現代網絡時代：如何利用各種網絡資源提升自己？
For most, the Internet has become a ubiquitous part of daily life. Many people work online all day and then spend evenings streaming movies. With the convenience of online banking, fewer customers step inside their local banks, while millions of shoppers make purchases without leaving home. And the Internet has replaced the phone as a quick way to stay in touch with family and friends.
對大部分人來說，網絡已經是每日生活不可或缺的一部分。很多人白天在線上工作，晚上在網上看電影。網上銀行的便利也使得越來越少的人真正走進當地的銀行，而那些購物者們也習慣了足不出戶的購物時光。與此同時，網絡也逐漸取代電話，成爲與家人好友聯繫的更快捷方式。
Of course, the Internet can do so much more than just bringing your favorite show to your big-screen TV. It’s more than just a place to pay your electric bill and buy books. This incredible place called the World Wide Web is also a powerful tool for self-improvement. Here are five ways to make the Internet work for your self-improvement and growth:
網絡並不僅僅是把喜歡的節目搬到大電視上哦，也不光是給你支付電子賬單和買書的工具。這個叫做“萬維網”的東西還是給你自我提升的絕好途徑。我們一起看看可以利用網絡進行自我提升的五個方法吧：
1. Searching for Information
找信息
Enter any topic of interest into your favorite search engine and, voila, you have an enormous amount of information at your fingertips. What a great way to further your knowledge on an endless variety of subjects. But how do you know whether the information you’re reading is credible – or complete nonsense?
對任何一個你感興趣的話題進行一下搜索吧，瞬間就會掌握大量這方面的信息。把自己的知識延展到不同的學科多棒呀！但怎麼分辨你讀的信息究竟是可信的還是無用的呢？
Check your sources. Find out who is publishing the information. Government agencies, universities or well-known publishing houses are generally trustworthy.
那就找一下源頭，看看是誰發佈了這個消息。政府機關、大學或知名出版社的都比較靠譜。
Check the publisher’s motivation. Keep in mind that many articles are simply advertisements for businesses that want to sell you something. And some sites are intended to push just one point of view.
再看看發佈人的目的是什麼。要記住有些文章僅僅是爲了商業廣告，想賣給你東西。有些是想給別人洗腦。
2. Online Education and Training
線上教育和培訓
If you’ve always wanted to further your education or upgrade your skills but haven’t had the time, online courses may be the answer. Unlike with traditional brick-and-mortar schools, Internet-based learning eliminates the need for attending classes at specified times.
如果你想進一步發展學業提升技能卻苦於沒有時間，線上課程可以幫大忙。與傳統的教學不同，線上教學不需要在指定的時間上課哦。
You may have concerns about the quality of online education. In fact, it has come a long way, and many who previously dismissed online learning have come to embrace it. Top-rated schools such as Stanford and Villanova University offer online professional certification and academic degree programs to students all over the world.
你也許擔心線上教學的質量問題。實際上，這是由來已久的教學方式，那些原先抵制的人也開始接受它。像斯坦福和維拉諾瓦這樣的名校給全世界的學生都提供專業的線上認證以及學術學位項目。
Ask yourself what your educational goals are: Do you want to pursue a degree or certificate, or just expand your knowledge? Do you want to advance in your career or become an expert on a particular subject? No matter your objective, there is probably an online education program to help you achieve it.
問問自己教育目標到底是什麼：是爲了文憑和證書，還只是爲了擴大知識面？想升職還是成爲某個領域的專家？無論你的目標是什麼，線上教育都能滿足你的需求。想學英語當然是上恆星英語學習網啦!3. Join an Influential Community
加入有影響力的社區
Every industry and discipline has its influencers – thought leaders to whom others look for inspiration and direction. The Internet makes it easy to connect with these leaders and even form relationships with them. But how do you find them and make a connection?
每個產業都有着影響者，那些人們急於從他們身上尋找激勵和方向的領導者。要和這些大牛們接觸，網絡提供了極好的平臺。但是究竟怎麼才能找到他們，聯繫上他們呢？
Social networks. Find and follow leaders on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Pay attention to their interactions with others and join the conversations. Ask questions, pay a compliment or offer your opinion.
社交網絡就可以。在推特、臉書、LinkedIn和Pinterest找找這些名人的賬號。關注他們和誰有了互動，加入這些對話。問問題，補充觀點或是提出自己的意見。
Go deeper. From social networks and Internet searches, you can usually find the blogs and publications to which your favorite influencers contribute.
再深入點，除去社交網絡和網絡搜索，你還可以去找找他們的博客或出版的作品。
Find groups and communities. Search each social network using the keywords of the community you seek. For example, on LinkedIn, you can find groups for industries, companies, colleges and special interests. Twitter chats occur regularly on a variety of topics. No matter what you do (or want to do), you can likely find a community of welcoming peers.
找些小組或社區。輸入關鍵字找到對應的社交網絡。比如在Linkedin上，你可以找到企業、公司、大學和其他機構的小組。推特會定期討論不同的問題。無論你幹什麼（或想要幹什麼），你都能找到一個類似這樣的社區。
4. Organize Your Thoughts
整理思緒
When you’re venturing onto the path of self-improvement, a journal or notebook can help you keep track of what you’ve learned and your thoughts about it. The Internet offers dozens of tools and applications to help you organize your notes and keep them in one place. For example, it’s fairly easy to start your own blog, which is a great way to keep track of your thoughts, as well as share them with others. If you’re not ready for prime-time, keep things private with a bookmarking or note-keeping application. Many are free.
在自我提升的過程中，不妨用日記或筆記本記一下學到了什麼，感想是什麼。網上提供了幾十種工具和應用幫助你整理筆記，保存下來。比如，開博客現在可不是什麼難事，也是記錄下自己想法與其他人分享的好辦法。如果時間不充裕，就私下記些東西，或是用筆記軟件。很多都是免費的哦！
5. Sharing and Supporting
分享和支持
Sharing nuggets of information with others who are in need is one of the best ways to use the Internet for growth. Because there is so much out there, the best stuff is often overlooked by those who could really use it. Whether it’s through a tweet, a Facebook update or a blog post, your act of sharing could make a huge difference in someone else’s journey. You’ll also gain credibility in your area of interest, while building a community you can turn to when you need support.
與其他需要某些信息的人一起分享是自我提升的最好途徑之一。網絡上的信息實在太多，那些真正需要的人往往有時會忽視那一部分信息。無論是推特、臉書更新還是發佈博客，你的分享對別人來說也許至關重要。與此同時還能在自己的領域獲得信任度，不妨建一個社區，當你需要幫助的時候，它也能幫上你。
The Internet is enormous – and enormously useful. Try some of these five ways to harness its power, make it more manageable and further your own growth. You could find yourself reaching new heights and achieving goals you never thought possible.
網絡無邊無際，也十分有用。試試上面說的五個方法感受一下它的魔力吧，有規劃的使用，讓自己不斷地完善。你會發現自己不知不覺就到了新的高度，完成了自己從未想過的目標。
