I’m a tremendous fan of Steve Pressfield’s writing.  If you haven’t read him, pick up a copy of The War Of Art or Turning Pro.  I reread each a several times a year.  Every once in a while, when I seem to lose my focus or purpose, rereading either helps me rethink what being a Professional is about.  It helps me rediscover what I am here to achieve,

As we wrap up the year, reflecting on what it is to be a professional is important, so I thought it would be useful to highlight the qualities Steve says the Professional possess.  I’m just listing them, they are pretty self-explanatory, but if you need explanation, look at the books.

1. The professional shows up every day.
2. The professional stays on the job all day.
3. The professional is committed over the long haul.
4. For the professional, the stakes are high and real.
5. The professional is patient.
6. The professional seeks order.
7. The professional demystifies.
8. The professional acts in the face of fear.  (By the way–every professional faces fear, but acts in spite of the fear.)
9. The professional accepts no excuses.
10. The professional is prepared.
11. The professional does not show off.
12. The professional dedicates herself to mastering technique.
13. The professional does not hesitate to ask for help.
14. The professional does not take failure or success personally.
15. The professional doe not identify with his/her instrument.
16. The professional endures adversity.
17. The professional self-validates.
18. The professional reinvents herself.
19. The professional is recognized by other professionals.
20. A professional is courageous.
21. The professional is not distracted.
22. The professional is ruthless with herself.
23. The professional has compassion for herself.
24. The professional lives in the present.
25. The professional defers gratification.
26. The professional does not wait for inspiration.
27. The professional does not give her power away to others.
28. The professional helps others.

To be the top in any profession demands purposefulness, focus, and commitment.  Being a Pro demands practice every day.  There are lots of amateurs in sales (or any profession). Amateurs may have occasional successes–perhaps even in spite of themselves, but they never sustain it.  Amateurs don’t commit to the work, but continually look for short cuts.

It’s difficult to be a Pro every day, it’s what Steve calls Resistance.   We all slip, we lose our focus, we succumb to the resistance.  The Pro recognizes this, refocuses, and does the work.

Are you a Pro or an Amateur?