There are two kinds of knowledge in any profession, especially ours.
Surface Knowledge and Real Knowledge.
Surface knowledge is easy to come by. It's the kind of information you can memorize for an exam or recite at a cocktail party to sound impressive. It's built on definitions, jargon, checklists, and trivia. But when pressed with a real-world challenge—one that doesn't match the neat example in a training manual, surface knowledge buckles under pressure. It lacks depth, flexibility, and most importantly, application.
Real knowledge, on the other hand, is earned. It goes beyond information and moves into understanding. It's layered. It's dynamic. It can be adapted to new situations because it's built from experience, reflection, research, and repeated practice. Real knowledge is what we acquire not just by learning about our craft, but by doing it day in and day out.
Sounding Smart vs. Being Smart
There's a b...
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