In current Taiwan society, everyone has equal economic opportunity, equal opportunity for social advancement. In every occupation, there are people who, because of their humble origins, describe themselves as "little people," but who are important to society as they work diligently in various fields. By their earnestness and competence, they come to love their work, and to find in it a sense of satisfaction and of accomplishment that brings them happiness.

Hung Li-fu looks like a man from a rural background, as in fact he is. When he was young, he used to accompany his grandfather to the town's movie theater. Hung was fascinated by what he saw there. He had much interest in acting and directing when he was a youth, and when he took the national university entrance exam after high school, he chose to enter a film and drama department.

After graduation, Hung decided he was better suited for behind-the-camera work than for acting, and he applied for a job with a TV network. His sharp ability in assessing audience reaction to programs impressed his superiors. Today he produces Taiwan's Dating Game, and has made it one the region's most popular programs. The show provides both a chance for young people to meet friends and for viewers to see an interesting program. He notes that since the show doesn't have memorized lines "sometimes people get nervous and make mistakes. But a little slip of the tongue gives people a feeling of intimacy and human warmth, and the audience likes this kind of spontaneity."

Hsu Fu-chi is the owner of Hua-nan Box Lunches, a company that developed from Hsu's business selling fruit juice. An old hand in that business told him the secret of success in selling foods--freshness, good flavor, hygiene, and nutrition. Competition grew in the fruit-juice business, and Hsu decided to add selling Chinese-style box lunches.

To ensure freshness and good flavor, Hsu gets up early each morning to buy produce at the market. For hygiene Hsu's shop is cleaned several times a day. Nutrition is guaranteed with each box containing two kin meat, and the customer's choice of rice or noodles. Yet at first, acceptance came slowly. Hsu finally realized he needed to specialize in the flavors of box lunches he could do best, to be sure of top quality, and of satisfied customers.

Wang Hsiu-Yu is a nineteen-year-old, already considered "expert" by her co-workers at Lucky Beauty Salon. She used to watch beauticians at work when she went to get haircuts in junior high. After graduating, she started working in beauty shops herself.

Being a beautician is not as easy as it looks. Miss Wang had to wait to prove her skills before she was allowed to do anything except simple haircuts. But she was diligently attentive to her teachers at the salon, and used her free time to study fashion magazines till late at night. Today many customers at Lucky seek her out, as her diligence has paid off.

P'eng Chin-ho is a taxi driver, and winner of the government's award for meritorious cab driving. His philosophy is, "If you do something, do it well." Not only is he a careful driver, he also keeps the inside of his cab spotless, and circulates fresh air through the taxi at all times. "After all, this is my office."

P'eng emphasizes individual service. He has found that some young women are afraid to take taxis alone at night, so when he is flagged down by a female customer, he takes care to put her at ease. "I simply ask her right away where she wants to go, and concentrate on driving there. I don't go out of my way to strike up a conversation." P'eng has also discovered that a taxi driver can get repeat business. Sometimes his passengers see how he works, and make appointments with him for later trips. Some are now regular customers, who routinely call this taxi driver who believes in doing things well.

Hsu K'ang-hui describes himself as an ordinary man, leading an ordinary life. Today he works as a customer-service representative for a government printing plant. His job is to see that jobs get done on time, as the customer wishes. Even today he is introverted, and not especially articulate, but his coworkers say that doesn't matter. He always works hard, and his customers don't notice his reticence.

Hsu's parents separated when he was a boy, and he still remembers the pain of having to speak in an elementary-school speech contest-the topic: "My dad." He couldn't say a word. Yet later a teacher befriended Hsu and even helped him get through junior and senior high school. After Hsu completed his military service, the teacher advised him to enter the publishing trade. At first Hsu didn't find the work interesting, but he kept at it, and studied public relations in a local college's evening division. As time went on, he gained more responsibility. Now he has to stay on the job even all night if a printing job is facing a tight deadline. Hsu's efforts are appreciated by his co-workers and customers, and his occupation has brought him many friends. He says, "With this satisfaction, what else do I want?"

Cheng Hsueh-min always loved to take care of little animals when she was a child; that's when she was most happy. Perhaps that is why she is a nurse today. Soon after she became a nurse, she befriended an elderly patient who had liver cancer. Soon after they became friends, the old man died. Then Miss Cheng realized she must face death in her work. "I had to become more mature, and face the patients and my work philosophically."

She saw that giving injections and administering medications were mere techniques, and that the most important thing was her relationship to her patients. She wants to lift her patients' spirits, and help them feel happy. Nurse Cheng finds great satisfaction in her work: "Isn't a sense of worth and accomplishment just the thing to look for in this life?"

Wang Shih-kuo is a lathe operator, who works for Taiwan's Tatung conglomerate. Wang is a graduate of a technical high school, and even though he thought the school's courses were too general, he was sure he could handle the work at a factory. But when he started, he quickly found out his abilities didn't match his expectations. He decided to participate in an additional training course.

In his course he studied eight hours a day, and didn't waste a minute. When he went home he read book after book about machine tools and their operation, and got a better understanding of his old high school textbooks. When he returned to the company, he got the most basic job, washing the machines, but endured the boredom of that until he could sharpen his skills. Now he is entrusted with operating a lathe, and constantly considers how to work with greater safety, speed, and accuracy. Wang is content; he says that machines are faithful to their operators; if you use them right, they give you what you want.

[Picture Caption]

Left page, Hung Li-fu (far left) and the cast and crew of the Dating Game. Hung enjoys the work of planning a challenging TV show. Right page, top, Hua-nan Box Lunch's boss Hsu Fu-chi is ready to accept others' suggestions, or criticism. Right page, bottom, Wang Hsiu-yu is skilled and friendly; she is Lucky Beauty Salon's most popular beautician.

Left, top, Taxi driver P'eng Chin-ho cleans and maintains his taxi every day, looking forward to the passengers having a safe and comfortable ride. Left, bottom, Hsu K'ang-hui takes responsibility for his work, and puts up with problems, receiving the highest regard from his bosses and customers. Right above, Cheng Hsueh-min is a compassionate, diligent angel in white.

Above, Huang Te-ho has braved the weather every day to clean the streets, for twenty-eight years. Right, below, Machinist Wang Shih-kuo thinks young people shouldn't fear hard work in order to have success some day.

Right page, top, Hua-nan Box Lunch's boss Hsu Fu-chi is ready to accept others' suggestions, or criticism.

Right page, bottom, Wang Hsiu-yu is skilled and friendly; she is Lucky Beauty Salon's most popular beautician.

Left, top, Taxi driver P'eng Chin-ho cleans and maintains his taxi every day, looking forward to the passengers having a safe and comfortable ride.

Left, bottom, Hsu K'ang-hui takes responsibility for his work, and puts up with problems, receiving the highest regard from his bosses and customers.

Right above, Cheng Hsueh-min is a compassionate, diligent angel in white.

Above, Huang Te-ho has braved the weather every day to clean the streets, for twenty-eight years.

Right, below, Machinist Wang Shih-kuo thinks young people shouldn't fear hard work in order to have success some day.