‘Knowing is half the battle: The other half is understanding…’ is a book that has been untouched on the dinner table for quite some time now, and honestly, have no idea what it is about. However, the title caught my eye when I strolled through my new hometown.
I left for Maastricht University to study Law in August 2017, after having successfully completed secondary education in the United Kingdom with a lot of practical experiences and projects in IT. Believing that a university course in law, would prepare for what is yet to come in my adult life; and that my choices were set for a path to success.
Very nice said and done, in reality, none of this was true. One thing led to the other, and I discontinued my studies and ended up in an interview at Informed which is where I am today; as a Young Professional.
In my last weeks at Informed, the title of the book mentioned kept pondering in my head, having thrown myself completely into gaining knowledge of ECM Systems. I recognize methodologies and systems from other projects I have worked on, by means of browsing through Documentum I apply my knowledge of similar systems to truly understand what it is about.
Quite frankly, I’m self-aware that when I tend to believe a system is similar to what I’ve worked on in the past. I’m racing through it and am often inclined to forget minor details. Possibly leading to lead major faults or even lack of functions within an application.
This self-awareness of having the familiarity doesn’t immediately lead to the understanding of it, nor does it mean that I can apply this knowledge to its best of its abilities.
To recall my interview with one of the Senior Consultants, I was questioned why I didn’t continue my academic studies. Despite the fact that I expressed, ‘we learn today might not be relevant tomorrow’, a statement I still strongly believe in.
As a reflecting Young Professional at Informed Consultant so far, I see room for improvement for understanding the knowledge I am and have obtained in the past.
Nevertheless, even a more important element than anything mentioned about. What I have learned the most at informed: Is that a person’s strength is appreciated and utilized, however, a person’s weakness is stimulated to ensure development.
Keeping that in mind, every time I see the book: ‘Knowing is half the battle: The other half is understanding…’ I don’t think of that Knowledge is half of what I have to submit to, but that Understanding is as crucial as the knowledge itself. Knowing that I have to work on the utter understanding of knowledge and that my colleagues are more than willing to assist me in this. That a company is more than focused on only income, but that it’s focused on its employees and their welfare.​
