Dear Readers:

Today’s post is a simple one but important one. A keyword that you should always keep in your mind, especially in today’s Information Age, is the word repository. Why do I say this? Well, it is because there is always a discrepancy between your actual knowledge-base and applied information. In other words, regardless of whether you are in school or have a job, there is always an active difference between the valuable knowledge that you possess and what you apply. In fact, since graduating from college, there has never been a job where I have been able to apply all of my key knowledge-bases. In fact, most jobs only want you to apply a very limited bandwidth of your total knowledge-base. So, this means that a majority of your knowledge does NOT get applied. So what can you do so that this knowledge does not just wither away? The answer: create a knowledge repository.

How do I do this? Personally, I recommend you establish either a blog or do some volunteer work where you can actively apply your knowledge and skills that you value. Let’s say you are a programmer and your current job is only working with a database and generating reports. However, you also know how to build a website and code HTML, CSS and work with shopping cart programs. So, my recommendation is to do a few volunteer jobs for friends where you can put these skills to work. After this, keep a flash drive with these development files that you can revisit. This is how you establish a repository.

Even as a Technical Writer, I have a knowledge and skills repository. I work mostly with Robohelp from Adobe, but from time to time I help friends with other little projects so that I can apply skills and knowledge that I don’t use on a regular basis. So, like the athlete that uses only a limited scope of skills in his or her sport, he or she can always go to the gym and work out the muscles that are not used in the sport. This way the athlete stays on top of all things. Repository: a great keyword to remember.

Regards,

Keith