and Americans are better at thinking and doing, and have the courage to challenge tradition. They are willing to take the initiative to explore new things, and they are willing to invest time and money in innovation.
This confirms the old proverb: "Opportunity is reserved for those who are prepared." It is precisely because of this forward-looking thinking habit that Europe and the United States can seize the opportunity of scientific and technological innovation and achieve breakthroughs again and again.
In addition to the work culture, European and American countries also have a lot to do in the education system. They attach great importance to cultivating students' innovative thinking and hands-on ability, and integrate a lot of practical links. From primary school onwards, children are able to engage in hands-on experiments and explore the mysteries of science. This has laid the foundation for the quality of young people in Europe and the United States who dare to think and do, and also provided a talent reserve with innovation potential for the science and technology industry, forming a virtuous circle.
Our education, on the other hand, is overly focused on grades and test scores. Knowledgeable but often rigid and rigid, students lack the opportunity to think independently and put into practice. Innovation projects at universities are also more about tasks than about genuine exploration.
Therefore, although I worked hard, I didn't see the real talent and learning. Young people may have good skills after graduation, but few innovations surpass their predecessors.
In addition to culture and education, European and American countries are also all-round in terms of investment in science and technology and policy support.
The government attaches great importance to scientific research funding in the fiscal budget, and formulates corresponding preferential policies to encourage enterprises to innovate. In the United States, for example, private companies are responsible for more than 80% of innovation investment. They are willing to gamble in order to achieve ultra-high expected returns.
This environment of encouragement of exploration has led to a plethora of transformative new technologies and products, driving the rapid development of science and technology. On the mainland, the government's emphasis on scientific research investment needs to be strengthened, and there is also a stubborn disease of "emphasizing production and neglecting research and development" in the business community.
Looking back, although European and American countries have a "lazy and inefficient" side, it is this cultural habit of work-life balance and bold innovation that has made them have a long-term advantage in the field of science and technology.
It is undeniable that with the continuous enhancement of our country's comprehensive strength, the investment in scientific research will also increase day by day. However, capital investment alone is not enough, and the concept of thinking and the institutional environment are equally important. We need to create a relaxed environment for innovators, as Europe and the United States have done; It is necessary to cultivate the quality of the younger generation to dare to explore and practice; It is more necessary for the whole society to form a value orientation that pursues excellence and encourages innovation.
Only when these factors are fully in place can we make rapid progress on the road of scientific and technological innovation, rather than stagnation. Let's learn from the precious side of European and American countries with an open mind and an open mind.
No wonder the newspapers say that Americans are too lazy! Blair Sr. put down the newspaper in his hand and smiled self-deprecatingly. It turns out that their so-called "laziness" is the source of scientific and technological innovation. They dare to challenge conventional thinking, pursue a balanced life, and are good at thinking and doing, and this courage and wisdom is exactly what we should learn from.
When it comes to the "lazy" work lifestyle of Europeans and Americans, we cannot fail to mention their lax labor regulations.
In Europe, employees have up to 4-6 weeks of paid annual leave benefits, and both men and women are entitled to generous maternity leave. In addition, Europeans generally work no more than 40 hours a week, which is a staggering level of productivity. Compared to Europe, labor laws in the United States are more relaxed, but the average employee can still enjoy more time off.
These labor policies do give European and American employees the right to adequate rest and avoid long-term overwork. But from another point of view, they are also an incentive mechanism that encourages employees to give their all, high-intensity and high-efficiency output during work, so as to get enough time off.
It can be said that although the labor laws of European and American countries make employees' working hours seem "lazy", they actually create an environment that focuses on efficiency and innovation. After a stressful day, employees can get the opportunity to completely relax, explore their personal interests, cultivate family life, and inspire new inspiration and motivation. It's a healthier way of life and one that fosters innovative thinking.
On the other hand, in our national situation, the overemphasis on the "workaholic" culture has long made it impossible to protect the rights and interests of many workers. Overtime has become almost the norm, with many people working more than 10 hours a day and few annual leave. Although the government and enterprises have paid attention to it in recent years, there is still a big gap between the overall environment and Europe and the United States.
If you are in this overtime culture for a long time, you can easily get tired physically and mentally. There is only one word left in work and life, where is there room for innovation and thinking? This is undoubtedly a sadness. We often complain about "the lack of innovation ability of the Chinese", but is it this cultural habit that causes the rigidity and weakness of thinking?
In addition to working hours, European and American countries have also made great achievements in creating an innovative atmosphere. The location of the art, culture, and ideological distribution center there is quite free, attracting people of insight from all over the world. Enterprises and institutions also welcome the confrontation of different opinions and different voices, and this "hundred schools of thought" makes for a steady stream of innovative ideas. It can be said that Europe and the United States have created a relaxed, inclusive and diverse innovation environment. Encourage people to try and have a chance to "do it all over again" even if they fail.
This is in stark contrast to our conservative national conditions. The mainland has long attached great importance to the cultural tradition of strict hierarchies and the exit when you step on a thunderbolt, and many innovators' ideas have been stifled in the cradle before they can be put into practice. In addition, our fear of "dissidents" is also very obvious, from politics to corporate public opinion, often pointed at by thousands of people. This is undoubtedly the enemy of innovation.
However, it is gratifying that the mainland's science and technology ecology is undergoing profound changes. Young people are opening their minds, and governments and businesses are realizing the importance of inclusion and innovation for long-term development. For example, international technology companies such as Google and Microsoft are active in China, and their "Silicon Valley-style" innovation environment and culture are having a profound impact on us.
We're working to create an environment that encourages diverse thinking, allows for trial and error, and opens up endless possibilities for innovators. But to meet the standards of Europe and the United States, we still need to continue to make unremitting efforts. After all, innovation is a long process that requires the understanding and support of the whole society.
Looking back, the "laziness" of Europe and the United States is not free of diseases, and they are also facing various social problems and challenges. However, it is undeniable that European and American countries are ahead of us in terms of work-life balance, education system setting, policy support and innovation environment creation, and have become out-and-out "innovation pioneers".
We must not rest on our laurels, but should humbly learn from the merits of Europe and the United States, and continue to reform and improve in light of our own national conditions. Only with an open mind can we truly catch up and eventually lead Europe and the United States. Although the road ahead is long, as long as you persevere, you will be able to achieve this dream!
That's my refinement and expansion of this article, which is more diverse and informative than the original document, interspersed with some insightful analysis. If you have any other suggestions and ideas, please feel free to continue to give feedback. Your support is the biggest driving force for me to move forward, let us work together and look forward to the take-off of China's science and technology! #为什么法国人生活懒散, France's GDP is still so high, and science and technology are so developed#