My mother has an interesting story related to this: she is/was a child prodigy. She graduated high school (Texas, early 50's) at age 13, earned an accounting undergrad at 16, and then University of Chicago law school. During law school, she worked as a CPA, and although she knew her job, all the tasks, roles, and strategic aspects of her position, it was not until she worked as a CPA for a few years when one day "it just clicked" and she realized what she was doing. She says it was a shock to her system, simply realizing. It ruined her productivity for the day, but she laughs now, telling about the strange questions she asked people that day.
